Evolution
Evolution and Natural Selection
There are similarities and differences between organisms living today, and between organisms living today and th…
Item EN015002: Scientists can use both fossils and DNA to study organisms that lived in the past.
Which of the following do scientists use to learn about organisms that lived many years ago but are no longer alive today?
- Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, and DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago.
- Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, but not DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago.
- DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago, but not fossils of organisms that lived many years ago.
- Scientists have no way to learn anything about organisms that lived many years ago but are no longer alive today.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 559 |
6–8 n = 23 |
9–12 n = 499 |
Male n = 221 |
Female n = 300 |
English n = 516 |
Other n = 13 |
||
| A. | Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, and DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago. | 70% | 57% | 70% | 69% | 69% | 69% | 85% |
| B. | Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, but not DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago. | 24% | 35% | 24% | 25% | 25% | 25% | 8% |
| C. | DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago, but not fossils of organisms that lived many years ago. | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| D. | Scientists have no way to learn anything about organisms that lived many years ago but are no longer alive today. | 1% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 281 |
6–8 n = 18 |
9–12 n = 229 |
Male n = 109 |
Female n = 135 |
English n = 243 |
Other n = 9 |
||
| A. | Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, and DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago. | 69% | 67% | 69% | 72% | 70% | 70% | 56% |
| B. | Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, but not DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago. | 25% | 22% | 25% | 20% | 27% | 24% | 44% |
| C. | DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago, but not fossils of organisms that lived many years ago. | 4% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 0% |
| D. | Scientists have no way to learn anything about organisms that lived many years ago but are no longer alive today. | 2% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 0% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 305 |
6–8 n = 3 |
9–12 n = 280 |
Male n = 139 |
Female n = 150 |
English n = 276 |
Other n = 8 |
||
| A. | Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, and DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago. | 75% | 67% | 75% | 72% | 77% | 74% | 88% |
| B. | Fossils of organisms that lived many years ago, but not DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago. | 22% | 33% | 22% | 24% | 20% | 23% | 0% |
| C. | DNA from the remains of organisms that lived many years ago, but not fossils of organisms that lived many years ago. | 3% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 0% |
| D. | Scientists have no way to learn anything about organisms that lived many years ago but are no longer alive today. | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 13% |