Fossils, Adaptations, Traits and Life Cycles

All of the statements describe learned behaviors of birds EXCEPT—

Select TWO correct answers.

• A crow tears a cap off of a bottle to drink milk.

• A goose produces eggs with hard shells.

• A pet parrot repeats the names of its human owners.

• A hummingbird returns to the same bird feeder each day.

• A cardinal flaps its wings while resting in a tree branch.

Scientists have uncovered palm plant fossils in Alaska, the northern-most state of the United States. Modern-day palm plants grow in tropical climates. A picture of a palm fossil that measures almost one meter across is shown.

   This discovery suggests to scientists that this area in Alaska once was —

• warmer than it is now

• changed by earthquakes

• populated by polar bears

• covered with an ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists determined that tracks formed at the same time. They also determined that the tracks were made by the same species of dinosaur.

Based on the drawing, which conclusion can be made about the behavior of this species of dinosaur?

• It was most active during the day.

• It ate both plants and insects.

• It traveled in family groups.

• It hunted alone for its prey.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Unlike humans, otters have special flaps that close off their nostrils and ears. These flaps help otters survive in an environment that is—

• Aquatic

• Snowy

• Terrestrial

• Windy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A gardener plants seeds in the garden. After the flower stage, the fruits and vegetables grow. A table of how many days are needed for some plants to be ready for harvest is shown.

Which statement is supported by the data shown in the table?

• Watermelon seeds take longer to sprout because watermelon plants produce large fruits.

• Green bean seeds sprout faster because they are smaller than other seeds.

• Cucumbers are ready for harvest in less time than watermelons.

• Pumpkins take the most time to sprout and to be ready for harvesting.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

After a trip to an aquarium, some students compared the tail fin of sharks with the tail fin of bony fish. The students made a chart listing characteristics of each type of tail fin.

Based on this information, what is most likely an advantage of the bony fish tail fin over the shark tail fin?

• The thin spines of the tail fin prevent a bony fish from being seen by larger predator fish.

• The flexible tail fin is fanned by the water, so a bony fish uses less energy to swim.

•    It is easier for a bony fish to change direction quickly since muscles control the movement of the tail fin.

• The bones in the tail fin help a bony fish sink to lower depths in the water when searching for food.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

One stage in the life cycle of an apple tree is the release of seeds.

Which of these animal activities is most like the stage of the life cycle in which seeds are released?

• A bird laying an egg 

• A tadpole growing into an adult

• . A swarm of bees leaving a hive

• A snake shedding its skin

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

A group of students at a park used a collecting net to capture several insects. The teacher transferred the insects to small terrariums that allowed the students to observe the insects before releasing them outside.

Select the correct answer for each box, each answer may be used more than once

• A butterfly’s black-and-yellow stripes

• Inherited

• A fly avoiding a predatory frog

• Inherited

• A dragonfly’s two sets of wings

• Inherited

• A beetle’s green spots

• Learned

Butterflies have very long, tubelike tongues. Hummingbirds have very long tongues.

Which statement best describes why butterflies and hummingbirds both have long tongues?

• Butterflies and hummingbirds both migrate

• Butterflies and hummingbirds have the same predators.

• Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to brightly colored flowers.

• Butterflies and hummingbirds eat the same food.

Tags

NGSS.3-LS3-2

NGSS.4-LS1-1

Students observe a gerbil in a cage. They write their observations as shown.

·       It twitches its whiskers

·       It burrows in the bedding

·       It drinks water from a metal tube

·       It walks on four legs

·       It wakes up when the curtains are open

What are TWO observations that the students made that are learned behaviors?