Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors

Which of these is NOT an inherited trait?

• Number of limbs on a prairie chicken

• Number of limbs on a dogwood tree

• Number of limbs on a jersey cow

• Number of limbs on a tree frog

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of the following observations of a goldfish is a learned behavior? A B C D

• The goldfish moves its tail to swim.

• The goldfish has five sets of fins.

• The goldfish is orange.

• The goldfish swims to the top when it sees the food container.

Students were asked to complete the following activity on inheritance in science class. How many of the traits in the chart below are acquired?

• 1

• 2

• 4

• 5

The diagram below shows a mature plant. Which of the seedlings below is most likely an offspring of this mature plant?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

A young lion was born in sub-Saharan Africa two years ago. She lives with her mother in a pride of about 30 lions.Which of the choices below is an inherited trait of the lion cub?

• The length of time she has been alive

• The size of the pride she lives with

• Her approximate size at the age of two

• Which cubs are her favorite playmates

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Some behaviors are learned and some behaviors are inherited, also known as instincts. Which statement below is correct?

• Dolphins in an aquarium playing catch with their trainer is an inherited behavior.

• Birds building a nest is a learned behavior.

• Geese migrating south is a learned behavior.

• Human babies crying when they are hungry is an inherited behavior.

A dog would inherit all of the following characteristics from its parents except –

• its name

• the number of spots it has

• the color of its fur

• the length of its tail

Which of the following is NOT an inherited trait of a potted flower plant?

• The color of the pot

• The size of the leaves

• The color of the petals

• The amount of water it drinks

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which type of behavior is picked up through experiences?

• Inherited

• Aggressive

• Learned

• All of the above

A group of science students created a chart to show what they knew about inherited traits and learned behaviors in children. Which of these is an inherited trait the students could put in that column of the chart?

• Cooking a meal

• Speaking English

• Crying when hurt

• Using a pencil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4