Science Assessment ~ Items ~ SP001001

Cichlids are fish that live in freshwater lakes. There are over a thousand different species of cichlids that differ in size, color, habitat, and diet. Which piece of evidence might scientists use to determine that two populations of cichlids are from different species?

The two populations have a common ancestor.
One population eats algae and the other population eats snails.
Individuals from the two populations cannot reproduce with each other.
One population lives at the bottom of the lake and the other lives near the surface.

Details
Performance
NGSS

Topic: Evolution and Natural Selection
Correct Answer: C
Misconceptions

Pre-Test

Pre-Test

Post-Test (Control)

Post-Test (Control)

Post-Test (Treatment)

Post-Test (Treatment)

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item EN001001

Points Earned

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	1008	2269	44%
Grades
6–8	41	91	45%
9–12	897	2013	45%
Gender
Male	448	963	47%
Female	489	1143	43%
Primary Language
English	910	2055	44%
Other	30	63	48%

View data table

Distribution of Responses

Points Earned

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	728	1104	66%
Grades
6–8	51	70	73%
9–12	585	901	65%
Gender
Male	298	434	69%
Female	352	555	63%
Primary Language
English	624	949	66%
Other	20	33	61%

View data table

Distribution of Responses

Points Earned

Group	Correct	Total	Percent
Overall	881	1165	76%
Grades
6–8	14	18	78%
9–12	798	1059	75%
Gender
Male	396	535	74%
Female	441	571	77%
Primary Language
English	794	1055	75%
Other	26	33	79%

View data table

Notes: NGSS does not include the idea that what determines if two kinds of organisms are from different species is their inability to reproduce with each other.

Science Assessment

Item SP001001: If individuals from two populations of fish (cichlids) cannot reproduce with each other, that is evidence that they are two different species.