Final answer:
The statement that class characteristics are effective for eliminating an item for inclusion in a group is true. Class characteristics simplify classification by revealing meaningful distinctions and correlations between different traits, aiding in grouping entities accurately.
Step-by-step explanation:
Class characteristics are effective for eliminating an item for inclusion in a group, reducing the necessity of conducting further time or resource-consuming examinations. The statement is true. Class characteristics refer to features that members of a group share, which can simplify the classification process. When a group of organisms exhibits a specific pattern of variation with clear gaps in the distribution of a characteristic, classification becomes straightforward and reflective of reality. Moreover, the correlation between different characteristics can further enhance the 'realness' or justification of these classifications.
In cladistics, for example, the presence of an amniotic egg is a shared derived characteristic that provides meaningful information on the relationship among the members of a clade. This trait helps to group lizards, rabbits, and humans closer together than with other organisms like fish, which do not share this characteristic. On the other hand, shared ancestral characters that have not changed during the descent and are found in all members of the clade are not informative for determining relationships within the clade.