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Organisms and Their Traits TN 5th Grade Science

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The tiny part of a chromosome that codes for just one trait

a)

camouflage

b)

gene

c)

factor

d)

instinct

2.

One version of a trait, such as a flower color

a)

instinct

b)

camouflage

c)

gene

d)

factor

3.

A characteristic that appears when the offspring receives a factor from one or both parents.

a)

Inherited traits

b)

dominant trait

c)

recessive trait

d)

instinct

4.

A characteristic that appears only when the offspring receives a factor from both parents

a)

Inherited traits

b)

dominant trait

c)

recessive trait

d)

instinct

5.

Characteristics passed from parents to offspring are _____

a)

inherited traits

b)

dominant traits

c)

recessive traits

d)

instinct

6.

A behavior that an animal doesn’t need to learn is an ____

a)

inherited traits

b)

dominant traits

c)

recessive traits

d)

instinct

7.

What type of adaptation helps a living thing hide in its environment?

a)

camouflage

b)

inherited trait

c)

instinct

d)

gene

8.

Animals inherit certain characteristics, such as fur color. What are some characteristics that plants inherit?

a)

flower color

b)

number of legs

c)

number of arms

d)

growing away from the light

9.

Which of the following is a learned behavior in humans?

a)

crying

b)

speaking

c)

blinking

d)

sleeping

10.

What did scientist Gregor Mendel discover during the 1800s?

a)

Pea plants pass on only dominant traits to offspring

b)

Human parents pass traits on to offspring.

c)

There is no way to track how traits are inherited

d)

Some inherited traits are dominant & some are recessive

11.

Which of the following describes inherited traits of a tree?

a)

flower color and potential height

b)

eye color and intelligence

c)

right-handedness and bark texture

d)

eye color and physical environment

12.

Which of the following goes through metamorphosis- a complete change in form during its lifetime?

a)

alligators

b)

humans

c)

frogs

d)

birds

13.

Which of the following is an example of an instinct that helps an animal survive?

a)

a skunk spraying a smelly mist for protection

b)

a raccoon learning to cross the road

c)

a dog learning to beg for food

d)

a human riding a bicycle

14.

Which of the following is an example of learned behavior?

a)

Ground squirrels hibernating for the winter

b)

Geese migrating south for the winter

c)

A lion cub hunting as its mother does

d)

An octopus spraying ink for protection

15.

Which of the following structures is a physical adaptation that helps a penguin live in an icy, wet environment?

a)

a think layer of blubber

b)

wing-shaped flippers for flying

c)

small spines to prevent water loss

d)

transparent eyelids to keep eyes moist

16.

Which pictures on a diagram would show a life cycle?

a)

the physical traits an organism inherits

b)

the behavioral traits an organism inherits

c)

the complex pattern of DNA molecules

d)

the important stages of an organism goes through

17.

Which is the term for a section of a DNA molecule that carries information for traits such as hair and eye color?

a)

gene

b)

offspring

c)

dominant trait

d)

recessive trait

18.

Organisms live, or perform basic functions to stay alive. They also survive, or compete for resources, protect themselves, and find food. In which of the following behaviors does a fly use a structure of its body to escape from predators?

a)

eating

b)

breathing

c)

flying

d)

sleeping

19.

A baby is crying. This behavior is an important similarity to a spider spinning a web. Both come naturally. They do not have to be taught. What are behaviors such as these called?

a)

instincts

b)

physical traits

c)

social behaviors

d)

learned behaviors

20.

A snake has scaly skin to keep from drying out in the desert. A cactus has sharp spines and a thick stem that keep water in. Which term describes such inherited traits that help organisms survive?

a)

recessive traits

b)

adaptations

c)

instincts

d)

genes