Classification Study Guide

On a recent field trip to the zoo, Mr. Lee asked his students to take pictures of different animals. He asked his students to sort the animals into further groups. How could the students below develop a model to classify their animals?

• Students A, B, and D have reptiles because they have dry scaly skin and breathe with lungs. Student C has a fish because it has scales and breathes with gills.

• Students A and B have reptiles because they have dry scaly skin and breathe with lungs. Students C and D have fish because they have scales and breathe with gills.

• Students A and B have reptiles because they have dry scaly skin and breathe with lungs. Student C has a fish because it has scales and breathes with gills. Student D has an amphibian since it starts with gills and develops lungs.

• Student B has a reptile because it has dry scaly skin and breathes with lungs. Student C has a fish because it has scales and breathes with gills. Students A and D have an amphibian since it starts with gills and develops lungs.

The picture shows a snail. Which statement best explains why the snail is a vertebrate or invertebrate?

• The snail is a vertebrate because it has scaly skin.

• The snail is a vertebrate because it has a hard shell.

• The snail is an invertebrate because it does not have a backbone.

Which of the following BEST describes how the student should develop a model to classify the animals?

• Animals 1, 3, and 4 will be classified together since they all lay eggs. Animal 2 will be classified separately since this animal has live birth.

• Animals 1 and 4 will be classified together since they have scales. Animals 2 and 3 will be classified together since they do not have scales.

• Animals 1 and 3 will be classified together since they both breathe with gills. Animals 2 and 4 will be classified together since they both breathe with lungs.

• Animals 1, 2, and 4 will be classified together since they have backbones. Animal 3 will be classified separately since this animal does not have backbones.

A snake has an internal skeleton, cannot breathe under water, and relies on outside sources of heat to keep its body temperature constant. A snake is which type of animal?

• Fish

• Bird

• Reptile

• Amphibian

Which of the following describes a mammal?

• an animal with an exoskeleton that reproduces very quickly

• a cold-blooded animal that lives on land

• a warm-blooded animal that gives live birth

• a feathered animal that lays eggs

The snail is an invertebrate because it can breathe through its skin.

• True

• False

How could the students below develop a model to classify their animals?

• Student A and B have pets that are both classified as vertebrates because they have a backbone, whereas Student C has a pet that is an invertebrate because it does not have a backbone.

• Student A and B have pets that are both classified as invertebrates because they have a backbone, whereas Student C has a pet that is a vertebrate because it does not have a backbone.

• All students’ pets are vertebrates because they either have a backbone or a large shell to provide structure.

• All students’ pets are invertebrates because they either have a backbone or a large shell to provide structure.

A plant is classified as being vascular if

• it produces flowers.

• it produces seeds.

• it uses the sun to create energy for itself.

• it has tubes throughout that carry water and nutrients.

Based upon the data above, how should the student develop a model that shows how plants are classified?

• Plant 1, 2, and 3 should all be classified into three different categories of seeded, flowers, and roots.

• Plants 2 and 3 should be classified together since they do not have flowers and plant 1 should be separate since it does have flowers.

• Plants 1 and 2 should be classified together since they both have seeds and roots. Plant 3 will be separate since it doesn’t have roots.

• Plants 1 and 2 should be classified together since they are both plants. Plant 3 should be classified as not a plant.

Which two plants in the table could be grouped together based upon its characteristics?

• Rose and algae could be grouped together as a vascular plant since they have roots, stems, and leaves.

• Pine tree and rose could be grouped together as a vascular plant since they have roots, stems, and leaves.

• Fern and pine tree could be grouped together as seeded vascular plants since they both reproduce with seeds.

• Fern and algae could be grouped together as non-seeded vascular plants since they