Evolution
Argumentation and Evolution
In a scientific argument, claims about the natural world should be supported or refuted by evidence, and by reas…
Item AE043005: Write an argument using correct evidence and sound reasoning to support a claim that chimpanzees and gorillas have a more recent common ancestry than chimpanzees and orangutans because their average genetic similarity is greater.
Scientists studying evolution compared the DNA of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.
The scientists summarized their data in the following table:
|
Pair of Species Compared |
Average Genetic Similarity |
|
Chimpanzee and Gorilla |
98% |
|
Chimpanzee and Orangutan |
97% |
|
Gorilla and Orangutan |
97% |
When the scientists published their research, they made the following claim:
"Chimpanzees and gorillas have a more recent common ancestry than chimpanzees and orangutans."
What evidence and reasoning are the scientists using to make this claim?
Your answer should include evidence in the form of specific scientific data that supports the scientists' claim, and reasoning that uses scientific principles about heredity and common ancestry to justify why the data counts as evidence for their claim.
Pre-Test
Answer Part |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 15883 |
6–8 n = 637 |
9–12 n = 14091 |
Male n = 6741 |
Female n = 8001 |
English n = 14385 |
Other n = 441 |
|
| Claim | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Evidence | 30% | 20% | 30% | 25% | 33% | 30% | 25% |
| Reasoning | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Part |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 7728 |
6–8 n = 490 |
9–12 n = 6307 |
Male n = 3038 |
Female n = 3885 |
English n = 6643 |
Other n = 231 |
|
| Claim | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Evidence | 37% | 22% | 37% | 32% | 40% | 37% | 20% |
| Reasoning | 11% | 6% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 11% | 9% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Part |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 8155 |
6–8 n = 126 |
9–12 n = 7413 |
Male n = 3745 |
Female n = 3997 |
English n = 7385 |
Other n = 231 |
|
| Claim | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Evidence | 42% | 39% | 41% | 36% | 47% | 42% | 36% |
| Reasoning | 13% | 18% | 12% | 11% | 14% | 12% | 10% |