Adaptations

After a trip to an aquarium, some students compared the tail fin of a bony fish. The students made a chart listing characteristics of each of type of tail fine.

Based on this information, what is most likely an advantage of the bony fish tail fin over the shark tail fin?

• It is easier for a bony fish to change direction quickly since muscles control the movement of the tail fin.

• The bones in the tail fin help a bony fish sink to lower depths in the water when searching for food.

• The flexible tail fin is fanned by the water, so a bony fish uses less energy to swim.

• The thin spines of the tail fin prevent a bony fish from being seen by larger predator fish.

The table gives information about four types of fish. These fish all have mouth structures that allow them to eat different types of food.

Which of these fish has mouth structures that allow it to eat algae by taking large bites of the hard coral on which the algae grows?

• Parrotfish

• Koi

• Goby

• Seahorse

Newly hatched chicks of many types of birds, such as parrots, are covered in soft fluffy down feathers. These feathers contain many small spaces where air gets trapped.

In some animal species, such as Arctic foxes, the fur covering the animal's body consists of hollow strands of hair filled with air.

The primary role of the air trapped in the down feathers and fur is most likely to--

• act as a cushion to prevent injuries from falls.

• Decrease the amount of energy needed for running or flying.

• Provide a layer of insulation to help control body temperature.

• Supply oxygen to be absorbed through the skin for transport to the lungs.

Many types of grazing animals live in Africa. The pictures show two of these animals that have about the same mass and height at the shoulder.

Based on observation of the pictures of theses animals, which statement describes an advantage that only one of these animals has in obtaining food?

• The Thompson's gazette has a body shape that allows it to run faster when chasing prey.

• The Thomson's gazelle has horns that can be used to move tree branches out of the way to reach food.

• The gerenuk has a sharp, pointed nose for detecting the scent of predators.

• The gerenuk has a long neck that allows it to reach high to eat from trees.

The whiskers of a river otter and the antennae of a cockroach are shown below.

How do structures such as whiskers and antennae benefit organisms?

• They help the organisms detect their surroundings

• They help the organisms eat food quickly.

• They help the organisms fight predators

• None of these

The ocotillo is a desert plant with long, straight branches. Its leaves are small and appear for only a short time after a rain. Most of the time, the branches of the ocotillo do not have leaves. Maple trees grow in areas where water is more abundant than in the desert. Maple leaves can be very large and are present for most months of the year.

Ocotillo plants are better adapted for surviving in the desert than maple trees because the characteristic of ocotillo leaves ---

• allow more sunlight to reach the soil.

• Prevent the plant from producing flowers.

• Encourage the release of carbon dioxide from the stems.

• reduce the amount of water lost through evaporation.

Which two traits best help a cactus conserve water in the dry conditions of a West Texas desert ecosystem?

• Large flowers and sweet fruit.

• Sweet fruit and sharp spines.

• Sharp spines and waxy stems

• Waxy stems and large flowers