Animal Behaviors

A bird building its nest perfectly the first time is an example of 

• learned behavior
• instinctive behavior

A frog lives in a pond in the northern portion of the United States.   Why does the frog bury itself in the mud at the bottom of the pond during the winter months? 

• to migrate to warmer waters
• to mimic a larger animal
• to camouflage itself from predators
• to hibernate during cold weather

What adaptation allows humans to exercise for long periods of time without overheating?

• Getting hungry and eating food cools us down.
• Getting tired and taking a rest.
• Getting thirsty and drinking water lets us sweat and cool down.
• Breathing deeply lets us cool down.

A bald eagle has a sharp hook on the end of its beak. This is an adaptation for obtaining resources.  Eagles are carnivores.  What is the beak used for?

• cracking seeds
• eating worms
• tearing the flesh of a smaller animal
• digging insects out of a tree bark

In the park, you noticed a girl throwing a stick for her dog to fetch.  The dog ran and got the stick every time.  This is an example of

• instinctive behavior
• learned behavior

You observe a baby duck following closely behind your friend's adult cat.  This is an example of

• imprinting
• conditioning

Which of these is a learned behavior for a crow?

• eating plants and insects
• building nests in trees
• choosing a different mate each spring
• dropping nuts in front of cars

Raccoons rip trash bags open and sort through the trash when Mr. Robinson leaves the bags outside.   The raccoons are exhibiting what type of behavior?    

• automatic behavior
• learned behavior
• inherited behavior
• instinctive behavior

Which of the following is an example of an animal showing an instinctive behavior?

• a dog sitting on command when the owner says, "Sit!"
• a woman sneezing when she gets pepper in her nose
• a bird building a perfect nest the first time it tries
• a bear sitting in a cave to keep from getting wet in a rain storm

A sixth grader gets home late from football practice and then stays up even later to finish her math homework.  In class the next day, she can't stop yawning.  Yawning is a response to what kind of stimulus? 

• external
• internal
• imprinting
• conditioning