Plant and Animal Adaptations Review

Plants and animals don't change overnight! They change very slowly over hundreds of thousands of years, gradually becoming better able to survive in their environments. In this natural process, they change as a result of their surroundings. That's adaptation! Which of the following is an example of adaptation?

• penguins growing beaks and wings overnight

• birds eating breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday

• polar bears’ fur turning white over many years

• dogs getting sent to the groomer to be washed

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Adaptations help animals and plants survive in their environments. For example, one cool plant adaptation is the leaves of the pitcher plant. These plants use their tube-shaped leaves to trap and digest insects. The insects are attracted to the plant's sweet nectar and colorful appearance. Once inside the tube, it's too slippery for insects to climb out. They fall into a pool of water at the bottom of the tube, and the plant digests them. Which of these best describes another plant adaptation?

• A plant is the same color as a grasshopper, helping the grasshopper blend in.

• A species of butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves of a particular tree.

• A plant dies if it doesn’t get enough water.

• A plant gives off a smell that attracts nearby insects, which it then eats.

Plants don't have brains, but they still adapt to their environments.

• True

• False

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What is the main way that being camouflaged helps an animal?

• It helps them store more food and water.

• It helps them blend into their environment so other animals can't attack them.

• It helps keeps them cool in a hot climate.

• It makes them look dangerous to other animals.

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Which bird beak is best adapted for opening hard-shelled nuts and seeds? (5.10A)

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Which of the following is an adaptation that helps protect the animal?

• Cows have incisors.

• Cactuses have thick stems.

• A porcupine has sharp quills.

• Hummingbirds have long, skinny beaks.

Which of the following is an adaptation that helps the animal eat?

• Squirrels are the colors of the trees they live in.

• Pelicans have big beaks.

• Cactuses are covered in spikes.

• Rainforest plants have waxy leaves.

Certain plants have grown to survive in different conditions such as marshlands or deserts. Which best explains how these plants survive?

• the plants grow for a short time before dying

• plants can grow in all conditions

• the plants adapted to their specific environment

• plants only need soil to survive

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Desert plants such as the saguaro cactus or prickly pear have adapted to their environment in which way?

• they have learned to store water

• they have adapted to withstand high winds

• they have adapted to less animals

• they have adapted to too much water

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Animals such as the peppered moths and snow rabbits use this adaptation to survive in their environment.

• bioluminescence

• hard exoskeleton

• camoflauge

• mimicry