Environmental Factors on Organisms Growth

Which argument is correct about the growth of an organism?

• Only genetic factors affect the growth of an organism.

• Only environmental factors affect the growth of an organism.

• The combination of genes and environmental factors affects the growth of an organism.

• Genes remove the environmental factors that affect the growth of an organism.

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A researcher tracks three groups of warthogs in the same area on the African savanna. The researcher records the heights of the warthogs and their piglets in a table. Piglet height is measured at the age of adulthood.

Based on the data, which is the best argument about the heights of warthog piglets on the African savanna?

• The tallest warthog piglets inherit the same genes for size as the piglets in the other groups, and environmental factors increase their height.

• The tallest warthog piglets come from the tallest warthog parents because they inherit genes for increased height.

• The shortest warthog piglets inherit genes for increased height from their parents, but environmental factors decrease their height.

• The shortest warthog piglets come from the tallest warthog parents because they inherit genes for increased height.

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A student makes an argument that environmental factors can affect the growth of a plant. Which piece of evidence best supports the argument?

• Ten radish plants with different genes each grow 10 cm given the same amounts of water and light.

• Ten radish plants with the same genes each grow 10 cm given the same amounts of water and light.

• Ten radish plants with different genes each grow to different heights given different amounts of water and light.

• Ten radish plants with the same genes each grow to different heights given different amounts of water and light.

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The graph represents the growth rates of different types of bacteria labeled w-z at different temperatures.

Lactic acid bacteria are type x. They are used in the preparation of fermented food products.



What will be the impact on the lactic acid bacteria when the temperature is increased to 60°C?

• These bacteria will become type y.

• These bacteria will work more effectively.

• These bacteria will work at the same speed.

• These bacteria will stop fermenting food.

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The white-tailed deer is found in the temperate forests of the United States and southern Canada. Its fur color changes from reddish-brown to gray-white, and the texture changes from a solid, thin, short hair undercoat to a long, thick, hollow hair. A scientist observes that this change occurs in regular intervals.

Which feature of temperate forests has led to these adaptations in white-tailed deer?

• large diversity of deer species

• large diversity of plants and grasses to eat

• hot summers and harsh, cold winters

• variations in precipitation rates

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A dog with a black coat and curly hair and a dog with a golden coat and long hair had three litters of puppies. A family adopted one dog from each litter. The table shows the age and coat type of each adopted dog.

What can be inferred about coat type in the dogs?

• Coat type changes with age.

• Coat type changes with the type of food the dog eats.

• Coat type is influenced by the environment.

• Coat type is inherited through a different set of genes from the dog’s parents.

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Local governments in Florida have passed laws to eliminate beachfront lighting because it has been shown to discourage female sea turtles from nesting. Since many types of sea turtles are considered endangered species, why would local governments pass laws to protect nesting females?

• The sea turtles would be forced to find a new place to nest, and this would harm the water quality in the original nesting area.

• The sea turtles may not nest and may eventually become extinct, decreasing the biodiversity of the oceans.

• The sea turtles may not nest and may eventually become extinct, increasing the biodiversity of the oceans.

• The sea turtles would be forced to find a new place to nest, and this would harm the soil quality in the original nesting area.

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In a species of sea jelly, individual sea jellies move in the direction of light as the Sun rises over the ocean. Which statement supports the conclusion that this behavior is innate?

• Sea jellies use sunlight to perform photosynthesis.

• Other species of sea jelly lack this response to sunlight.

• This swimming behavior helps these sea jellies to survive.

• Each member of this sea jelly species shows the same response.

The following statements describe events in the life cycle of a rabbit. Which of these events describes a trait of the rabbit that is most likely passed on to future generations?

• A young rabbit develops a bacterial infection and lives long enough to produce three litters.

• A young rabbit constantly outruns predators and lives long enough to produce three litters.

• A young rabbit survives freezing winter temperatures and digs a burrow in the spring.

• A young rabbit migrates to find a better food supply and establishes a new territory.

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The diagram shows a food web at Yellowstone National Park.

The removal of gray wolves from the park led to the over-grazing of plants by elk. Why is the restoration of gray wolves to the park important?

• It will decrease the biodiversity of the park.

• It will decrease the populations of predators in the park.

• It will maintain the populations of plants in the park.

• It will maintain the flow of energy in the food web of the park.

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