Introduction / Context:
“Vertebrate” is a biological classification word. The test checks whether you know the defining characteristic behind the term rather than confusing it with one subgroup of animals or its opposite category.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Target word: vertebrate.
- Options: animal with a backbone, invertebrate, reptile, mammal.
- We want the definition-level synonym that works across contexts.
Concept / Approach:
- A vertebrate is any animal possessing a vertebral column (backbone). The class includes fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
- Therefore, the most accurate paraphrase is “animal with a backbone.”
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the definitional property: presence of a backbone.Check each option against that definition.Select “animal with a backbone” as the precise synonym.
Verification / Alternative check:
Cross-check with categories: reptiles and mammals are subsets of vertebrates, not synonyms; “invertebrate” is the antonym (animals without backbones).
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
invertebrate: Opposite category; excludes a backbone by definition.reptile / mammal: Subsets; too narrow to replace the general term “vertebrate.”
Common Pitfalls:
Equating the whole (vertebrates) with one part (e.g., mammals) or mistakenly choosing the antonym.
Final Answer:
animal with a backbone
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