Adaptations

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.

Which of these observations is most likely a learned behavior?

• walking on four legs

• twitching its whiskers

• burrowing in the bedding

• drinking water from a metal tube

Loggerhead sea turtles are large turtles that live in the ocean and nest on

the Florida coast. The female loggerhead sea turtle lays more than 100 eggs

in the beach sand. How is laying so many eggs an important adaptation that

helps these turtles to survive?

• Large nests of eggs help keep the eggs warm enough to allow more

  turtles to hatch.

• If many turtles hatch, they can help defend each other against

  predators in large numbers.

• The more eggs that are laid, the greater the chance that more turtles

  will live to become adults.

• A large number of eggs in one place makes it possible for the mother

  to lie on the eggs until they hatch.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

The diagram shows a food chain.

Which conclusion can be made from this food chain?

• the snake creates all of its own energy

• the minnow does not get any energy from the algae

• the energy from the snake is transferred to the eagle

• the energy from the minnow is transferred to the grass

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Sarai and Stephen were learning about the characteristics of animals that are

affected by their environments. Which of the following characteristics is most

likely affected by a changing environment?

• cheetahs have a flexible spine that allow them to run faster

• an arctic hare's fur changes to a white color during the winter

• giraffes have very long necks for reaching high leaves and branches

• polar bears have a fat layers to insulate them from freezing air and cold water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Iliana learned that consumers come in three different categories, carnivores,

omnivores, and herbivores. In the table below she has collected

observations of consumers found in Florida and the foods they eat most

often.

Which of the following is the correct order the consumers should be labeled

from the top of the table to the bottom of the table?

• omnivore, herbivore, carnivore

• omnivore, carnivore, herbivore

• carnivore, herbivore, omnivore

• carnivore, omnivore, herbivore

Students are studying inherited and learned behaviors of rats. The students

ran 3 different rats through a maze to see how quickly they could find peanut

butter.

What explanation can the students make based on their test results?

• the students will need to conduct a different investigation

• completing a meze is an inherited characteristic for rats

• completing a maze is probably a learned behavior

• the students will need to conduct more trials

A lake food chain is shown here.

Which of the following describes the transfer of energy from a producer to a consumer?

• from green algae to brine shrimp

• from the sun to the green algae

• from brine shrimp to perch

• from perch to kingfisher

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

During the dry months in Florida, the American Alligator will use a pond with

very little water in it and make it deeper by creating a hole with its tail. What

causes the alligator to behave in this way?

• a decrease in water due to environmental conditions

• an increase in water due to environmental conditions

• a decrease in temperature

• an increase in temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The diets of several Prairie animals are described in the table.

Which of the following food chains is in the correct order?

• sparrows→ seeds→ insects

• eagles → prairie dogs →coyotes

• grasses→ prairie dogs→ badgers

• wildflower→ badgers→ grasshoppers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Mrs. Turner was teaching her students about physical adaptations in

animals. The table shows four animals and their physical adaptations.

Based on the information from the table, which animal is best adapted to live

in the sawgrass prairie of Southern Florida?

• american alligator

• polar bear

• panther

• horse

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4