Video 3 is 5 minutes long. It should be viewed after doing PRACTICE 1 and walks through errors in two questions taken from exams.
Practice 1 – Spotting errors in questions
Try it yourself! Analyze actual exam questions and look for mistakes. Watch VIDEO 3 to see an analysis walk through.
Two questions follow. These questions appear on real exams.
Use the Don’ts list to identify potential problems in the questions.
When you are done, watch VIDEO 3 as I walk you through the potential problems I spotted.
Non-majors biology exam
Which of the following is a mechanism by which genetic variation arises that can lead to evolution by natural selection?
- mutations in an individual’s DNA in the reproductive cells (i.e., the sperm and egg) due to exposure to radioactivity
- mutations in an individual’s DNA in the skin cells due to excessive UV radiation from the sun.
- mutations in an individual’s DNA in the hair cells due to chemical mutagenizing agents
- all of the above
Non-majors geology exam
The most dangerous volcanoes are
- those associated with magmas of low silica (low viscosity) and low water content
- those associated with magma of high silica content and high water content
- those located at transform boundarys
- fortunately located along the mid-ocean ridge