Unit 5 Organisms and their Traits Pre-Test

A snake has scaly skin to keep from drying out in the desert. A cactus has sharp spines and a thick stem that keep water in. Which term describes such inherited traits that help organisms survive?

• Recessive traits

• Adaptations

• Instincts

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A baby is crying. This behavior is an important similarity to a spider spinning a web. Both come naturally. They do not have to be taught. What are behaviors such as these called?

• Instincts

• Physical Traits

• Social Behaviors

Organisms live, or perform basic functions to stay alive. They also survive, or compete for resources, protect themselves, and find food. In which of the following behaviors does a fly use a structure of its body to escape from predators?

• Eating

• Breathing

• Flying

Which is the term for a section of a DNA molecule that carries information for traits such as hair and eye color?

• Gene

• Offspring

• Dominant Trait

Which pictures on a diagram would show a life cycle?

• the physical traits an organism inherits

• the behavioral traits an organism inherits

• the important stages an organism goes through

Which of the following structures is a physical adaptation that helps a penguin live in an icy, wet environment?

• A thick layer of blubber

• wing-shaped flippers for flying

• Small spines to prevent water loss

Which of the following is an example of learned behavior?

• Ground squirrels hibernating for the winter

• Geese migrating south for the winter

• A lion cub hunting as its mother does

Which of the following is an example of an instinct that helps an animal survive?

• A skunk spraying a smelly mist for protection

• A raccoon learning to cross the road

• A dog learning to beg for food

Which of the following goes through metamorphosis - a complete change in form during its lifetime?

• Alligators

• Humans

• Frogs

Which of the following describes inherited traits of a tree?

• Flower color and potential height

• Eye color and intelligence

• Right-handedness and bark texture

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4