Name: ______________________________ Period _____ Date : ____________ Score ___/100
This test will cover the following science standards/benchmarks:
SC.6.L.14.1Describe and identify patterns in the hierarchical organization of organisms from
atoms to molecules and cells to tissues to organs to organ systems to organisms.
SC.6.L.15.1 – Analyze and describe how and why organisms are classified according to shared
characteristics with emphasis on the Linnaean system with Concepts of Domains.
SC.6.N.1.3 – Explain the difference between an experiment and other types of scientific
investigations
Dichotomous Key Pre & Post Test – KEY and Grading RUBRICS
Fictitious Creature Dichotomous Key
1. a. Body covered with hair ……………………………………………………………. Go to 2
b. Body covering is not hair…………………………………………………………...Go to 6
2. a. Has four legs ……………………………………………………………………….Go to 3
b. Has more than four legs …………………………………………………………... Go to 4
3. a. Has two heads and two tails ……………………………………………..Doublae troublae
b. Has one head and a short bush tail …………………………………………..Uni grenabar
4. a. Has one horn on its head ……………………………………………….Unicorna tamboro
b. Has two horns on its head …………………………………………………………..Go to 5
5. a. Has wheels for feet………………………………………………………..Roundus skateroo
b. Has feet with three sharp claws………………………………………….Clawidae buzlebub
6. a. Body is covered with scales….Go to 7
b. Body is covered with feathers ….Go to 8
7. a. Has flippers for its six feet and tail………………………………………..Multiplae Nessie
b. Has pinchers for its six feet and tail…………………………………Multiplae marfwheezel
8. a. Has a beak with no teeth………………………………………………………….…Go to 9
b. Has a mouth full of sharp teeth…………………………………………………Fangus ork
9. a. Has 2 antennae and a short tongue………………………………………….……Petite quib
b. Has 4 antennae and a long tongue……………………………………………….Grande ork
Using the Fictitious Create Dichotomous Key, answer the following questions: (6 points each)
1. The Unicorna tamboro is most like a
A. bird
B. fish
C. mammal
D. reptile
2. Which animal is most like a real animal?
A. Doublae trouble
B. Roundus skateroo
C. Uni grenabar
D. Grande ork
3. Where would a Muliplae nessie be most likely to live?
A. Desert
B. Ocean
C. Forest
D. Meadow
4. How many legs does a Clawidae beezlebub have?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. More than four
5. What kind of body covering does a Grande ork have?
A. Feathers
B. Hair
C. Scales
D. None
6. What color is a Calwidae buzzlebub?
A. Red
B. Brown
D. Key does not say
C. Green
7. Which of the following is a characteristic of a Petite quib?
A. Has a beak
B. Has scales
C. Has a long tongue D. Has a horn
8. Which two organisms identified using the key share the same genus?
A. Doublae troublae and Clawidae beezlebub
B. Unicorna tamboro and Roundus skateroo
C. Multiplae nessie and Multiplae marfwheezel
D. Petite quib and Grande ork
Directions: Choose the best answer for the multiple choice question below: (6 points)
9. A dichotomous key is used to …
A. Locate an organism
B. Identify an organism
C. Divide a kingdom
D. Interbreed species
10. First, trace and write out the path of a Roundus skateroo. Then, list the characteristics of this
critter and then draw a picture of a Roundus skateroo. Lastly, based on the scientific name, what
are the key physical traits that this critter has which gave it its scientific name? (Total possible
value 16 points)
Superior - 4
Sufficient – 3
Below
Expectation - 2
Far Below
Expectation - 1
Path of a Roundus
Skateroo
4 of 4 of the steps
are listed correctly.
3 of 4 of the steps
are listed correctly
2 of 4 of the steps
are listed correctly
1 or 0 of the 4 steps
are listed correctly.
