Environmental Variation – Worksheet Questions

Suggest what resources this record‑breaking sunflower was given to allow it to grow as tall as it did.

• Light

• Water

• Warmth/heat

• Mineral salts (nutrients)

• Extra oxygen pumped into the soil

Describe two examples of variation between a daisy and an oak tree.

• One is a small herb with a non-woody stem, while the other is a large woody tree

• They differ in leaf shape and size

• Both have identical lifespans and life cycles

• They typically live in the ocean rather than on land

Select the three environmental factors that will affect plant growth.

• Light intensity

• Amount of water available

• Soil nutrient levels

• Leaf shape

Based on the collage of many flowering plants shown, which statement best describes the variation between the plants?

• They show differences in flower color and shape.

• They are all identical in appearance.

• They grow only in one color with the same petal form.

• They differ only in height, not in flowers.

Select the examples of environmental variation in humans.

• Skin tanning level from sun exposure

• Body mass influenced by diet and exercise

• Language or accent learned from surroundings

• Natural eye color

Variation can either be continuous or discontinuous. Which statement best defines continuous variation?

• Values fall into a limited set of separate categories

• Values can be any number within a range

• It occurs only because of the environment and not genes

• It means a characteristic does not vary at all

Variation can either be continuous or discontinuous. Which statement best defines discontinuous variation?

• Values can be any number within a range

• Values fall into a limited set of separate categories

• Values always increase over time

• Values are measured with a ruler or balance

Discontinuous variation is described as data that can only be a limited set of values. Which example fits this description?

• Eye colour

• Height

• Mass

• Body temperature

Continuous variation is described as data that can be any value in a range. A student's height is measured to the nearest millimetre. What type of variation does this measurement show?

• Continuous variation

• Discontinuous variation

• Random error

• Categorical sampling

Sort the following into whether they are continuous or discontinuous data. Which of these are continuous data?

• Colour of leaves

• Length of leaf

• Temperature

• Having piercings

• Mass of cat