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

Grade 7 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Ari grows two pea plants in the same garden bed. One has violet flowers and one has white flowers. What decides the flower color?

   • The soil, which changed each plant's genes
   • The genes from the parent plants
   • The garden bed the plants share
   • Practice, since each plant learned its color
2. 2.

   Esme taught a dog to shake paws. Will the dog's puppies be born knowing the trick?

   • No, a learned trick is not in genes
   • Yes, the trick is now in the dog's genes
   • Yes, because traits come from genes
   • Yes, practice changed the dog's genes for tricks
4. 3.

   Jun reads a trait chart for bean seedlings. What trait do the seedlings from the dark cupboard have?

   • Pale and tall
   • Pale and short
   • Green and short, like the other row
   • Green and tall
5. 4.

   Kira reads the same chart. What trait do the seedlings from the bright window have?

   Use the picture in question 3.

   • Green and tall
   • Pale and tall, like the other row
   • Pale and short
   • Green and short
6. 5.

   Luz compares the two rows. Which column holds the cause of the different looks?

   Use the picture in question 3.

   • Surroundings: dark or bright
   • Genes: the light changed the seeds' genes
   • Genes: the two rows have different genes
   • Trait: the looks cause the light to differ
7. 6.

   Milo reads a science word list. Which meaning goes with the words inherited trait?

   • A trait the surroundings decide on their own
   • A trait that changes the parents' genes when it shows
   • A trait gained by practice, such as a skill
   • A trait passed from parents through their genes
8. 7.

   Pia reads about learned traits. Which meaning goes with the words learned trait?

   • A trait written in the genes from birth
   • A trait that the weather hands to a plant
   • A skill gained by practice, like playing a song
   • A trait that a learner's own offspring are born with
9. 8.

   Ren fills in the missing trait for the second pea plant. Which trait goes in the box?

   • Violet flowers, since the sun changed the plant's genes
   • Violet flowers, since the bed is the same
   • Pink flowers, since pink is between the two
   • White flowers, since the genes say white
10. 9.

    Tala fills in the missing trait. Both pea plants have the same genes for violet flowers but grow in different beds. What goes in the box?

    • White flowers, since the damp bed is different
    • Violet flowers, since the genes say violet
    • White flowers, since the damp bed changed the plant's genes
    • Pale flowers, since damp beds fade the color
11. 10.

    Zee fills in the blank Surroundings box for the green seedlings. Which goes in the box?

    • The dark cupboard, since the seeds are the same
    • Different genes, since the looks are different
    • A bright window, since light turns leaves green
    • A wet paper towel, since green needs water