Evolution
Evolution and Natural Selection
Item EN046010: Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor.
Some animals, such as a cat and a dog, have many similarities. Others, such as a fish and a bird, have fewer similarities. What is TRUE about the ancestors of these animals?
- Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, but fish and birds do not share a common ancestor with each other.
- Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, and fish and birds share a common ancestor with each other, but cats and dogs do not share a common ancestor with fish and birds.
- Because cats, dogs, fish, and birds are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other.
- Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 2269 |
6–8 n = 91 |
9–12 n = 2013 |
Male n = 963 |
Female n = 1143 |
English n = 2055 |
Other n = 63 |
||
| A. | Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, but fish and birds do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 51% | 65% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 51% | 44% |
| B. | Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, and fish and birds share a common ancestor with each other, but cats and dogs do not share a common ancestor with fish and birds. | 23% | 18% | 23% | 21% | 24% | 23% | 29% |
| C. | Because cats, dogs, fish, and birds are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 14% | 11% | 14% | 15% | 13% | 14% | 14% |
| D. | Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor. | 12% | 7% | 12% | 14% | 11% | 12% | 13% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1104 |
6–8 n = 70 |
9–12 n = 901 |
Male n = 434 |
Female n = 555 |
English n = 949 |
Other n = 33 |
||
| A. | Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, but fish and birds do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 40% | 49% | 40% | 39% | 43% | 41% | 39% |
| B. | Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, and fish and birds share a common ancestor with each other, but cats and dogs do not share a common ancestor with fish and birds. | 21% | 24% | 21% | 19% | 22% | 21% | 24% |
| C. | Because cats, dogs, fish, and birds are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 7% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 9% |
| D. | Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor. | 31% | 19% | 32% | 35% | 29% | 32% | 27% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1165 |
6–8 n = 18 |
9–12 n = 1059 |
Male n = 535 |
Female n = 571 |
English n = 1055 |
Other n = 33 |
||
| A. | Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, but fish and birds do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 30% | 33% | 30% | 29% | 31% | 31% | 18% |
| B. | Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, and fish and birds share a common ancestor with each other, but cats and dogs do not share a common ancestor with fish and birds. | 19% | 11% | 20% | 20% | 19% | 20% | 27% |
| C. | Because cats, dogs, fish, and birds are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 5% | 0% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 5% | 6% |
| D. | Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor. | 46% | 56% | 44% | 44% | 46% | 44% | 48% |