Answer to Question 1
The correct answer might note that children start having an understanding of basic biology when they can distinguish animate objects from inanimate ones. By 12 to 15 months they understand that animate objects are locomotive, can move in irregular paths, and are goal-oriented.
The four elements of children's biological theories are:
(a) growth: children understand that animate objects get bigger and physically more complex, but that inanimate objects do not.
(b) internal parts: children know that the insides of animate objects contain different materials than the insides of inanimate objects
(c) inheritance: children realize that only living things have offspring that resemble their parents.
(d) healing: children understand that, when damaged, animate objects heal by regrowth while inanimate objects must be fixed by human beings.
Individual instructors may wish to add a component to this question that requests an example of each of the four elements noted above.
Answer to Question 2
b
