Kingdoms & Classification Jeopardy

Classification Basics

100

100: What two-word format do scientists use when naming a species?

(Answer: Genus, Species)

200

• 200: Which two features do scientists compare when classifying organisms?

(Answer: Physical similarities and differences)

300

• 300: If you discover a new arachnid, which part of its scientific name comes first?

(Answer: Genus)

400

• 400: Name one reason scientists classify organisms (hint: reduces confusion and helps communication).

 (Answer: To quickly name organisms and reduce confusion)

500

• 500: Explain why cladograms and Linnaean charts both help scientists even though they show different information. 

(Answer: They both show relationships; cladograms show evolutionary ancestry while Linnaean charts show hierarchical classification levels)

Kingdom Traits

100

• 100: Which kingdom do sea lettuce and most multicellular photosynthesizers belong to? 
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(Answer: Plantae)

200

• 200: Which kingdom contains organisms that decompose dead matter and release nutrients? 
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(Answer: Fungi)

300

• 300: Which kingdom includes single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and can be found in extreme environments?

(Answer: Archaebacteria)

400

• 400: Which kingdom contains single-celled organisms that can be plant-like (photosynthetic) and live in water?

(Answer: Protista)

500

• 500: Which kingdom contains heterotrophic, multicellular organisms that move and eat other organisms? 

(Answer: Animalia)

Roles in Ecosystems

100

• 100: What role do plants play that is essential for animals to breathe?
• 
  

 (Answer: Produce oxygen)

200

• 200: Why are fungi important to an ecosystem?

(Answer: They decompose dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil)

300

• 300: Give two important roles that eubacteria can play in organisms or ecosystems.

(Answer: Aid digestion (e.g., gut bacteria) and help digest plant matter in some animals)

400

• 400: Why are protists important in aquatic ecosystems?

(Answer: Many protists are primary producers that feed a large portion of aquatic species)

500

• 500: Name one mutualistic relationship involving bacteria and explain its importance.

 (Answer: Gut bacteria helping animals digest food; important for nutrient absorption and health)

Taxonomy & Naming

100

• 100: What are the major taxonomic ranks from larger to smaller ending in the smallest rank used for species? 
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(Answer: ... down to Species)*

200

• 200: Fill in the blanks: Major kingdoms include Plantae, _______, Fungi, Protista, and Animalia. 
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(Answer: Archaebacteria or Bacteria depending on list; TEKS-aligned answer: Archaebacteria)

300

• 300: How many words are in a proper scientific name and what do they represent? 
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(Answer: Two words — genus and species)

400

• 400: Which kingdom would a rod-shaped, single-celled organism that lacks a nucleus and is found everywhere be classified in? (
• 
  

Answer: Eubacteria)

500

• 500: Describe how scientists decide which kingdom an unknown organism belongs to. (Answer: Examine physical traits, cell type (nucleus/no nucleus), whether it is multicellular or single-celled, how it gets food

 (autotroph/heterotroph), and other characteristics)

Diagrams & Models

100

• 100: What does a cladogram show?

(Answer: Ancestral relationships and points where traits diverge)

200

• 200: In a cladogram, what is a "nodule" that shows a common ancestor?

(Answer: A branching point where traits separate)

300

• 300: On both the cladogram and Linnaean diagram, where do mammal and non-mammal traits start to separate? 
• 
  

(Answer: At the common amniote ancestor node in the cladogram and at the phylum level in the Linnaean chart)

400

• 400: How is a Linnaean classification different from a cladogram? 
• 
  

(Answer: Linnaean classification groups organisms by hierarchical ranks; cladograms show evolutionary relationships based on shared ancestry)

500

• 500: Use a diagram-based clue: Organisms C and D are both consumers. Which kingdoms might C and D represent if one is multicellular and motile and the other decomposes? 

(Answer: Animalia and Fungi)