In which scenario would ordinal numbers be used in the classroom?

Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position or rank of items in a sequence rather than to describe quantity. In the scenario where Matthew finished second in the spelling bee, the use of the word "second" clearly demonstrates the application of an ordinal number. It conveys that Matthew’s performance was ranked at a specific level (second place) in relation to his peers.

In contrast, the other scenarios provided focus on counting or measuring, which do not involve ranks or positions. Counting apples in a basket pertains to cardinal numbers, which represent quantities. Sorting cards by color also deals with categorization rather than ranking. Measuring the length of a string involves numerical measurement but not the concept of order. Thus, the context of Matthew’s achievement in the spelling bee is a clear representation of ordinal usage.