Evolution
Evolution and Natural Selection
Item EN046012: Chimpanzees, humans, zebras, and worms all share an ancient common ancestor.
Some organisms, such as a chimpanzee and a gorilla, have many similarities. Others, such as a zebra and a worm, have fewer similarities. What is TRUE about the ancestors of these organisms?
- Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but zebras and worms do not share a common ancestor with each other.
- Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and zebras and worms share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with zebras and worms.
- Because chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other.
- Chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms all share an ancient common ancestor.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1131 |
6–8 n = 41 |
9–12 n = 1001 |
Male n = 466 |
Female n = 583 |
English n = 1027 |
Other n = 31 |
||
| A. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but zebras and worms do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 68% | 76% | 67% | 62% | 73% | 67% | 74% |
| B. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and zebras and worms share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with zebras and worms. | 15% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 14% | 16% | 13% |
| C. | Because chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 7% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 0% |
| D. | Chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms all share an ancient common ancestor. | 10% | 5% | 10% | 15% | 6% | 10% | 13% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 555 |
6–8 n = 32 |
9–12 n = 459 |
Male n = 228 |
Female n = 265 |
English n = 480 |
Other n = 18 |
||
| A. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but zebras and worms do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 56% | 47% | 58% | 53% | 60% | 57% | 56% |
| B. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and zebras and worms share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with zebras and worms. | 17% | 31% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| C. | Because chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 5% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 0% |
| D. | Chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms all share an ancient common ancestor. | 22% | 16% | 22% | 25% | 19% | 21% | 28% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 583 |
6–8 n = 7 |
9–12 n = 528 |
Male n = 269 |
Female n = 281 |
English n = 527 |
Other n = 13 |
||
| A. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, but zebras and worms do not share a common ancestor with each other. | 41% | 29% | 42% | 40% | 43% | 42% | 62% |
| B. | Chimpanzees and gorillas share a common ancestor with each other, and zebras and worms share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and gorillas do not share a common ancestor with zebras and worms. | 14% | 0% | 15% | 16% | 12% | 15% | 15% |
| C. | Because chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other. | 4% | 14% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 0% |
| D. | Chimpanzees, gorillas, zebras, and worms all share an ancient common ancestor. | 41% | 57% | 39% | 40% | 41% | 40% | 23% |