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Dichotomous Key Practice

Total questions: 17

Worksheet time: 24mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
A dichotomous key for trees is provided. Hikers found a tree that has large brown cones and single sharp needles. What species of tree have the hikers found?
a)
Juniper
b)
Pine
c)
Spruce
d)
Fir
2.

What is the name of bird X?

a)

Certhidea

b)

Geospiza

c)

Camarhynchus

d)

Platyspiza

3.
What is the purpose of a dichotomous key?
a)
to find a common ancestor
b)
to show the evolution of organisms
c)
to show relationships between organisms
d)
to identify organisms
4.
When using a dichotomous key to identify organisms, what do we look at?
a)
physical features
b)
weather patterns
c)
environment
d)
diet
5.
An illustration and a dichotomous key are given. What is the correct classification for this organism?
a)
Class Insecta
b)
Order Amblygygi
c)
Order Araneae
d)
Order Scorpiones
6.

Leaf S

a)

Eastern white pine

b)

balsam poplar

c)

sweet gum

d)

ginko

7.
Using this dichotomous key, identity the name of the circled fish.
a)
band-tail puffer
b)
spotted goat fish
c)
peacock flounder
d)
trumpet fish
8.
What step do we always start with when using dichotomous keys?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
9.
A botanist discovers a new plant in the jungle. Which of the
following observations of the plant’s characteristics would be useful in determining its identity with a dichotomous key?
a)
It was discovered in the summertime
b)
It is wet from a recent rain storm.
c)
Its leaves curl up on the edges.
d)
It is eaten by native jungle ants.
10.

A student discovers an arachnid with a segmented abdomen, long legs, and a tail with no stinger.

The student uses the dichotomous key below to identify it.

1. a) Abdomen segmented.............go to 2

b) Abdomen not segmented ......go to 4

2. a) Abdomen with tail....................go to 3

b) Abdomen without tail...............go to 5

3. a) Tail with stinger..........................Scorpion

b) Tail without stinger.....................Whip scorpion

4. a) Legs longer than body.............Daddy Long Legs

b) Legs not longer than body……….Wind scorpion

5. a) Covered with spines .......................Mite

b) Few spines.....................................Tick

a)

Whip Scorpion

b)

Daddy Long Legs

c)

Mite

d)

Tick

11.

Which shark is the picture of?

a)

Cow Shark

b)

Great White Shark

c)

Hammerhead Shark

d)

Saw Shark

12.

Use the dichotomous key to identify this white wildflower

a)

Starflower

b)

Chickweed

c)

Common Strawberry

d)

Bowman's root

13.
Tool used by a taxonomist to identify an unknown organism is a:
a)
dichotomous key
b)
binomial nmenclature
c)
scientific name
d)
binomial key
14.
A table of arachnid and insect characteristics is shown. Which characteristic could be used to distinguish between
arachnids and insects?
a)
Jointed legs
b)
Body segments
c)
Presence of eyes
d)
Presence of antennae
15.

A student discovers an arachnid without a segmented abdomen, and legs longer than its body. The student uses the dichotomous key below to identify it. Which arachnid has the student found?

a)

Whip Scorpion

b)

Wind Scorpion

c)

Daddy long legs

d)

Scorpion

16.

What does the prefix "di-" mean?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

7

d)

12

17.

You've identified the first organism. Awesome! Now you are going to identify the second organism. Which step do you start with on the dichotomous key?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

4

d)

It really doesn't matter where you start, but where you finish.