Heredity and Learning

Doreen goes outside and rings a bell to let her cats know that it is time for dinner. When she

rings the bell, the cats come running and eat their food. Which behavior of the cats is learned?

• responding to the bell

• running to the house

• living outdoors

• eating their food

Which of the following characteristics is most likely affected by a

changing environment?

• An arctic hare's fur changes to a white color during the winter.

• Cheetahs have a flexible spine that allows them to run faster.

• Giraffes have very long necks for reaching high leaves and branches.

• Polar bears have a fat layer to insulate them from freezing air and cold water.

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During the dry months in Florida, the American Alligator will use a pond with very little water in

it and make it deeper by creating a hole with its tail. What causes the alligator to behave in this

way?

• a decrease in water due to environmental conditions

• an increase in water due to environmental conditions

• a decrease in temperature due to environmental conditions

• an increase in temperature due to environmental conditions

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Which behavior could be placed in the table as an inherited behavior?

• A turtle burying its eggs in the sand.

• A cat ringing a bell to go outside.

• A mouse completing a maze.

• A bird improving their nest.

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Which physical characteristic would this animal most likely inherit from its parents?

• Ear shape

• Scars

• Hunting ability

• Loudness of Growl

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Two palm trees grew in different locations. One tree grew straight up in an area

with very few trees, while the other tree was growing at an angle in an area surrounded by

many trees.

Which of these statements best explains why the trees grew differently?

• The trees' environment determined how the trees developed.

• The trees changed their inherited traits to suit their environment.

• The trees developed according to their inherited traits.

• The trees' development depended ONLY on its environment

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Lily grows a cherry tree in her greenhouse in Florida. The leaves on the tree remain green

year-round. Which statement best explains why the leaves stay green year-round?

• Changing leaf color is an environmental response.

• There is too much pollution in the greenhouse.

• There is too much oxygen in the greenhouse.

• Changing leaf color is a learned behavior.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

All Dalmatian dogs develop spots. Which statement about Dalmatians can best be concluded

from this information?

• Dalmatian spots are inherited from their parents.

• Dalmatians develop spots because of their diet.

• Dalmatians all develop the exact same spots.

• Dalmatians develop spots depending on their size.

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All Dalmatian dogs develop spots. Which statement about Dalmatians can best be concluded

from this information?

• They have long tongues because they inherited this trait from previous generations of

  giant anteaters.

• They have long tongues after watching other species of anteaters use long tongues to

  catch insects.

• They have long tongues after eating certain types of insects, such as ants.

• They have long tongues after watching people catch insects with long sticks.

What explanation can the students make based on their test results?

• Completing a maze is a learned behavior.

• The students will need to conduct more trials.

• Completing a maze is an inherited characteristic for rats.

• The students will need to conduct a different investigation.