Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors Quiz

Their are three cats with differences in patterns and fur length. All three cats had different parents. What is the BEST explanation for the differences in this trait?

• The fur was damaged by disease when they were kittens. This is an acquired physical trait.

• The cats come from different environments and the fur changes in response. This is an inherited physical trait.

• The differences in the type of food caused the fur to grow in unique patterns. This is an acquired physical trait.

• 
  The parents of the cats passed down their traits of patterns and fur length. This is an inherited physical trait.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

A student went to the Georgia Aquarium for a field trip to observe animal behavior and traits. She noticed that a penguin had a chipped beak. She turned to her friend to ask what happened to the penguin. Which explanation would BEST explain the chipped beak?

• 
  The penguin shows an inherited trait here  because it was most likely born with the chipped beak because if a parent penguin has a chipped beak, the offspring will too.

• The penguin shows an acquired physical trait here because it was most likely born with the chipped beak because if a parent penguin has a chipped beak, the offspring will too. 

• The penguin shows an acquired physical trait here because it was not likely born with this chipped beak and probably broke it when trying to break up its food.

• The penguin shows an inherited trait here because it was not likely born with this chipped beak and probably broke it when trying to break up its food.

Ducks live near ponds and lakes. The shape of a duck’s foot helps it to walk on muddy ground and swim in the water. All ducks have similar feet. Which of the following statements explains this?

• The environment of the animal is the only factor that determines the appearance of the foot and how it moves.

• The animal grows and changes in response to its habitat. The duck’s foot is shaped by the way the duck walks and swims.

• The appearance and shape of the duck’s foot is passed down from the parent to the offspring.

• The history of the climate and rainfall affects the number of ducks that have the same feet.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.3

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

Roberto’s family has much in common with each other. Traits of a Roberto’s Family Dimples on their cheeks when they smile They speak both English and Spanish They can all play an instrument Their favorite food is pizza Which question would help them determine which trait the family shares is an inherited physical trait?

• When did the family first eat pizza?

• What instrument does the family play?

• Which language did the family speak first?

• Were all family members born with dimples?

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1

A student is observing a horse interacting with its owner. The horse does a trick by jumping over a fence when the owner says “Jump.” Which question would the student ask to determine if the behavior is a learned behavior?

• How much does the horse weigh?

• Does the horse know how to run and jump?

• What was the height of the fence the horse was jumping over?

• Was the owner showing the horse how to respond to his commands?

Lady, a sheep dog, has a job of herding sheep. She has thick fur to keep her warm on windy days. Lady has a blaze of white around her neck. She responds to whistles in order to know where to move the sheep. Her favorite treat to eat after a long day is peanut butter. She has a great sense of smell to track lost sheep. If Lady has a litter of puppies, which question would help the owners understand which inherited physical trait the puppies will have?

• Will the puppies easily respond to a whistle?

• Will the puppies develop thick fur when they are grown?

• Will the puppies prefer peanut butter as their favorite snack?

• Will the puppies be able to herd sheep easily without training?

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1

A 5th grader is observing a sea turtle hatching on the beach and headed straight towards the ocean. The 5th grader is wondering if the behavior is a learned behavior. Which question would the 5th grader ask to determine that the behavior is an instinct?

• Did the sea turtle automatically know where to go once it was born?

• Did the sea turtle watch another turtle to learn where to go once it was born?

• What time of the day did the sea turtle hatch?

• Did the sea turtle need its mother to show the turtle the way?

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.1.1

Sandpipers are birds that stay in the dry part of the beach until a wave crashes on the shore. When the wave pulls back into the ocean, they race out to dig up small clams with their long thin beaks. The chicks are able to do this after watching their mother and observing the waves. Which question is an example of this type of behavior in another animal?

• What causes Canadian geese to migrate towards warmer weather in the winter?

• Why do bats hang upside down when they sleep?

• When does a baby commonly speak its first word?

• Why do bears hibernate in the winter?

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RI.1.1

A student is observing a large tree at the school playground. The student notices a large hole in the tree and wonders how the hole got there. Which question would BEST generate that the hole was an acquired physical trait?

• Did the tree grow watching another tree and develop a hole to mimic the trees around it?

• Is there an animal that lives on the tree that might have carved out this hole?

• Did the mother and father tree of the plant also have this hole?

• Does a plant nearby also have this large hole?