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
   • Genes set seed shape; fertilizer changed cutting height
   • The soil set the seed shape; the genes set the cutting height
   • Genes set the seed shape; fertilizer changed the cuttings' genes
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.

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

   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 surroundings, new genes. B: same genes, new surroundings
   • A and B: new genes in each row, since the traits differ
   • A: same genes, new surroundings. B: same surroundings, new genes
5. 4.

   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, trimming changed the hedge's genes, which the seeds receive
   • No, because the hedge's shape is set by its genes, not trimming
   • Yes, a shape gained in life is passed on to seeds
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
   • Not fair; genes decide height, so light is not worth testing
   • Fair; plants from different parents have the same genes
   • 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?

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

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

   • Tall parents pass on height, so the chart must be wrong
   • Poor soil limited growth; tall genes may still be there
   • The poor soil changed the seeds' genes to short
   • The shortness was learned from shorter plants nearby
9. 8.

   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
   • The seedlings have different genes, since they look different
   • Dim light stretched the parent; stretch is not inherited
   • Bright light changed the seeds' genes to make them short
10. 9.

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

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

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