Inherited and Learned Traits

A behavior that is developed by observing others or by being taught is a ...

• A. inherited trait

• B. character trait

• C. learned behavior

• D. none of the above

Which is an example of a learned behavior?

• A. blinking

• B. eating

• C. riding a bike

• D. crying

Students observe a group of ants on the school play ground. One student uses a science notebook to record interesting observations about the ants.

Interesting observations about these ants:

- they were all brown

- they all had 2 antennas

- they all walked in a straight line

- they all had 6 legs

Which observation is a trait that is not inherited?

• A. they all had 6 legs

• B. they all walked in a straight line

• C. they all had antennas

• D. they were all brown

It takes a child hundreds or even thousands of hours of practice to be able to play an instrument such as the guitar or violin well.

This is an example of _________.

• a learned behavior

• an inherited trait

• an instinct

• an adaptation

Some traits and behaviors are learned, and some are inherited. Which of the following traits are inherited?

• Cat using a litter box

• Speaking English

• the color of a baby's eyes

• Bird repeating, "Polly want a cracker."

Which of the following could be an example of an inherited trait?

• A. long hair

• B. brown hair

• C. speaking French

• D. a scar

Animals like turtles and armadillos have hard shells. This is an example of ________.

• A. luck

• B. good planning

• C. a behavioral trait

• D. an inherited trait

If the parent plant has round leaves the offspring will have _____________ .

• A. pointy leaves

• B. no leaves

• C. short leaves

• D. round leaves

Which of the following is an inherited trait of a plant?

• A. Wilted flowers

• B. Color of flower

• C. Broken stem

• D. Number of leaves

Which answer choice tells what type of fruit the offspring of an apple tree will produce?

• A. It depends on which city the off spring grows in.

• B. The offspring of the apple tree could grow the fruit of one a different tree nearby.

• C. The offspring of the apple tree can only grow apples.

• D. There is no way to know what the offspring of the apple tree will be.