Item SP002002: If individuals from two populations of birds (Meadowlarks) cannot reproduce with each other, that is evidence that they are two different species.
Meadowlarks are small birds that live across North America. Scientists studying these birds have identified two types of Meadowlarks that look alike but make different songs. They want to find out if these two types of Meadowlarks are different species. Which of the following is the most convincing evidence that the two types are actually different species?
- One type eats berries and the other type eats seeds.
- The two types cannot reproduce with each other.
- Genetic tests show that the two types have a common ancestor.
- One type lives mostly in eastern North America and the other type lives mostly in western North America.
Pre-Test
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 558 |
6–8 n = 25 |
9–12 n = 498 |
Male n = 243 |
Female n = 274 |
English n = 502 |
Other n = 19 |
||
| A. | One type eats berries and the other type eats seeds. | 11% | 4% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 11% |
| B. | The two types cannot reproduce with each other. | 51% | 40% | 51% | 51% | 52% | 51% | 53% |
| C. | Genetic tests show that the two types have a common ancestor. | 20% | 24% | 20% | 21% | 19% | 20% | 26% |
| D. | One type lives mostly in eastern North America and the other type lives mostly in western North America. | 17% | 32% | 17% | 15% | 18% | 18% | 11% |
Post-Test (Control)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 294 |
6–8 n = 23 |
9–12 n = 247 |
Male n = 109 |
Female n = 171 |
English n = 264 |
Other n = 9 |
||
| A. | One type eats berries and the other type eats seeds. | 8% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 22% |
| B. | The two types cannot reproduce with each other. | 67% | 78% | 65% | 69% | 66% | 67% | 56% |
| C. | Genetic tests show that the two types have a common ancestor. | 15% | 9% | 15% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 11% |
| D. | One type lives mostly in eastern North America and the other type lives mostly in western North America. | 10% | 4% | 11% | 9% | 11% | 10% | 11% |
Post-Test (Treatment)
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 281 |
6–8 n = 3 |
9–12 n = 257 |
Male n = 132 |
Female n = 140 |
English n = 254 |
Other n = 11 |
||
| A. | One type eats berries and the other type eats seeds. | 7% | 0% | 6% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 0% |
| B. | The two types cannot reproduce with each other. | 77% | 67% | 78% | 72% | 81% | 78% | 82% |
| C. | Genetic tests show that the two types have a common ancestor. | 8% | 0% | 8% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 0% |
| D. | One type lives mostly in eastern North America and the other type lives mostly in western North America. | 8% | 33% | 8% | 11% | 6% | 7% | 18% |