Ohio Graduation Test for Science– March 2005
Annotated Item 43
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard:
Benchmark:
Life Sciences
E. Explain how evolutionary relationships contribute to an understanding of the
unity and diversity of life.
Multiple Choice Question:
43.
The chart below is a taxonomic key for the fictitious insect genus Problematica.
Characteristics of the Genus Problematica
1
2
3
4
Thorax and abdomen entirely black
Thorax striped and abdomen black
Antennae curled
Antennae straight
Wings longer than body
Wings shorter than body
Wings white
Wings black
Problematica alva
Go to 2
Problematica brancus
Go to 3
Problematica cantrellis
Go to 4
Problematica differensis
Problematica fortunatas
A student has been asked to identify the following insect.
To which species does the insect belong?
A. Problematica alva
B. Problemat ica brancus
C. Problemat ica cantrellis
D. Problematica differensis
Commentary:
This multiple choice question asks students to identify a fictitious species of insect by observing
the insect and applying observed characteristics to the taxonomic key. Students must recall that
a taxonomic key is a tool used to classify an organism based upon characteristics. These
similarities and differences can aid biologists in arranging organisms into a hierarchy of groups
and subgroups of species. A taxonomic key is based on successive choices between two
alternatives, leading to a determination regarding the organism. The taxonomic key uses a
process of elimination to identify characteristics that are shared by an unknown organism and
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 05
Ohio Graduation Test for Science– March 2005
Annotated Item 43
ones described by the key. At each step, another characteristic description (i.e., antennae) is
identified. This process continues until the organism matches the characteristics of the species
identified in that step. Using the taxonomic key given, the distinguishing feature of the
represented insect is identified in step 3 by “wings longer than body.” Answer choice C,
Problematica cantrellis, is correct because it accurately applies the taxonomic key to the insect
represented. All other answer choices, A, B, and D, are incorrect because the species in those
choices do not correctly represent the insect identified demonstrating either an inaccurate use
the information provided by the taxonomic key or an inaccurate observation of the insect.
The question is classified as Communicating Understanding/Analyzing Scientific Information
because the task requires students to identify or describe similarities and differences between
groups of organisms and classify organisms based on characteristics using a taxonomic key.
Performance Data:
The percent of public school students selecting answer choice C for question 43 on the March
2005 Ohio Graduation Test was 84%.
Keywords:
taxonomic key, classification
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 05