Forecasting, Adaptation & Traits

Use the table about Cedar Valley to answer questions 1 to 5. Each season is 3 months long.

1. 1.

   Which season is usually the rainiest in Cedar Valley?

   (1 pt)

   ○ winter○ spring○ summer○ fall
2. 2.

   How many more rainy days does spring usually have than winter?

   (1 pt)
3. 3.

   Make a pictograph of the usual rainy days for each season. Let one raindrop stand for 3 rainy days. Write the key.

   (3 pts)
4. 4.

   A family is going camping in Cedar Valley and wants to play in the snow. Which season should they choose? Use the data.

   (2 pts)
5. 5.

   A forecast for a July day in Cedar Valley says, "High of 55°F with snow." Is this likely? Use the table to explain.

   (2 pts)

Think about how living things and people fit the climates where they live.

1. 6.

   Write the climate where each adaptation helps most: tropical, arid or polar. ___ A ptarmigan grows white feathers in winter and has feathers on its feet. ___ An orchid grows high on rainforest tree branches, closer to the light. ___ A camel has wide, padded feet for walking on loose sand.

   (3 pts)
2. 7.

   Which behavior helps a ground squirrel survive a long, cold winter with little food?

   (1 pt)

   ○ It hibernates in its burrow.○ It suns itself on rocks.○ It grows bigger ears.○ It eats snow.
3. 8.

   Banana plants need warm weather all year, and frost hurts them. Would a banana plant survive well, less well or not at all outdoors in a polar climate? Give a reason.

   (2 pts)
4. 9.

   A town on a hurricane coast gets very strong winds. A builder can attach roofs with metal straps that tie the roof to the walls, or just set the roof on top with a few nails. Which design is better? Make a claim and give a reason.

   (3 pts)

Use the table about a dog family for questions 10 to 12.

1. 10.

   Which trait did every puppy share with both parents?

   (1 pt)
2. 11.

   Which trait shows variation among the puppies? How do you know?

   (2 pts)
3. 12.

   Are the puppies' floppy ears inherited or learned? How do you know?

   (2 pts)
4. 13.

   Write I for an inherited trait or L for a learned behavior. ___ an elephant's trunk ___ a parrot opens its cage latch after watching its owner do it ___ a horse's hooves ___ a goldfish swims to the top when it sees the food box

   (2 pts)
5. 14.

   Tomato plants from one seed packet were split into two groups. Group A was watered every day. Group B was watered once a week. After 6 weeks, Group A plants were about 60 cm tall and Group B plants were about 33 cm tall. Did Group B inherit shortness? Explain.

   (3 pts)

Use the data to answer questions 15 to 18.

1. 15.

   Ray measured the ears of 6 young rabbits of one kind: 9 cm, 11 cm, 10 cm, 8 cm, 11 cm and 12 cm. What is the difference between the longest and the shortest ear?

   (1 pt)
2. 16.

   Which ear length did Ray measure most often?

   (1 pt)
3. 17.

   Which beetles have an advantage on dark soil? Make an argument. Claim: ____ Evidence: ____ Reasoning: ____

   (6 pts)
4. 18.

   Male frogs of one kind call at night to attract mates. The females usually hop toward the males with the loudest calls. Which males are more likely to have offspring? Why?

   (2 pts)