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WorksheetsLearned vs Inherited Traits
Total questions: 70
Worksheet time: 5hrs 17mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which of these are characteristics of inherited traits?
a)
the ability to speak in front of a crowd
b)
having green eyes and brown hair
c)
mastering multiplication facts
d)
becoming an extrovert
2.
Which of the following describes a learned behavior in a dog?
a)
eating meat
b)
running fast
c)
digging holes
d)
guiding sheep
3.
Which of these is not an instinctive behavior?
a)
a bird building a nest
b)
a turtle burying its eggs
c)
a bear hibernating in winter
d)
a horse pulling a plow
4.
True or False
Only humans can pass down traits.
Only humans can pass down traits.
a)
True
b)
False
5.
True or False
Many, but not all, physical traits are inherited.
Many, but not all, physical traits are inherited.
a)
True
b)
False
6.
True or False
A learned behavior is an acquired trait.
A learned behavior is an acquired trait.
a)
True
b)
False
7.
Some birds fly south for the winter. Birds know when and where to fly because of ________________.
a)
camouflage
b)
mimicry
c)
instinct
d)
hibernation
8.
Smelts are fish that lay their eggs in the sand on beaches. When the eggs hatch, the babies know to go to the water. This is an example of _______________________.
a)
instinct
b)
hibernation
c)
camouflage
d)
learned behavior
9.
Which of these can you change?
a)
instinct
b)
hibernation
c)
camouflage
d)
learned behavior
10.
Which of these is an example of learned behavior?
a)
a spider making a web
b)
geese migrating south for the winter
c)
birds singing to each other
d)
a service dog helping its owner
11.
Which of the following characteristics of a field mouse is most likely NOT inherited from its parents?
a)
a scar on the leg
b)
size of the ears
c)
length of the tail
d)
brown hair
12.
Why do organisms resemble their parents?
a)
because traits are inherited from parent to offspring
b)
because traits are given as gifts on holidays
c)
because if they don’t look like their parents they wouldn’t match
d)
because people wouldn’t recognize their siblings if they didn’t look alike
13.
Each of the following is an acquired, or learned trait EXCEPT which one?
a)
scar
b)
purple hair
c)
long legs
d)
broken arm
14.
True or False
Only traits you can physically see are inherited.
a)
True
b)
False
15.
Each of the following is a learned behavior EXCEPT which one?
a)
speaking a second language
b)
reading
c)
writing
d)
sleeping
16.
A teacher is setting up the terrarium shown in a science classroom. Which of these organisms is best suited for the terrarium?
a)
Blue jay
b)
Lobster
c)
Snail
d)
Water lily
17.
The ocotillo is a desert plant with long, straight branches. Its leaves are small and appear for only a short time after a rain. Most of the time, the branches of the ocotillo do not have leaves. Maple trees grow in areas where water is more abundant than in the desert. Maple leaves can be very large and are present for most months of the year. Ocotillo plants are better adapted for surviving in the desert than maple trees because the characteristics of ocotillo leaves...
a)
allow more sunlight to reach the soil
b)
prevent the plant from producing flowers
c)
encourage the release of carbon dioxide from the stems
d)
reduce the amount of water lost through evaporation
18.
A prickly pear cactus is shown. The roots of the prickly pear cactus spread out in a wide underground network. How does this type of root system benefit a prickly pear cactus?
a)
By producing fruit and storing water
b)
By capturing sunlight and getting rid of waste materials
c)
By absorbing water and supporting the plant in loose, sandy soil
d)
By releasing nutrients into the sandy soil and taking in oxygen
19.
Which of these is a learned behavior of a dog?
a)
Begging for food
b)
Drinking water
c)
Panting on a hot day
d)
Chewing on a bone
20.
Most kangaroos have large heavy tails, while spider monkeys have long, thin tails. Kangaroo tails are useful when the kangaroos are hopping and also when they are crawling around on the ground to feed. Spider monkey tails are useful when the spider monkeys are moving through trees. Both of these animals use their tails primarily for...
a)
grabbing and holding their food
b)
supporting and balancing their body
c)
attracting the attention of other animals
d)
carrying their young
21.
Fox squirrels live in the trees of city parks throughout Texas. Each spring they build nests of twigs and leaves in the tops of the trees. Fox squirrels are often found near park benches, waiting to be fed by visitors. For fox squirrels, which of these is a learned behavior?
a)
Building a nest each spring
b)
Taking food from people
c)
Having a long, bushy tail
d)
Having sharp claws
22.
