tutorial+quiz+answer+key

Here are the answers to the tutorial quiz. The reason for each answer is briefly explained.


 * 1. How many different choices should there be at each step of a dichotomous key?**

The answer is two. Remember, the di- in dichotomous means two; there are two choices at each step of a dichotomous key.


 * 2. The word "dichotomous" comes from the term "dichotomy". What does "tomy" mean?**

"Tomy" means to cut or split; if you have an appendec//tomy//, then you have surgery to remove (cut out) your appendix. The di- stem indicates two, and physical characteristics are what we look at in a dichotomous key, but they are not what "tomy" means.


 * 3. Which of the following is a physical characteristic?**

A physical characteristic is something that describes the physical appearance of a thing (person, object, etc.). The statement that Chuck has brown eyes is describing a physical characteristic of Chuck. Intelligence is not a physical characteristic (Linda), and whether or nor not Steven does his homework does not describe what Steven looks like. A person's favorite color is information about them, but it does not physically describe them, unless the statement read "You can tell Sydney's favorite color is pink because she only wears pink clothes."


 * 4. Should you use every step of a dichotomous key?**

No, you should not. At the end of each pair of statements, the key tells you to go to a specific "next step". If you just go to step 2 no matter where the key directs you, then you will be looking at characteristics that what you are trying to key may not have. You may end up at the wrong answer by doing this.


 * 5. Look at the list below. Place a check next to each one (can be more than one) that describes something that can be classified.**

All of the objects should receive a check because they all can be classified! Classifying is the process of organizing things into groups, so you can classify just about anything that you can think of.

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