Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Animal Edition!

EDUCATION

By: Monica Lee

6 Min Quiz

Image: American Images Inc / Digital Vision / Gety Images

About This Quiz

Kids today are smarter than you think! In today's classes, they learn everything about animals -- from the microscopic cell, to the name of the kingdom in which they belong (Animalia). But it doesn't stop there. Kids study the scientists who discovered the key knowledge about the evolution and building blocks of animals, such as Gregor Mendel, the "father of modern genetics" and Ernest Just, who recognized the role of the cell surface. Fifth-grade students understand the Cycle of Life and how to group and sort living things in the Linnaeus' hierarchical system of classification.

Think back to when you were a fifth grader. Whether you were a know-it-all and able to categorize creatures from phylum to species, or an average student who could sort animals into reptile, amphibian, mammal, fish and bird categories, remember there were always trick questions on every quiz. For instance, one may think that because it lives in the water a whale is a fish, when it is actually a mammal that produces milk and has a live birth. Nature sure is tricky. 

The images you see in each question of this quiz will give you a hint to the answer. But this test is by no means easy. You might actually need a 5th grader standing beside you to get a high score. See for yourself and take the quiz now!

What is the name of this adaptation that has evolved in desert mammals to dissipate body heat into their environment?

The Jackrabbit has developed radiator ears over time to dissipate heat in the hot, dry conditions in the dessert. Other dessert mammals have developed elongated appendages to dissipate body heat into the environment.

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To what class of vertebrae does this animal belong?

The five most well known classes of vertebrates are all part of the phylum chordata. They are mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians. The whale, although found in the sea, is a mammal because it provides milk to its babies.

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What is the largest classification in the Linnaeus' hierarchical system of classification?

The largest classification in the Linnaeus' hierarchical is Kingdom. Some of the other classifications include family, order, class, and phylum.

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To what class of vertebrae does this animal belong?

This frog is an amphibian. Although born in the water and able to breath with gills, it will grow up and develop lungs so it can live on land.

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What is the name of the Kingdom that includes grizzly bears?

When looking at all living things, this group can be categorized into different kingdoms such as Animalia, Fungi and Plantae, for example. The Kingdom, Animalia, is characterized by all living things that breathe oxygen, are able to move, and reproduce sexually, among other things.

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To what class of vertebrae does this animal belong?

Alligators are reptiles. They are cold blooded, are born on land and have scaly skin. Other reptiles include snakes, lizards and turtles.

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Which one of these would you classify as an invertebrate?

The fly is an invertebrate, but you may have thought is was the shark. Sharks are classified as vertebrates, meaning they have a backbone. A shark's backbone is not really made out of bone. It is cartilage. Any creature that has a spine is automatically labeled a vertebrate.

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To what class of vertebrae does this animal belong?

Identifying a bird is one of the easier things to do. They have feathers! So penguins and peacocks are birds, even though they don't fly. Birds are animals that are born out of hard-shelled eggs.

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To what class of vertebrae does this animal belong?

A skate or stingray is a fish. Although they might not look like an ordinary fish, it is. Fish are vertebrates that live in water and have gills, scales and fins on their bodies.

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What is the smallest of the seven levels of the Linnaeus' hierarchical?

The smallest classification in the Linnaeus' hierarchical is Species. A species is a group of organisms that share a genetic heritage, are able to interbreed and create offspring that are also fertile. Humans are a species unto themselves.

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Which one of these would you classify as a vertebrae?

The owl is the only vertebrae in the list of choices. Invertebrate animals are sometimes covered with an exoskeleton or shell, such as the snail, ant and spider.

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Which of these has a habitat of air, water and land?

You will find mammals, fish, reptile, amphibians and birds in habitats with air, water and land. You will also find plant life, insects and many other living things.

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Which of these are cold blooded?

Mammals are warm-blooded, while reptiles, amphibians and fish are cold-blooded. Cold-blooded creatures take on the temperature of their surroundings. When too cold, they will warm themselves in the sun, and when too hot, they will stay in the shade.

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Which of these are warm-blooded

Mammals and birds are warm-blooded, which means they can make their own body heat even when it is cold outside. However, that doesn't mean they stay where it's cold. It takes a lot of energy to keep warm in cold temperatures. That's why you see many animals migrating to warmer places.

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Which one of these are born alive (not hatched)?

Whales have live births and produce milk for their offspring, hence they are mammals. The ability to have live births and feed their young milk is a characteristic of mammals.

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Which of these have offspring that are hatched from an egg?

The class that includes those that have offspring that hatch from eggs include the above as well as Fish. Eggs from the class of Fish and Amphibians are soft shelled as they lay eggs in the water, whereas those that lay eggs on the land are hard-shelled.