A scientist observes sea otters using rocks to break open clamshells. Which of these investigations would best help the scientist determine whether this skill is a learned or an inherited behavior?
a)
Determining what sizes and kinds of rocks are used most often by sea otters
b)
Determining whether shellfish are an important food source in the diet of sea otters
c)
Raising young sea otters away from adult otters that use rocks and observing whether the young otters use rocks
d)
Observing families of sea otters over time to see whether adults that use rocks have offspring that use rocks
23.
Which two traits best help a cactus conserve water in the dry conditions of a West Texas desert ecosystem?
a)
Large flowers and sweet fruit
b)
Sweet fruit and sharp spines
c)
Sharp spines and waxy stems
d)
Waxy stems and large flowers
24.
Crayfish live in water and often hide under rocks or plants. They come out to look for food and will eat both plants and animals. Which of these is a trait that a crayfish most likely inherits from its parents?
a)
The average distance it travels each day
b)
The number of legs it has
c)
The amount of food it eats each day
d)
The type of plants in its habitat
25.
Eagles catch fish in rivers with their talons. They fly with the fish to a tree branch and tear the fish into small pieces. Which bird most likely catches and eats its food the way an eagle does?
a)
F
b)
G
c)
H
d)
J
26.
The whiskers of a river otter and the antennae of a cockroach are shown. How do structures such as whiskers and antennae benefit organisms?
a)
They help the organisms detect their surroundings
b)
They help the organisms eat food quickly
c)
They help the organisms fight predators
d)
None of these
27.
Some animals, such as lions, have pointed teeth, while other animals, such as cattle, have flat teeth. The difference in the shape of these animals' teeth is most closely related to...
a)
the type of organisms the animals consume
b)
the sounds the animals make
c)
the habitat the animals live in
d)
the type of predators the animals have
28.
Which of the observations describe inherited traits?
a)
2, 5
b)
1, 3, 4
c)
2, 3, 5
d)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
29.
How many of these observations describe learned behaviors and how many describe inherited traits?
a)
1 learned, 7 inherited
b)
2 learned, 6 inherited
c)
3 learned, 5 inherited
d)
4 learned, 4 inherited
30.
The shells of sea turtles are flatter than the shells of land turtles. They cannot pull themselves into their shell to protect themselves from predators. Instead, the head, shell shape, and flippers help them escape mainly by allowing them to...
a)
dig deep holes for their eggs
b)
swim and dive easily
c)
blend into their surroundings
d)
hold their breath for several minutes
31.
Some traits of living organisms are inherited, while some must be learned. Which statement related to inherited traits or learned behaviors is NOT correct?
a)
The ability of a figure skater to spin on ice is related to both inherited traits and learned behaviors
b)
The ability of lions to use camouflage to hide in grassy fields is an inherited trait only
c)
The number and type of legs a cricket has in an inherited trait only
d)
The behavior of a dog guiding a blind person on a walk through a neighborhood is an inherited trait only
32.
Good manners are an inherited trait.
a)
True
b)
False
33.
Plants cannot have inherited traits.
a)
True
b)
False
34.
Which of the following is NOT a Learned Behavior?
a)
Food Preference
b)
Height
c)
Religion
d)
Language
35.
An adaptations is -
a)
any characteristic that helps a plant or animal survive
b)
the role an organism plays in its environment
c)
when an animal becomes still in an enclosed space and reduces bodily function to save energy
d)
the seasonal movement of animals from one place to another
36.
Camels live in the desert and have wide, flat, leathery pads on the bottoms of their feet. This adaptation most likely helps them -
a)
find sources of water
b)
climb rocky hills
c)
sleep standing up
d)
walk on hot sand
37.
Some monkeys live their entire lives in trees. What body structure helps the monkey move around in its habitat?
a)
brown fur with white patches
b)
small ears and large eyes
c)
very small pointed teeth
d)
grasping hands and feet
38.
Some birds have large, sharp claws and beaks. These birds most likely eat -
a)
tall grasses
b)
pond microorganisms
c)
small animals
d)
tiny insects
39.
Which foot is best adapted for an animal that must dig tunnels underground to escape predators?
a)
light, with webbing between toes
b)
powerful, with long, wide, strong nails
c)
one large toe with a flat bottom
d)
very wide with thick pads
40.
Which is NOT an example of a plant adaptation?
a)
a cactus has thick cover to hold water in
b)
a tree loses its leaves in the winter
c)
a plant has green leaves
d)
a lily grows bright red flower to attract pollinators
41.
Which would not change a plant's growth pattern?
a)
receiving less water
b)
receiving less sunlight
c)
rotating the pot
d)
exposing it to a strong smell
42.
Which of these adaptations most help the hawk keep other hawks out of its territory by warning them from far away?
a)
brown head
b)
loud call
c)
hollow bones
d)
sharp claws
43.
