"Professor’s Office" [img]2012q1/ct_etoefm_etoeflistz_1139_20121[/img] [br] Why

Narrator: Listen to part of a conversation between a student and a professor.
Student: Professor James. Do you have a minute?
Professor: Sure. Come on in. What can I do for you?
Student: Well, I did pretty well on the midterm...
Professor: You sure did. One of the best grades, as I recall.
Student: But I missed a question, and ’d appreciate it if you could help me understand what I did  Q1
   wrong. I have the test right here, and I just can’t figure it out.
Professor: Okay. Fire away.
Student: It’s question 7...the one on biotic provinces and biomes.
Professor: Oh, that one. Um, quite a few people missed it. I was thinking that we should go over it
   again in class. But anyway, let’s look at your answer.
Student: Thanks. Here’s the thing, said that a b otic province was a region with similar life, but  Q2
   with boundaries that prevent plants and animals from spreading to other regions. So an
   animal, for example, a mammal...it may have a genetic ancestor in common with
   another mammal. But a biome is a similar environment, an ecosystem really, like a
   desert or a tropical rainforest. So, in the case of a biome, well, the similar climate
   causes the plants and animals to evolve...to adapt to the climate, and that’s why they
   look alike.
Professor: That’s good,very good...as far as went. But there’s a seco d part to the question.  Q3
   Look, right here. "Include an explanation of convergent and divergent evolution." So...
   I was looking for a more complete answer. Next time, be sure to include both parts of a
   question...when there are two parts like this one... Do you know how to explain
   convergent and divergent evolution?
Student: I think so. Isn’t it... like when a group of p ants or animals...when they’re separated
   by mountains or a large body of water...then subpopulations evolve from a common
   ancestor and they have similar characteristics but their development diverges because
   of the separation, so that’s why we call it divergent evolution.
Professor: Right. Even when the habitat is similar, if they’re separated, then they diverge...How
   about convergent evolution then?
Student: Well, that would be a situation where a similar environment...a habitat...it may
   cause plants and animals to evolve in order to adapt to the conditions. So a species
   that isn’t really related can evolve with similar characteristics because...it can look
   like a species in another geographic region because of adaptation...and that would
   be convergent evolution?
Professor: Right again. So temperature and rainfall, proximity to water, latitude and longitude all
   combine to determine the climate, and if we know the climate of an area, then we can
   actually predict what kind of life will inhabit it.
Student: Okay. And I really did know that. I just didn’t put it down~ To tell the truth, I didn’t see the
   second part. Not until you pointed it out to me. Professor:That’s what I thought. Well, Jerry, it’s a good idea to double-check all the questions on
   a test...not just my test...any test...to make sure you’ve answered each part of
   the question completely. Otherwise, you won’t get full credit.
Student: I see that. Well, live and learn.
Professor: Jerry, you’re one of my best students.
Student: Thanks. I really like biology. In fact, I’m thinking of majoring in it.
Professor: Good. That means you’ll be in some of my upper-level classes.
Student: And I’ll be watching out for those two-part questions on your exams.
Professor: And all the rest of your exams. I’ll be honest with you. My questions usually have two
   parts so the students will have an insight into the grading system.., and a lot of
   professors do that. In an essay question, it’s difficult to know what to include and how
   much to write. Just read the question carefully, and be sure to include all the parts.
   There may be three or four in some essay questions. This is the way that the professor
   helps you organize your answer. I’m giving my students a hint about what I’m looking
   for by including several parts to the question. But if you miss one of the parts, then it
   lowers your score.
Student: That makes sense. I think I was just trying to finish within the time limit, and I didn’t read
   as carefully as I should have. On the final, I’il spend more time reading the quest ons
   before I start to answer them.
Professor: Good plan.