Characteristics of
Roundus Skateroo
4 of 4 characteristics
are listed using
correct vocabulary
3 of 4 characteristics
are listed using
correct vocabulary
2 of 4 characteristics
are listed using
correct vocabulary
1 or 0 of 4
characteristics are
listed using correct
vocabulary
Picture of Roundus
Skateroo
4 of 4 characteristics
are drawn correctly
3 of 4 characteristics
are drawn correctly
2 of 4 characteristics
are drawn correctly
1 or 0 of 4
characteristics are
drawn correctly
Key Physical Traits
based on its
scientific name
Listed and explained
both genus and
species name
choices
Listed and explained
genus or species and
justified choice
Listed genus and or
species but only
partially justified
choice
Did not list genus or
species or no
explanation was
given
11. What language are most scientific names written in? Why are they written in this language?
Correctly write the scientific name for HOMOSAPIAN and then create and correctly write a
scientific name for your writing instrument based on the rules for scientific naming. (Total
possible value 16 points)
Superior - 4
Sufficient – 3
Below Expectation - 2
Far Below
Expectation - 1
Scientific names
language
Latin was listed and
spelled correctly
Latin was listed but
was spelled
incorrectly
Latin was not listed
but another language
was listed
No language was
listed. What was
listed was not a
language
Justification for
scientific
language
Justification for use
of Latin reflective of
classroom instruction
with complete
thought.
Justification for use
of Latin partially
reflective of
classroom instruction
with .
Justification for use of
language a partial
reflection of classroom
instruction with some
errors in thought.
Justification for use
of language not
reflective of
language, classroom
instruction or
contains major false
information.
HOMOSAPAIN
written correctly
Both Genus and
Species were written
correctly with italics
and capitalization.
Both Genus and
Species were written
correctly but there
was one error in
italics or capital letter
Error in writing genus
or species with some
italics and
capitalization errors
Errors in Genus and
or Species writing,
no italics and or
capitalization listed.
Scientific name
for writing
instrument
Genus and Species
for writing
instrument a direct
reflection of rules of
scientific naming
with italics and
capitalization.
Genus and Species
for writing
instrument a
reflection of rules of
scientific naming
with italics and
capitalization.
Genus and Species for
writing instrument a
lack reflection of rules
of scientific naming
with minor errors in
italics and
capitalization.
Genus and Species
for writing
instrument lack
reflection of rules of
scientific naming
with major errors in
italics and
capitalization.
Questions
Grading Scale Score
# 10 and 11
A
15-16 points
B
13-14 points
C
12 points
D
10-11 points
F
>10 points
Directions: Using the Dichotomous Key below answer the following multiple choice questions# 12 and 13. (7 points each)
Dichotomous Key – Family : Candius
1a Candy is chewy ………………………………………………………….
1b Candy is hard ……………………………………………………………..
2
7
2a Candy is wrapped ………………………………………………………….
2b Candy is not wrapped ……………………………………………………..
3
Ursa gummus
3a Candy is cylindrical (thick circle) …………………………………….…..
3b Candy is not cylindrical ……………………………………………..……
4
5
4a Wrapper is all white ……………….………………………………..………
4b Wrapper is not all white …………………………………………………….
Saltus taffina
5
5a Wrapper is clear ……………………..……………………………………..
5b Wrapper is not clear ………………………………..………………………
Caramellus stickimus
6
6a Wrapper is silver ……………………………………………………………
6b Wrapper varies in color ……………………………………………………
Chocolatus cyssan
Steorra explodus
7a Candy is spherical (ball-shaped) ……………………………………………. 8
7b Candy is not spherical ………………………………………………………. 9
8a Candy is wrapped …………………………………………………………… 11
8b Candy is not wrapped ………………………………………………………. Mandibulus crackus
9a Wrapper is transparent (see-through) with no writing …………………….
9b Wrapper is transparent and tells flavor …………………………………….
10
Joyous rancheria
10a Wrapper is clear …………………………………………………………..
10b Wrapper is yellow …………………………………………………………
Mintus stripus
Rannunculus schotchus
11a Candy is on a stick ………………………………………………………..
11b Candy is not on a stick ……………………………………………………
Moronus moronus
Spherus combustus
12. A candy has the following characteristics: chewy, wrapped, not in all white, the wrapper is
clear. According to the above candy dichotomous key, what is the name of this candy?
A. Ursa gummius
B. Caramellus stickimus
C. Saltus taffinia
D. Chocolatus cyssas
13. According to the dichotomous key above, which is NOT a characteristic of Mandibulus
crackus?
A. Candy is spherical
B. Candy is Hard
C. Wrapper is silver
D. Candy is unwrapped