Carolus Linnaeus developed the modern system of biological classification, including binomial nomenclature which uses genus and species names. Charles Darwin contributed the theory of evolution, that species gradually change over time. The passage provides a table to classify scientists' contributions to modern taxonomy and match terms like classification, binomial nomenclature, evolution, genus, and species to their definitions.

1. Name ____________________________ Date ____________________ Class ____________
Living Things ■
Review and Reinforce
Classifying Organisms
Understanding Main Ideas
Complete the table below. Then answer the following questions in the space provided.
Living Things
Scientist Contributions to Modern Classification
Carolus Linnaeus
Charles Darwin
1. Describe the modern system of classification.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Building Vocabulary
Match each term with its definition by writing the letter of the correct definition in
the right column on the line beside the term in the left column.
____ 2. classification a. naming system developed by Carolus
Linnaeus
____ 3. binomial nomenclature b. process of grouping things based on
their similarities
____ 4. evolution c. first word in an organism’s scientific
name
____ 5. genus d. theory that species can gradually
change over time
____ 6. species e. a group of organisms that can mate and
produce offspring that can also mate
and reproduce
____ 7. taxonomy
f. the scientific study of how things are
classified
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