Assessment: Adapting to the Natural Environment

1. Several orchards in different regions were planted with apple trees produced from a single parent tree. The table above shows data gathered at the three apple orchards. Which characteristic in the table above is most likely inherited and not affected by the environment?

A Full bloom date

B Ripe fruit color

C Average fruit size

D Days from bloom to harvest

2. Areas that receive little rainfall and haveextreme high and low temperatures will mostlikely have organisms that —

A are adapted for aquatic environments

B conserve water

C migrate seasonally

D are active only during the daytime

3. For rabbits, having long hair is an advantageover having short hair in environmentswith —

Ahigh levels of rain

Ba large number of competitors

Clow temperatures

Dfew predators

4. The picture above shows four varieties of the same species of grass that grow in a prairie ecosystem. Which variety has the best chance of surviving a long period of dry weather?

A Variety 1

B Variety 2

C Variety 3

D Variety 4

5. A student studying spiders creates the table shown above. What is the best conclusion the student canmake based on this information?

AWeb spiders are larger than hunting spiders.

BWolf spiders are the largest of these spiders.

CHunting spiders usually have warning color patterns.

DJumping spiders are faster than yellow garden spiders.

6. The table above shows where some birds in a Texas ecosystem are located within the layers of plantsin their environment. These layers begin at the ground and end in the area above the treetops. Whichof these would most likely occur if a wildfire destroyed all the plants in the lowest level of this

ecosystem?

AVireos would begin to nest on the ground.

BDoves would have to move to a different area to find food.

CHawks would begin to hunt for animals in the middle level.

DCardinals would move to above tree level and begin competing with hawks.

7. Which of the following traits is mostinfluenced by the environment?

ABody weight

BEye color

CBlood type

DColor blindness

8. The petals of flowers often are brightlycolored. These petals provide a benefit for theplant because they —

A prevent insects from taking pollen toother flowers

B hide the plant from predators that wouldeat its flowers

C protect the leaves from injury by birdsand insects

D attract insects that can carry the pollenneeded for plant reproduction

9. Which of the following terms best describes all the white-tailed deer in a particular forest?

A Community

B Ecosystem

C Individual

D Population

10. Which of the following is least affected by seasonal environmental conditions?

A The pattern in a tiger’s fur

B The dropping of tree leaves

C The sprouting of acorns

D The migration of gray whales