Fourth Grade Science - Adaptation and Extinction

Which adaptation would be most useful to an animal that lives in the forest?

• bright colors that are easily seen

• muted colors that blend in with the forest floor

• ability to run fast in open areas

• thick fur

The viceroy butterfly looks much like the monarch butterfly, which tastes bad to birds. Birds often mistake the viceroy for a monarch and leave it alone. What type of adaptation is this?

• hibernation

• mimicry

• instinct

• migration

What two things happen to an animal during hibernation?

• Its body temperature drops, and its heartbeat slows.

• It uses a lot of energy, and its heartbeat speeds up.

• Its body temperature rises, and its heartbeat speeds up.

• Its body temperature drops, and it uses a lot of energy.

Which of these species has the greatest risk of extinction?

• A plant found in several areas of a few different states

• A small animal species found in a forest that was partly destroyed by fire

• A small animal species located in an area devastated by a volcano

• A plant species found only on an island infected by a disease harmful to the plant

One type of adaptation is a natural disguise that allows some animals to blend in with their surroundings. What is the name of this adaptation?

• migration

• mimicry

• hibernation

• camouflage

How can people affect ecosystems in a positive way?

• by plowing land to crop

• by clearing land for a new house

• by planting a new tree in the yard

• by using chemicals to fertilize the lawn

Which organism would find its niche in a desert habitat?

• oak tree

• crab

• cactus

• alligator

Suppose a large number of rain-forest plants were cut down to build houses. How would animals in the forest be affected?

• They would have less air.

• They would have less light and heat.

• They would have less food and shelter.

• They would have less water.

Which of the following is an adaptation for getting food?

• the flying pattern of a group of birds

• the change of fur color in rabbits

• hibernation in squirrels and turtles

• the sticky tongue of a frog

Why can a clownfish survive in a coral reef, but not in a desert?

• Life in a coral reef is safer than in a desert.

• Deserts are too dry for any animals to survive.

• The climate of a coral reef is better than a desert.

• The clownfish has the right adaptations for a coral reef.