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Dichotomous Key Quiz

Total questions: 45

Worksheet time: 3hrs 58mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What does the word 'dichotomous' mean?

a)

Three parts

b)

Two parts

c)

Four parts

d)

Five parts

2.

What is the most important element of a good dichotomous key?

a)

Gradual narrowing down

b)

Random selection

c)

Multiple choices

d)

No correct answer

3.

How many contrasting choices are offered in each set of clues in a dichotomous key?

a)

Four

b)

One

c)

Two

d)

Three

4.
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
5.
A dichotomous key for insects is given. To what order does an insect with two pairs of scaly wings belong?
a)
Coleoptera
b)
Heteroptera
c)
Diptera
d)
Lepidoptera
6.
What step do we always start with when using dichotomous keys?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
7.
When using a dichotomous key to identify organisms, what do we look at?
a)
physical features
b)
weather patterns
c)
environment
d)
diet
8.
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
9.
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
10.
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.
11.

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

12.

Which of the following is an accurate description of the fiddler crab?

a)

3 Paris of walking legs on both sides

b)

Two propodus

c)

3 Chelipeds

d)

A pair of eyes

13.

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

14.

To what order does a two pairs of wings, rigid and leathery and mouth for sucking belong to?

a)

Diptera

b)

Lepidoptera

c)

Heteroptera

d)

Coleoptera

15.

Which of the following characteristics will most likely be helpful in identifying a butterfly using a dichotomous key?

a)

It migrates north in the summer

b)

It has long tail

c)

It likes only certain plants

d)

Its wings beat very fast in hot weather

16.

Which leaf is shown in the drawing?

a)

Magnolia

b)

Redbud

c)

Sweetgum

d)

None of the above

17.

Which of the paired statements could be used to tell the difference between the two insects using a dichotomous key?

a)

Has 6 legs

Has 8 legs

b)

Large hind legs

Small hind legs

c)

2 pairs of spots on wing cover

3 pairs of spots on wing cover

d)

Antennae absent

Antennae present

18.

Which of the following characteristics would be useful in determining the identify of a tree in a dichotomous key?

a)

It provides shade

b)

It has a nest

c)

It has several birds in it

d)

Its leaves are long and narrow

19.

Which shark is the picture of?

a)

Cow Shark

b)

Great White Shark

c)

Hammerhead Shark

d)

Saw Shark

20.
What is a dichotomous key used for in science?
a)
To organize biomes
b)
Classify organisms
c)
Identify bacteria only
d)
None of these
21.
When using a dichotomous key to identify organisms, what do we look at?
a)
physical features
b)
weather patterns
c)
environment
d)
diet
22.
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
23.
What is the name of bird W?
a)
Certhidea
b)
Geospiza
c)
Camarhynchus
d)
Platyspiza
24.

What is the name of bird X?

a)
Certhidea
b)
Geospiza
c)
Camarhynchus
d)
Platyspiza
25.

What is the name of bird Y?

a)
Certhidea
b)
Geospiza
c)
Camarhynchus
d)
Platyspiza
26.

What is the name of bird Z?

a)
Certhidea
b)
Geospiza
c)
Camarhynchus
d)
Platyspiza
27.
Tool used by a taxonomist to identify an unknown organism is a:
a)
dichotomous key
b)
binomial nmenclature
c)
scientific name
d)
binomial key
28.

Leaf Q (1ST LEAF)

a)

Eastern white pine

b)

balsam poplar

c)

sweet gum

d)

ginko

29.

Which characteristics are used to identify the American Robin?

a)

Head color, Beak shape, and Beak Color

b)

Head color and Beak Color

c)

Beak Shape and Beak Color

d)

Beak Color

30.

Use the dichotomous key to correctly identify bird D

a)

Scissor-tailed flycatcher

b)

Red tailed hawk

c)

Common loon

d)

American robin

31.

Use the dichotomous key to correctly identify bird C

a)

Scissor-tailed flycatcher

b)

Red tailed hawk

c)

Common loon

d)

American robin

32.

Use the dichotomous key to correctly identify bird B

a)

Scissor-tailed flycatcher

b)

Red tailed hawk

c)

Common loon

d)

American robin

33.

Use the dichotomous key to correctly identify bird A

a)

Scissor-tailed flycatcher

b)

Red tailed hawk

c)

Common loon

d)

American robin

34.

What type of characteristics are used to make a dichotomous key?

a)

Characteristics that make an organism different from any other organism. (type of beaks, claws, root systems)

b)

Characteristics like age of an organism

c)

Where the organism lives

d)

How many organisms live in the environment

35.

Leaf S (3RD LEAF)

a)

Eastern white pine

b)

balsam poplar

c)

sweet gum

d)

ginko

36.
Which of the following characteristics will most likely be helpful in identifying a butterfly using a dichotomous key?
a)
Migrates north every spring
b)
hangs on branches
c)
flutters wings fast on hot days
d)
Wings have long extensions
37.
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
38.
The science of describing, classifying, and naming living things is called:
a)
Geology
b)
Biology
c)
Taxonomy
d)
Chemistry
39.

Use the listed characteristics to correctly identify the crying emoji

Click on the image to make it larger

a)

Smilus piratus

b)

Smilus valentinus

c)

Smilus upsettus

d)

Smilus dramticus

40.

Use the listed characteristics to correctly identify the heart-eyed emoji

Click on the image to make it larger

a)

Smilus piratus

b)

Smilus valentinus

c)

Smilus toothyus

d)

Smilus mutates

41.

Use the listed characteristics to correctly identify leaf G

Click on the image to make it larger

a)

Elm

b)

White Oak

c)

Chestnut

d)

Magnolia

42.
What step do we always start with when using dichotomous keys?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
43.

Use the listed characteristics to correctly identify leaf H

Click on the image to make it larger

a)

Elm

b)

Holly

c)

Pine

d)

Magnolia

44.

Use the listed characteristics to correctly identify leaf D

Click on the image to make it larger

a)

Elm

b)

Spruce

c)

Pine

d)

Magnolia

45.

What is insect A?

a)

Bee

b)

Ladybug

c)

Firefly

d)

Dragonfly

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