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 the seed shape; fertilizer changed the cuttings' genes
   • Genes set seed shape; fertilizer changed cutting height
   • Genes set both traits, since both are traits
   • The soil set the seed shape; the genes set the cutting height
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
   • Pick round-seed pea genes, and give the cuttings fertilizer
   • Choose cuttings with tall genes, since fertilizer cannot matter
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: new genes in each row, since the traits differ
   • 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
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, because the hedge's shape is set by its genes, not trimming
   • Yes, trimming changed the hedge's genes, which the seeds receive
   • Yes, a shape gained in life is passed on to seeds
   • No, trimming is a surrounding, so the shape is not in the genes
6. 5.

   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; a skill the parents gained is passed on to the child
   • Yes; skills come from the genes, not from any practice
   • Not necessarily; the child may have learned it by practice
7. 6.

   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; the sun changed the genes of the cuttings
   • Not fair; genes decide height, so light is not worth testing
8. 7.

   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
9. 8.

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

   • 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
   • Tall parents pass on height, so the chart must be wrong
10. 9.

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

    • Fertilizer changed the genes; the cuttings now differ in genes
    • Genes changed the height; the cuttings have different genes
    • Nothing changed the height; same genes give the same look
    • Fertilizer changed the height; the cuttings share genes
11. 10.

    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