Name _________________________ Parent Signature _______________________ Period ________
Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors Test Review – Answer Key
Identify which statement is an inherited physical trait, acquired physical traits, learned behavior, or inherited
behavior.
Inherited Physical Trait - A physical characteristic that is passed from parents to offspring (genetics)
Acquired Physical Trait – A physical characteristic that is obtained after birth
Learned Behavior - Animal behavior that develops from observation or instruction
Inherited Behavior -A behavior that is passed from parents to offspring “instinct”
1.
Birds fly to find food and building nests in trees. __Inherited Behavior_________
2. Birds eating from a bird feeder. _____Learned Behavior_________________
3. A plant’s leaf partially eaten by insects. _____Acquired Physical Trait________
4. Birds have long tail feathers. _____Inherited Physical Trait_______
5. Bullfrogs jump when frightened. _______ Inherited Behavior ____________________
6. Bull frogs lay eggs and swim underwater. ____ Inherited Behavior_______________________
7. A tree with a missing branch due to wind damage. ____ Acquired Physical Trait ______________
8. Bullfrogs avoid poisonous insects when eating. _______ Learned Behavior __________
9. Raccoons eating trash from trashcans. _____ Learned Behavior _______________
10. A person that has a scar from a childhood injury. ____ Acquired Physical Trait ____
11. Animals know where to find food. ____ Learned Behavior ________________
12. A flower wilting due to lack of water. _____ Acquired Physical Trait ___________
13. Patterns and colors on the surface of lentils (beans) ___ Inherited Physical Trait ____________
14. A person being right-handed or left-handed. ____ Inherited Physical Trait________________
15. A person’s food preference. ____ Learned Behavior _____________
16. An animal being nocturnal. _____ Inherited Behavior_______________________
17. Riding a bike, reading a favorite book, and liking hamburgers. ____ Learned Behavior _____
18. A rose’s color and number of petals____ Inherited Physical Trait __________
19. Hair color, eye color, shape of eyes, your height_____ Inherited Physical Trait ____________
20. An animal taking care of their young____ Inherited Behavior__________
Match the following terms and definitions.
21.
Learned behavior
_Inherited physical trait__characteristic that is passed down from parent to offspring.
(children)
22.
_Learned behavior___a behavior that an animal develops from observing other animals
Echolocation
Migrate
or by being taught.
Offspring
23.
_Offspring____Children
Burrowing animal
24.
__Echolocation____to use reflected sound to determine location.
25.
__Migration___to move from one place to another and to adapt to another environment.
26.
__Insectivore___eats only insects.
27.
__Nocturnal____an animal that only hunts/active at night.
28.
__Burrowing animal__an animal that digs a hole to live in and for protection
Inherited physical
trait
Insectivore
Nocturnal
29. How are the webbed feet of a duck similar to bat’s wings? __Webbed feet allows ducks to move
through the water easily the same as bat wings allow bats to move through the air easily_
30. How do bees help flowering plants? Bees collect pollen in the hairs of their legs and it falls off as they
fly around
31. Explain why there are so many different bird beaks. Different birds eat different kinds of food so their
beak is designed to help them get their food.
32. How would a burrowing animal be better suited for a hot summer day, than a non burrowing animal? _They
have the ability to go underground when it is hot to cool off.___
Animal 1
Superior burrowing ability
Thick, velvety fur
Pointed snout
Animal 2
Uses echolocation to find
food and relatives
Sleek, rubbery skin
Sharp, pointed teeth
Animal 3
Uses feathers and wings
to migrate
Eats berries from bushes
Dull, blunt beak
33. Explain which animal is best adapted for hunting in the ocean. Write your answer in complete sentences.
Animal 2 is best adapted for hunting in the ocean because it has sleek, rubbery skin and uses
echolocation to find food.
34. How does an organism get its inherited traits?
Inherited traits are part of genetics that are passed on from the parent to the offspring.
35. Create a t-chart of inherited physical traits and learned behaviors that you have. You must have at least 5 of
each.
Inherited Trait
Learned Behavior
Brown Hair
Read a book
Freckles
Eat with a Spoon
Hazel Eyes
Eat pizza
Height
Favorite color is purple
Straight Hair
Ride a bike
36. What is the purpose of a skunk’s spray? __It is a defense it uses against predators_____
37. Why do you think a herd animal like an elephant can send out a deep rumbling call (noise) that can
be heard for miles away?
_It is used to communicate with other elephants and is a warning for predators.________
Explain the purpose of each adaptation.
38.
Oil-coated feathers this protects the skin against water. The water will just roll off the oilcoated feathers.
39.
Echolocation Used to send signals that bounce off objects to navigate in the water or
locate food.
40.
Hollow bones allows organisms to be lighter in weight for flying
41.
Streamlined body used to move through water or air more easily
42.
Regulating your body temperature allows animals to cool down when they get too hot or
warm themselves if they get too cold.
Peacocks
Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail
feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body
length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in
mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's
back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the
size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.
43. What is the purpose of the male spreading his tails feathers?
_To show off his tail feathers and attract a female___
44. How might this increase his chance of finding a mate?
The female looks for males with big, colorful feathers to choose as a mate_____________