Evolution
Evolution and Natural Selection
Item EN046011: Chimpanzees, humans, chickens, and oak trees all share an ancient common ancestor.
Some organisms, such as a chimpanzee and a gorilla, have many similarities. Others, such as a chicken and an oak tree, have fewer similarities. What is TRUE about the ancestors of these organisms?
- Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but chickens and oak trees do not share a common ancestor with each other.
- Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and chickens and oak trees share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with chickens and oak trees.
- Because chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other.
- Chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees all share an ancient common ancestor.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1138 |
6–8 n = 50 |
9–12 n = 1012 |
Male n = 497 |
Female n = 560 |
English n = 1028 |
Other n = 32 |
||
| A. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but chickens and oak trees do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 68% | 70% | 67% | 62% | 73% | 68% | 44% |
| B. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and chickens and oak trees share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with chickens and oak trees. | 15% | 14% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 14% | 38% |
| C. | Because chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 9% | 10% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
| D. | Chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees all share an ancient common ancestor. | 8% | 6% | 8% | 11% | 6% | 8% | 9% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 549 |
6–8 n = 38 |
9–12 n = 442 |
Male n = 206 |
Female n = 290 |
English n = 469 |
Other n = 15 |
||
| A. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but chickens and oak trees do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 60% | 55% | 62% | 56% | 64% | 61% | 53% |
| B. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and chickens and oak trees share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with chickens and oak trees. | 13% | 21% | 13% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 20% |
| C. | Because chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 6% | 11% | 6% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| D. | Chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees all share an ancient common ancestor. | 20% | 13% | 20% | 25% | 16% | 19% | 20% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 582 |
6–8 n = 11 |
9–12 n = 531 |
Male n = 266 |
Female n = 290 |
English n = 528 |
Other n = 20 |
||
| A. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but chickens and oak trees do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 43% | 27% | 45% | 41% | 46% | 44% | 45% |
| B. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and chickens and oak trees share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with chickens and oak trees. | 15% | 18% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 15% | 15% |
| C. | Because chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 2% | 0% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 0% |
| D. | Chimpanzees, gorillas, chickens, and oak trees all share an ancient common ancestor. | 40% | 55% | 38% | 40% | 39% | 39% | 40% |