Traits

Which of the following is an instinctive behavior that an animal could inherit from its parents?

• A raccoon taking lids off of trash cans to find food

• A dog barking loudly when the doorbell rings

• A seal balancing a ball on the end of its nose

• A bee flying from flower to flower to get nectar

Tags

NGSS.3-LS3-1

Which of the following is an example of a learned behavior?

• A turtle laying its eggs on the beach

• A dog retrieving a stick for its owner

• A bird migrating south for the winter

• A baby chick cracking open its shell

All of the following can be inherited by the offspring of an apple tree EXCEPT–

• shape of leaves

• broken branches

• type of fruit

• flower color

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of these is a learned trait that a bear could acquire during its lifetime?

• Taking food from human campsites

• Having an excellent sense of smell

• Growling when there is danger

• Hibernating during the winter

A group of science students created a chart to show what they knew about inherited traits and learned behaviors in children. Which of these is an inherited trait the students could put in that column of the chart?

• Cooking a meal

• Speaking English

• Crying when hurt

• Using a pencil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of these is an inherited trait in human beings?

• Playing soccer

• Having blue eyes

• Being able to read

• Speaking Spanish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of the following is a trait an organism learns during its lifetime?

• An elephant has a long trunk that curls up

• A baby bird grows thick feathers over time

• A tree’s leaves change colors in the autumn

• A dog recognizes the sound of its owner’s car

Tags

NGSS.4-LS1-2

All of these traits can be passed from a parent tree to its offspring EXCEPT –

• the type of fruit it produces

• roots that absorb nutrients

• a trunk scarred by lightning

• leaves that release oxygen

Atlantic puffins are birds that live at sea. These birds use their wings to fly or swim. Puffins have round tongues and special beaks for eating fish. Both parents feed the baby chick when it hatches. Young chicks figure out how to fly, swim, and hunt by watching their parents. Which Atlantic puffin trait is a learned behavior?

• Swimming in the ocean waters

• Feeding a baby chick when it hatches

• Having round tongues and special beaks

• Strong wings and webbed feet

A student drew a picture of their pet parrot and listed its traits. Which of the parrot’s traits is learned?

• It has brightly colored feathers.

• It eats seeds and drinks water.

• It repeats words after me.

• It has wings and can fly.