wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

5.L.3 Characteristics of Organisms

Total questions: 29

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A (a)   is a group of organisms of a particular kind (ex. humans, birds, plants), that live in a particular place.

2.

All organisms perform life processes that are necessary to keep it alive and functioning. Which of the following is not one of the 7 Life Processes all living things do?

a)

Nutrition

b)

Movement

c)

Sing

d)

Growth

3.

A species is ...

a)

... a group of organisms that are similar and can produce offspring.

b)

...genetic material is found in the cells of living things.

c)

... a monkey that can dance and juggle.

d)

... the unique print found on your thumb that helps the FBI distinguish people.

4.

Which of the following unique species characteristics (traits) do you think is the most common in 5th Grade at our school?

a)

Dimples

b)

Freckles

c)

Blue Eyes

d)

Hand clasping right thumb over left

5.

Which best explains why children resemble their parents?

a)

A. They eat the same foods.

b)

B. They have similar DNA.

c)

C. They speak the same language.

d)

D. They have the same interests.

6.

Why do dogs have most of the characteristics of their parents?

a)

A.They inherit them from their parents.

b)

B. They live in the same habitats as their parents.

c)

C.They learn them by observing their parents.

d)

D. They eat the same foods as their parents.

7.

Matt is a tall, eleven-year-old boy. He has a scar on his right cheek. He is intelligent and an excellent drummer. Which of his traits did he most likely inherit?

a)

A. his height

b)

B. his scar on his right cheek

c)

C. his intelligence

d)

D. his ability to play the drums

8.

Which characteristic would a child not inherit from one or both of its parents?

a)

A. freckles

b)

B. hair style

c)

C. eye color

d)

D. dimples

9.

Which are examples of inherited traits?

a)

A. specific beliefs

b)

B. fingerprints

c)

C. memories

d)

D. nose shape

10.

Which is a characteristic of a dog that is most likely a result of its environment?

a)

A. its color

b)

B. its length of ears

c)

C. its food preference

d)

D. its ability to see in the dark

11.

Which trait do children most likely inherit from their parents?

a)

A. shape of earlobes

b)

B. musical ability

c)

C. personality

d)

D. language

12.

Which of these traits is most influenced by a person’s environment?

a)

A. ability to roll the tongue

b)

B. blood type

c)

C. weight

d)

D. eye color

13.

Some people have a “hitchhiker’s” thumb that allows them to bend their thumbs more than other people. How do these people most likely get this trait?

a)

A. They learn it from friends.

b)

B. They inherit it from their parents.

c)

C. They get it as a result of an illness.

d)

D. They get it as a result of their jobs.

14.

___________ is/are an/a example of a trait that is inherited.

a)

dimples

b)

intelligence

c)

weight

d)

favorite color

15.

A (a)   is all of the different living things that live in one area.

16.

A (a)   is a special quality or trait that makes an organism different from others in a population.

17.

Which is most likely the reason parents and their children have similar physical traits?

a)

A. They live in the same home.

b)

B. They have similar genetic structures.

c)

C. They are born in similar environments.

d)

D. They have similar blood types.

18.

Which characteristic is the best example of an inherited trait?

a)

A. short hair

b)

B. eye color

c)

C. pierced ears

d)

D. long fingernails

19.

Which is an example of a non-inherited trait?

a)

A. shape of face

b)

B. hair color

c)

C. food preference

d)

D. tongue rolling

20.

Which inherited characteristic (trait) did Manuel list incorrectly?

a)

A. laying eggs

b)

B. blue feathers

c)

C. saying “Hello”

d)

D. a short beak

21.

Which of the following characteristics (traits) can be inherited?

a)

a. curly hair

b)

b. beautiful handwriting

c)

c. multiplying numbers

d)

d. playing a piano

22.

Which of the following is an example of an animal’s inherited behavior?

a)

A. a cat using a litter box

b)

B. a seal balancing a ball on its nose

c)

C. a bird building a nest

d)

D. a dog sitting at the command, “Sit!”

23.

Samantha’s pet dog had puppies. Some of the puppies were brown and some were white. The father dog was brown. The mother dog was white. Which statement best explains why some puppies were brown and some were white?

a)

A. The puppies only inherited traits (characteristics) from the mother dog.

b)

B. The puppies inherited traits (characteristics) from both the father dog and the mother dog.

c)

C. The puppies only inherited traits (characteristics) from the father dog.

d)

D. The puppies inherited traits (characteristics) from each other.

24.

Angelica speaks French fluently. Her parents and grandparents do not speak any other language besides English. How is it possible that Angelica can speak French so well?

a)

A. Angelica inherited her knowledge of French.

b)

B. Angelica must be a genius.

c)

C. Angelica has a sister who speaks Spanish.

d)

D. Angelica learned how to speak French.

25.

James and Ava are brother and sister. They both have dimples in their cheeks, just like their father. James has brown eyes like his father, but Ava has blue eyes like her mother. Which statement best explains the reason for the similarities and differences in their characteristics (traits)?

a)

A. Children only inherit characteristics (traits) from the father.

b)

B. Children inherit some characteristics (traits) from both parents.

c)

C. Children only inherit characteristics (traits) from the mother.

d)

D. Children’s characteristics (traits) keep changing as they grow.

26.

Which of the following traits (characteristics) would NOT be passed on from a tree to its offspring?

a)

A. The shape of its leaves

b)

B. Roots that grow toward water

c)

C. A trunk burned by lightning

d)

D. The kind of seeds is produces

27.

Groundhogs are animals that have curved, sharp claws for digging soil. Why would baby groundhogs have curved, sharp claws like their parents?

a)

A. The structure of the claws is inherited.

b)

B. They eat the same type of food.

c)

C. They live in the same grassland habitat.

d)

D. The claws become sharp because of digging.

28.

In a population of cardinals, all of the birds have short beaks. Which statement best explains why the cardinals’ beaks are short?

a)

A. The short beaks are a learned behavior.

b)

B. The short beaks are an inherited trait (characteristic).

c)

C. The short beaks are an inherited behavior.

d)

D. The short beaks were caused by an injury.

29.

Which characteristic (trait) of the offspring was not acquired from the parent pine tree?

a)

A. The species structures of roots, a trunk, branches, and pine needles

b)

B. The species function of producing pine cones (seeds)

c)

C. The species characteristic of growing tall with a pointy top

d)

D. The characteristic of being bent by strong wind