Science 5.10B Inherited Traits & Learned Behaviors Review

Is the following a learned behavior or inherited trait?

Having brown eyes.

• inherited trait

• learned behavior

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Is the following a learned behavior or inherited trait?

The ability to understand a language.

• inherited trait

• learned behavior

Fox squirrels live in the trees of city parks throughout Texas. Each spring they build nests of twigs and leaves in the tops of the trees. Fox squirrels are often found near park benches, waiting to be fed by visitors. For fox squirrels, which of these is a learned behavior? (5.10B)

• Building a nest each spring

• Taking food from people

• Having a long, bushy tail

• Having sharp claws

A scientist observes sea otters using rocks to break open clamshells. Which of these investigations would best help the scientist determine whether this skill is a learned or an inherited behavior? (5.10B)

• Determining what sizes and kinds of rocks are used most often by sea otters

• Determining whether shellfish are an important food source in the diet of sea otters

• Raising young sea otters away from adult otters that use rocks and observing whether the young otters use rocks

• Observing families of sea otters over time to see whether adults that use rocks have offspring that use rocks

Tags

NGSS.3-LS3-1

NGSS.3-LS3-2

The caterpillars of monarch butterflies eat milkweed leaves. Milkweed leaves contain sap that is toxic to many animals but not to monarch butterfly caterpillars. This sap makes the monarch butterfly caterpillars toxic to predators and protects them from being eaten. Which of these is an inherited trait of monarch butterfly caterpillars? (5.10B)

• The size of the milkweed leaves that the caterpillars eat

• The ability of the caterpillars to eat toxic leaves without being harmed

• The number of milkweed leaves the caterpillars eat each day

• The number of leaves on the milkweed plants the the caterpillars visit each summer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of these is a learned behavior of a dog? (5.10B)

• Begging for food

• Drinking water

• Panting on a hot day

• Chewing on a bone

A farmer keeps bees to pollinate crops. The farmer makes several observations about the bees. Which of these observations describes a learned behavior? (5.10B)

• Bees make return trips to sugar water from a bowl placed 40 meters from their hive.

• Bees have dark eyes and black-and-yellow stripes.

• Bees produce honey from the nectar they collect.

• Bees will sting when threatened or disturbed.

A group of students made the observations listed in the table about the size, shape, and appearance of their hands. Which of the students' observations describe inherited traits? (5.10B)

• Observations 2 and 5 only

• Observations 1, 3, and 4 only

• Observations 2, 3, and 5 only

• All the observations

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Some traits of living organisms are inherited, while some behaviors must be learned. Which statement related to inherited traits or learned behaviors is NOT correct? (5.10B)

• The ability of a figure skater to spin on ice is related to both inherited traits and learned behaviors.

• The ability of lions to use camouflage to hide in grassy fields is an inherited trait only.

• The number and type of legs a cricket has is an inherited trait only.

• The behavior of a dog guiding a blind person on a walk through a neighborhood is an inherited trait only.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of these is a behavior that a person learns rather than inherited? (5.10B)

• Swallowing a sweet liquid

• Having a pleasant dream

• Digesting a chocolate-covered strawberry

• Identifying the scent of a rose