A person with naturally curly hair
a)
Learned Behavior
b)
Inherited Trait
44.
A goldfish that swims up to the top of the bowl when a hand appears
a)
Inherited Trait
b)
Learned Behavior
45.
The ability to shape your tongue in different ways
a)
Inherited Trait
b)
Learned Behavior
46.
A dog that sits by the door when he has to go outside to potty
a)
Learned Behavior
b)
Inherited Trait
47.
A child can speak English and Spanish
a)
Inherited Trait
b)
Learned Behavior
48.
A girl with freckles on her face
a)
Inherited Traits
b)
Learned Behavior
49.
A seagull that has been fed by tourists returns to the same are in search of food
a)
Inherited Trait
b)
Learned Behavior
50.
Different shaped noses are the result of
a)
Learned Behavior
b)
Inherited Trait
51.
The ability to camouflage within your environment
a)
Inherited Trait
b)
Learned Behavior
52.
The blue whale uses what adaptation to keep warm in cold water?
a)
blubber (fat)
b)
swimming in shallow waters
c)
generating excess body heat
53.
adaptation to help a viceroy butterfly survive
a)
fast flying
b)
mimicking the monarch
c)
camouflage to green leaves
54.
A plant leaning towards the sun
a)
inherited trait
b)
learned behavior
55.
What is an inherited trait of a plant?
a)
The type of fruit it produces
b)
Growing in a pot
c)
Where the plant will grow
56.
If a parent cactus has spines, the offspring will have ______
a)
fruit
b)
spines
c)
leaves
d)
petals
57.
The following are inherited traits of humans EXCEPT...
a)
long hair
b)
long eyelashes
c)
blue eyes
d)
small dimples
58.
Tallness in plants
a)
inherited
b)
acquired / learned
59.
Birds' beak size
a)
inhertied
b)
acquired / learned
60.
Dog fetching
a)
inherited
b)
acquired / learned
61.
The caterpillars of monarch butterflies eat milkweed leaves. Milkweed leaves contain sap that is toxic to many animals but not to Monarch butterflies. This sap makes the monarch butterfly caterpillars toxic to predators and protects them from being eaten.
Which of these is an inherited trait of Monarch butterfly caterpillars?
Which of these is an inherited trait of Monarch butterfly caterpillars?
a)
The size of the leaves that they eat
b)
The ability of the caterpillars to eat toxic leaves without being harmed
c)
The number of milkweed leaves they eat each day
d)
The number of leaves on the milkweed plants
62.
A farmer keeps bees to pollinate his crops. The farmer makes several observation about the bees. Which of these describes a LEARNED behavior?
a)
Bees have dark eyes and black and yellow stripes.
b)
Bees make return trips to drink sugar water from a bowl placed near their hive
c)
Bees produce honey from the nectar they collect
d)
Bees will sting when threatened or disturbed
63.
Looks at the pictures. Which of the pictures does NOT show an acquired, or learned trait?
a)
W
b)
X
c)
Y
d)
Z
64.
A raccoon continues to visit your trash can every night to find food
a)
Inherited Trait
b)
Learned Behavior
65.
Which is an example of a learned characteristic?
a)
Color of a dog's fur
b)
A mouse successfully running a maze
c)
Color-blindness
d)
Blinking your eyes several times a minute
66.
Why is a spider spinning a web an instinctive behavior?
a)
It learns how to spin the web from its mother.
b)
It learns how to spin a web through insight learning.
c)
It is born knowing how to spin a web.
d)
It learns how to spin a web through observational learning.
67.
Fox squirrels live in the trees of city parks in Texas. Each spring they build nests of twigs and leaves in the tops of trees. They are also often found near park benches, waiting to be fed by visitors.
For fox squirrels, which of these is a learned behavior?
For fox squirrels, which of these is a learned behavior?
a)
Having brown fur
b)
Taking food from people
c)
Having a long bushy tail
d)
Having sharp claws
68.
A dog owner feeds his new dog in its sleeping crate. Soon the dog runs to its crate when it is hungry. This behavior is an example of
a)
inherited behavior
b)
learned behavior
c)
instinct
d)
migration pattern
69.
Some likenesses between parents and offspring are learned. Which of the following is a learned behavior in dogs?
a)
eating
b)
running
c)
barking
d)
shaking hands
70.
Everyday a rancher feeds his new horses in the barn at 5:00 p.m. Soon the horses start heading for the barn at 4:55 p.m. This behavior is an example of-
a)
an instince
b)
an inherited behavior
c)
a migration pattern
d)
a learned behavior
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