Final answer:
Taxonomy is the true scientific study of life classification, using hierarchical systems to organize organisms, as developed by Carolus Linnaeus. It remains an evolving field as new discoveries are made. The statement is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
Taxonomy is indeed the scientific study of the classification of life, encompassing the classification, description, identification, and naming of living organisms. This makes the answer to the student's question a) True. The discipline uses a hierarchical system to organize life into increasingly inclusive categories, much like a grocery store is organized into departments and then further into aisles and products.
One of the pioneering figures in taxonomy was Carolus Linnaeus, who developed the Linnaean system to categorize and standardize the naming of organisms. Through taxonomy, scientists can understand the immense diversity and evolutionary history of life on Earth. The field continues to evolve as new species are discovered and new data are integrated into the classification trees.
Systematics is a related field that focuses on classifying organisms based on evolutionary relationships, a fundamental part of taxonomy. A taxon (plural: taxa) is a single level within the hierarchical taxonomic system, which helps in organizing and making sense of the biological diversity.