Traits from genes, traits from surroundings, and traits from both

Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

2. 1.

   Esme reads Chart A and Chart B. What do the two charts together show about the causes of these traits?

   • The soil set the seed shape; the genes set the cutting height
   • Genes set seed shape; fertilizer changed cutting height
   • Genes set the seed shape; fertilizer changed the cuttings' genes
   • Genes set both traits, since both are traits
3. 2.

   Using both charts, Jun wants round seeds and tall cuttings. Which plan fits what the charts show?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • Fertilize the peas, since fertilizer changes the seeds' genes
   • Fertilize the peas to make seeds round, since soil sets shape
   • Choose cuttings with tall genes, since fertilizer cannot matter
   • Pick round-seed pea genes, and give the cuttings fertilizer
4. 3.

   Luz claims that seeds from a hedge trimmed into a box shape will grow into box-shaped plants. Which response is best?

   • No, trimming is a surrounding, so the shape is not in the genes
   • Yes, a shape gained in life is passed on to seeds
   • No, because the hedge's shape is set by its genes, not trimming
   • Yes, trimming changed the hedge's genes, which the seeds receive
5. 4.

   Milo says two piano players have a child who plays piano, so the skill must be in the genes. Which response is best?

   • Yes; practice by the parents changed the genes of the child
   • Yes; skills come from the genes, not from any practice
   • Yes; a skill the parents gained is passed on to the child
   • Not necessarily; the child may have learned it by practice
6. 5.

   Noah's class grew mint cuttings: some from plant X in sun, some from plant Y in shade. The shade group was taller. Which statement about the test is best?

   • Not fair; the parent plants and the light both differ
   • Fair; plants from different parents have the same genes
   • Not fair; genes decide height, so light is not worth testing
   • Not fair; the sun changed the genes of the cuttings
7. 6.

   Two marigold seeds from one parent plant grew to different heights. Pia reads the chart. Which explanation fits?

   • Watering differed, so surroundings help explain the gap
   • Seeds from one parent must match, so a seed was swapped
   • The smaller watering changed seed 2's genes
   • Height comes from the genes, so water made no difference
8. 7.

   A basil plant on a dim shelf grew tall and spindly. Tala plants seeds from that plant in bright light. The seedlings are shorter. Which explanation fits?

   • Bright light changed the seeds' genes to make them short
   • The stretch is passed on, but bright light cancels it
   • Dim light stretched the parent; stretch is not inherited
   • The seedlings have different genes, since they look different
9. 8.

   Zee's class grew mint cuttings from one plant, with and without fertilizer. The fertilized group was taller. Which claim and reason fit?

   • Nothing changed the height; same genes give the same look
   • Fertilizer changed the height; the cuttings share genes
   • Genes changed the height; the cuttings have different genes
   • Fertilizer changed the genes; the cuttings now differ in genes
10. 9.

    Ari takes new cuttings from the tallest fertilized mint plant and grows them without fertilizer. Which claim and reason fit?

    • About 18 cm; the extra height came from the fertilizer
    • About 30 cm; tall plants make even taller cuttings
    • About 26 cm; the extra height was gained and is passed on
    • About 26 cm; fertilizer changed the plant's genes for height
11. 10.

    Bo's class compared mint cuttings from one plant given 100 mL or 50 mL of water a day. Which student explains the heights?

    • Ren: the water changed the genes of the short group
    • Jun: the genes made the gap, since height is a trait
    • Zee: water made the gap, since the cuttings share genes
    • Esme: the heights must match, since the genes are the same