Item CA009004: If the DNA of lizards and dogs is more similar than the DNA of lizards and toads, lizards and dogs share a more recent common ancestor than lizards and toads.
If the DNA of lizards and dogs is more similar than the DNA of lizards and toads, what is a reasonable conclusion about the common ancestors of these three groups?
- Lizards and dogs have a common ancestor, but lizards and toads do not.
- Lizards and dogs have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and toads.
- Lizards and toads have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and dogs.
- Similarities in DNA cannot provide information about the common ancestors of lizards, dogs, and toads because lizards, dogs, and toads do not have a common ancestor.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 558 |
6–8 n = 25 |
9–12 n = 498 |
Male n = 243 |
Female n = 274 |
English n = 502 |
Other n = 19 |
||
| A. | Lizards and dogs have a common ancestor, but lizards and toads do not. | 18% | 24% | 18% | 21% | 16% | 19% | 11% |
| B. | Lizards and dogs have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and toads. | 45% | 40% | 45% | 42% | 48% | 45% | 37% |
| C. | Lizards and toads have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and dogs. | 19% | 24% | 18% | 21% | 16% | 18% | 26% |
| D. | Similarities in DNA cannot provide information about the common ancestors of lizards, dogs, and toads because lizards, dogs, and toads do not have a common ancestor. | 19% | 12% | 18% | 16% | 20% | 18% | 26% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 294 |
6–8 n = 23 |
9–12 n = 247 |
Male n = 109 |
Female n = 171 |
English n = 264 |
Other n = 9 |
||
| A. | Lizards and dogs have a common ancestor, but lizards and toads do not. | 14% | 39% | 12% | 17% | 12% | 15% | 11% |
| B. | Lizards and dogs have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and toads. | 62% | 39% | 64% | 61% | 63% | 61% | 67% |
| C. | Lizards and toads have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and dogs. | 14% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 16% | 14% | 22% |
| D. | Similarities in DNA cannot provide information about the common ancestors of lizards, dogs, and toads because lizards, dogs, and toads do not have a common ancestor. | 9% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 0% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 281 |
6–8 n = 3 |
9–12 n = 257 |
Male n = 132 |
Female n = 140 |
English n = 254 |
Other n = 11 |
||
| A. | Lizards and dogs have a common ancestor, but lizards and toads do not. | 8% | 0% | 9% | 12% | 5% | 9% | 0% |
| B. | Lizards and dogs have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and toads. | 73% | 100% | 74% | 68% | 79% | 75% | 64% |
| C. | Lizards and toads have a more recent common ancestor than lizards and dogs. | 12% | 0% | 12% | 13% | 9% | 11% | 18% |
| D. | Similarities in DNA cannot provide information about the common ancestors of lizards, dogs, and toads because lizards, dogs, and toads do not have a common ancestor. | 7% | 0% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 18% |