Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Practice Test

The act of grouping based on shared characteristics can be defined as:

1. Mapping

2. Classification

3. Estimation

4. Comparison

The correct answer is: Classification

The act of grouping based on shared characteristics is defined as classification. This process involves organizing objects, concepts, or individuals into categories based on their similarities and differences. Classification is essential in various fields such as biology, where organisms are grouped according to their traits, or in data management, where information is sorted to enhance understanding and accessibility. By clearly identifying shared characteristics, classification helps to simplify complex information and enables better analysis and retrieval. In contrast, mapping relates to creating representations of spatial or conceptual relationships, estimation involves approximating a value based on known information, and comparison entails evaluating the similarities and differences between two or more items. These processes do not inherently involve grouping based on shared traits in the same way that classification does.