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The Order of Primate has which characteristics?

The Order of Primate is one of the broader classifications on the Linnaeus' hierarchical system of classification. Thus the broadest explanation is the correct answer.

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The Species of Primate, has which characteristics?

The Species of Primate is one of the narrowest classifications on the Linnaeus' hierarchical system of classification. Thus high foreheads and a thin skull is the correct answer.

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Which of these correctly defines Genus?

A Genus is a class of similar things, especially a group of animals or plants that includes several closely related species. It falls below Family on the Linnaeus' hierarchical system of classification.

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All living things are made up of what?

From single-cell organisms to human beings, a cell is the basic building block of all living things. It is the smallest unit of organization that can make copies of themselves.

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What does a cell membrane do?

The cell membrane is like a traffic cop, selectively allowing substances to stop and stay in the cell or go. It lets waste pass through and keeps the genetic material inside.

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Which of these describes the nucleus?

The Nucleus plays a very important part inside the cell. It contains the genetic material that will be passed on when it divides for reproduction. It is surrounded by the nuclear membrane.

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What does cytoplasm contain?

The jelly-like fluid that fills a cell is called cytoplasm. It is made up of mostly water and salt. Cytoplasm contains all organelles and cell parts that carry out the chemical activities of the cell, including mitochondria and vacuoles.

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In complex organisms, what do groups of cells form?

Tissue, such as skin or muscle tissue, forms in complex organisms from groups of cells. Another example using plants would be a group of cells develop into the skin of an onion or the bark of a tree.

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What do tissues with similar functions form in animals?

Whether it's a rabbit or a whale, tissues with similar functions form organs such as the heart, stomach or brain. Even skin is an organ made of tissue.

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What is it called when organs work together?

Think about the digestive track, the circulatory system and the respiratory systems that are made up of organs. Organs work together in a system to help the body stay healthy.

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What are the four steps in the life cycle?

The four steps in the life cycle are birth, growth, reproduction and death. Whether it is a plant or an animal described, this is the life cycle of all living things.

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Genes found in the nucleus of each cell group form what?

The building blocks of life are cells. However there is a specific part of the cell found in the nucleus where the building occurs. The genes found in the nucleus form strands of DNA.

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Genes and the traits they communicate are inherited from what?

Genes and the traits they communicate are inherited from the male and female parents of the organism. Each gene carries a set of instructions that determines characteristics.

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Genes group together as what?

Chromosomes are microscopic, threadlike structures. Humans receive 23 chromosomes from “mom” and 23 chromosomes from “dad” for a total of 46 chromosomes. Each species of plants and animals has a set number of chromosomes. A fruit fly, for example, has four pairs of chromosomes, while a dog has 39.

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What is bacteria?

There is good bacteria and bad bacteria, in that some bacteria can make you sick and others keep you well. Bacteria is a unicellular microorganism that has cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus.

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What is an amoebae?

An amoebae is a single-cell organism. But it isn't the only one, Algae and protozoan are also single-cell organisms.

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What is mucus?

Mucus is a protective lubricant coating made by the cells and glands of the mucous. It is a slippery and stringy substance produced by many lining tissues in the body to help catch irritants and fight off infection.

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True or False? Cells are shaped differently in order to perform different functions.

Cells are shaped differently in order to perform different functions efficiently and effectively. For instance, a nerve cell is shaped differently than a white blood cell because each each to reach specific areas quickly.

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Approximately how many genes does a human have?

Through gene sequencing, we now know there are an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 human protein-coding genes. Dogs have approximately 19,000 protein-coding genes. An extra thousand genes sure make a difference!

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Who is the scientist who proved that traits are passed from parents to their offspring?

Gregor Mendel first hypothesized that traits were passed from parents to offspring during reproduction. He discovered the basic principles of heredity through experiments in his garden and is now known as the "father of modern genetics."

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Who is the scientist who revealed the role of the cell surface?

Ernest Everett Just was a pioneering African-American biologist, academic and science writer. He recognized the fundamental role of the cell surface in the development of organisms. He is known for his work in the physiology of development, especially in fertilization.

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What is a Zygote?

A Zygote is a fertilized egg. It's the first step of the Life Cycle: Birth, growth, reproduction, death. The cell will develop into a baby or animal and is created when a cell from each parent unite.

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What is an embryo?

An embryo is a developing organism. It is an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development and has not yet reached a fully developed state.

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What is a gland?

A gland is a group of cells in the human or animal body that can release a substance from the body — like saliva, sweat, or tears. Some glands secrete particular chemical substances or hormones for use in the body to regulate growth and metabolism.

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