Instincts and Learned Behaviors Quiz

David adopted a puppy. The puppy had light brown fur and large brown eyes. The puppy had very sharp teeth and liked to chew on things. As the puppy grew, its fur turned a deep, dark brown. The puppy could fetch a ball, chew on a bone, run very fast, and beg for food. Which TWO questions can David ask to find out which characteristics of his puppy are learned behaviors?

• Do all puppies fetch a ball?

• Do all puppies have sharp teeth?

• Do all puppies run very fast?

• Do all puppies beg for food?

• Do all puppies have fur that gets darker?

Noah is watching the fish in his fish tank. All of the fish have bright colors. The fish swim around the tank without bumping into each other. The fish swim away quickly when he claps his hands loudly. All of the fish swim to the surface when he lifts the lid to feed them. Which question can be asked to find out which characteristic of the fish is a learned behavior?

• Do all fish have bright colors?

• Do all fish swim away when frightened?

• How do the fish not bump into each other?

• How do the fish know when it is feeding time?

Read the passage describing a scientist’s observations of chimpanzee behavior. A scientist observes a chimpanzee using a branch to get food. The chimpanzee finds an ant colony and sticks the branch inside of the nest in order to aggravate the ants. As the ants scatter, many will climb up the branch, allowing the chimpanzee to collect a large amount and eat them. Is the chimpanzee's behavior an example of an instinctual behavior or of a learned behavior? Why?

• learned behavior because this technique was something the chimpanzee was born knowing how to do

• instinctual behavior because this technique was something the chimpanzee was born knowing how to do

• learned behavior because this technique is based on knowledge that the chimpanzee acquired during its lifetime

• instinctual behavior because this technique is based on knowledge that the chimpanzee acquired during its lifetime

Joe is doing a research project on bird characteristics and behaviors. Which of the following is the most reliable resource for him to use for information?

• a universally accepted paper written by an expert on birds

• a classmate's report on bird characteristics and behaviors

• a dictionary entry about birds

• a novel about a family of birds

The picture shows monarch butterflies. Eastern monarch butterflies can migrate from southern Canada all the way to Mexico in the wintertime. Migration is an example of _______.

• an inherited behavior, because butterflies must learn how to travel

• a learned behavior, because butterflies must know where to travel

• an inherited behavior, because butterflies are born knowing where to migrate

• a learned behavior, because butterflies learn from their parents how to migrate

Hadley wants to understand how mother cats teach their kittens to hunt in the wild. What type of investigation is best for Hadley to see how domestic cats hunt in the wild?

• a. a free-exploration investigation where Hadley observes and collects data about mother cats teaching their kittens to hunt in nature without Hadley interfering with their behaviors

• b. an experimental investigation where Hadley puts a mother cat and her kittens in a laboratory and gives them different types of toy mice to hunt at different times of day

• c. a research investigation where Hadley reads about cats from reliable sources on the Internet

• d. a model investigation where Hadley creates a formula based on her knowledge of cat behavior

The picture below shows sea otters U, V, W, X, Y, and Z in their environment. Which sea otter is showing a learned behavior?

• sea otter X, by growing gray fur

• sea otter Z, by using curved flippers

• sea otter U, by eating a fish

• sea otter Y, by practicing swimming

Which behavior is an example of an instinct, rather than a learned behavior?

• A kitten pounces on a toy and bats it around on the ground.

• A girl is able to kick a soccer ball into a net every time she tries.

• A baby sea turtle heads to the ocean immediately after it is born.

• A squirrel hears another squirrel’s alarm sound and runs up a tree.

Which of the following is an example of an animal showing a learned behavior?

• a. a lion drinking from a watering hole

• b. a chameleon changing color in the heat

• c. an otter using a stone to open shells

• d. a cheetah running fast to catch prey

Select three that are examples of an inherited trait.

• a. a chameleon changing color

• d. a lion running fast to catch prey

• c. a monkey using a stick to reach insects

• b. an otter using a stone to open shells

• e. a cat drinking water from a puddle