102 The Living Things of the Earth unit i 



individuals most numerous? In which grouping, first or last, do the 

 individuals have most in common? 



4. What two important contributions to the science of classification were 

 made by Linnaeus? When did he live? 



5. Cite an example to show that common names for organisms are not 

 satisfactory. 



6. Using the terms species and genus, explain the scientific name for a 

 cat and a lion. Which animal must Caiiis dingo resemble? 



7. Starting with the final subdivision, species, list in order the larger 

 and larger groupings up to kingdom. 



8. Contrast the number of species with the number of phyla in the 

 animal kinirdom. Which have more characteristics in common, all 

 the animals of one species or all the animals of one phylum? 



Exercises 



1. Why do not stamp collectors classify their stamps according to 

 color? What characteristics do they use? 



2. Choose some group of common objects, such as automobiles (or 

 boats or houses), and prepare a list of characteristics by which vou could 

 subdivide them into groups and smaller groups. 



3. All schools classify pupils so that they may be sent to the proper 

 grades, classes, and rooms. List the characteristics by which your school 

 classifies you. Be sure to take into account every item in your school 

 program. Can ^■ou think of other characteristics that your school might 

 have used? 



4. Look up Linnaeus' life and prepare a report. Try to make him a 

 living person in your report. (See Singer, C, The Story of Living Things, 

 or Pcattie, D. C, Green Laurels.) 



5. Following is a list of articles of furniture: table, chair, sofa, bed, 

 desk, bookcase, davenport, piano stool, bureau, and dresser. Add any 

 others that \ ou may think of. Classify these into genera according to 

 use (rather than according to size, shape, or where they are found). How 

 many groups or genera will you make? Compare with the answers of 

 your classmates. You may be interested in making up a double name 

 (genus and species) for each piece of furniture, as Linnaeus did for or- 

 ganisms. 



6. Look back to Exkrcise 5. Could you gather these genera into fami- 

 lies? What cliarnctcrisrics did you use for putting them into the same 

 family? 



