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?

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

   Kira compares what stays the same and what differs in Charts A and B. Which pair of statements is correct?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • A and B: same genes, so the traits must match
   • A: same genes, new surroundings. B: same surroundings, new genes
   • A: same surroundings, new genes. B: same genes, new surroundings
   • A and B: new genes in each row, since the traits differ
4. 3.

   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
5. 4.

   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; genes decide height, so light is not worth testing
   • Fair; plants from different parents have the same genes
   • Not fair; the parent plants and the light both differ
   • Not fair; the sun changed the genes of the cuttings
6. 5.

   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
   • Height comes from the genes, so water made no difference
   • Seeds from one parent must match, so a seed was swapped
   • The smaller watering changed seed 2's genes
7. 6.

   Seeds from a tall sunflower grew short in poor soil. Ren reads the chart. Which explanation fits?

   • The shortness was learned from shorter plants nearby
   • Poor soil limited growth; tall genes may still be there
   • The poor soil changed the seeds' genes to short
   • Tall parents pass on height, so the chart must be wrong
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?

   • The stretch is passed on, but bright light cancels it
   • Bright light changed the seeds' genes to make them short
   • 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 genes; the cuttings now differ in genes
   • Fertilizer changed the height; the cuttings share genes
   • Genes changed the height; the cuttings have different genes
10. 9.

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

    • About 26 cm; the extra height was gained and is passed on
    • About 18 cm; the extra height came from the fertilizer
    • About 30 cm; tall plants make even taller cuttings
    • 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?

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