Which process is when humans choose organisms with desired traits to reproduce?

• Natural selection
• Selective breeding
• Genetic engineering
• Variation

Answer explanation

Selective breeding is human-driven. Natural selection happens in nature, and genetic engineering changes DNA directly.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-5

Which term means 'differences between individuals in a population'?

• Heritability
• Variation
• Overproduction
• Genetic engineering

Answer explanation

Variation means individuals in a population have different traits. This is essential for natural selection to act.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which principle describes 'more offspring are born than can survive'?

• Overproduction
• Variation
• Heritability
• Selective breeding

Answer explanation

Overproduction means species produce more offspring than the environment can support, leading to competition.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What is the main difference between selective breeding and natural selection?

• Selective breeding is done by humans, natural selection is driven by nature
• Selective breeding is random, natural selection is not
• Selective breeding produces variation, natural selection does not
• Selective breeding only happens in plants

Answer explanation

Selective breeding is controlled by humans, while natural selection is controlled by the environment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Farmers planting only the largest strawberries is an example of:

• Natural selection
• Genetic engineering
• Selective breeding
• Overproduction

Answer explanation

This is selective breeding because humans choose which plants to reproduce.

During the Industrial Revolution, dark moths survived better on soot-covered trees. This illustrates:

• Variation
• Overproduction
• Heritability
• Genetic engineering

Answer explanation

The trait for dark color was inherited and provided an advantage in the new environment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A farmer breeds cows that produce the most milk. This is:

• Natural selection
• Selective breeding
• Genetic engineering
• Overproduction

Answer explanation

The farmer is choosing which cows to breed, so it is selective breeding.

Golden rice engineered to contain Vitamin A is an example of:

• Selective breeding
• Genetic engineering
• Natural selection
• Variation

Answer explanation

Golden rice was created by directly modifying DNA to add Vitamin A, which is genetic engineering.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

A student grows one tomato plant in sunlight and one in shade. The shaded plant is smaller. This is caused by:

• Genetics
• Environment
• Both
• Neither

Answer explanation

The difference was caused by the environment (sunlight vs. shade), not genetics.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Darwin noticed finches on different islands had different ______ depending on food source.

• Beak shapes
• Feather colors
• Eye colors
• Nesting habits

Answer explanation

Darwin observed that finch beak shapes matched the available food sources.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2