Mrs.
Keadle JH Science
Now identify the “Wacky Person” using the dichotomous key on page 4.
Wacky People Dichotomous Key
A dichotomous key gives clues in pairs of statements. With each character, start with the first
pair of statements. Decide which description matches your character best and follow the line to
the right. There will either be a name or a number. If it is a name, you have identified your
character. Write its name in the blank under the character. If it is a number, go to the pair of
steps with that number. Continue through the steps until each creature is named. There is only
one creature per name, and no creature has two names.
1. _____________ 2. _____________ 3. _____________ 4. _____________ 5. _____________
6. _____________ 7. _____________ 8. _____________ 9. _____________ 10. ____________
11. ____________ 12. ____________ 13. ____________ 14. ____________ 15. ____________
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Using a Dichotomous Key
Mrs. Keadle JH Science
Wacky People Dichotomous Key
1. Two legs…………………………………….….. go to 2
Some other number of legs ………………..….go to 3
2. Does not look like a human….…………..…..go to 4
Looks a lot like a human………………..….…go to 5
3. One leg………………………………………….go to 6
Three or four legs……………………………...go to 7
4. Fly-like…………………………………………..Mosk cara
Not fly-like………………………………………go to 8
5. Seems to be a girl……………………………..Rita nita
Not a girl………………………………………..go to 9
6. Leg is curled, two feet…………………….…..Ruela brella
Leg is straight, one foot………………………Giggles
7. Three Legs…………………………………….go to 10
Four legs………………………………………go to 11
8. Has webbed feet…………………………….Hex oculate
Clawed feet…………………………………..go to 12
9. Curly hair, no toes……………………….…..Lugio wirum
Wiggly looking mouth, three toes on feet…Cee nile
10. Very long nose, open mouth……………….Elle funk
Some other appearance……………………go to 13
11. Has duck bill, two pinchers…………….….Tri duct
No arms or pinchers………………….….…go to 14
12. Has ears, tail and beak……………….…….Grif leon
Four eyes on stalks…………………………Eggur ondy
13. One eye, webbed feet…………………..…..Cue kide
Four stalked eyes, four pinchers………….Quadrumenox
14. Three toed feet, nose like a flower…….…..Tunia petalos
Spider like, has spots……………………….Patterned mulywumpus
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Using a Dichotomous Key
Mrs. Keadle JH Science
USE THE FOLLOWING DICHOTOMOUS KEY FOR THE NEXT TWO QUESTIONS
16 Use the dichotomous key to determine 17 What is one characteristic used to
the correct classification of the insect in classify the insect in the diagram?
the diagram.
A number of legs
A Diptera
B presence of antennae
B Odonata
C number of wings
C Hymenoptera
D formation of larvae
D Mantodea
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Using a Dichotomous Key
Mrs. Keadle JH Science
USE THE FOLLOWING DICHOTOMOUS KEY TO ANSWER THE NEXT FOUR QUESTIONS.
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Using a Dichotomous Key
Mrs. Keadle JH Science
18 Which type of leaf margin does leaf “VI” 20 Observe the leaves in the diagram.
have? Identify which leaf has the genus
classification of Betula.
A smooth
A I
B serrated
B II
C undulated
C IV
D lobate
D V
19 Use the dichotomous key to determine 21 Of the following pieces of laboratory
the correct classification of leaf “V”. equipment, which would best facilitate
the external observation of a living leaf?
A Carya
A collecting net
B Aesculus
B electron microscope
C Liquidambar
C hand lens
D Robinia
D microscope
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Using a Dichotomous Key
