Traits That Give a Survival Advantage

Science · Organisms & Life Processes · ages 8-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which of these is an example of a variation that could help an animal survive?
- Camouflage that matches the ground
- Living near a river
- Looking exactly like every other animal in the group
Which word describes the differences in traits among individuals of the same species?
- Habitat
- Variation
- Extinction
True or false: every individual in a species looks and acts exactly the same.
Circle one: True False
Which trait would most help a plant living in a place with very little rain?
- Drought resistance
- Bright red flowers
- Fast-growing tall stems
A group of beetles lives on green leaves. Some beetles are green, some are brown. Which beetles are more likely to survive?
- The green beetles, because they blend in with the leaves
- The brown beetles, because brown is a stronger color
- Both are equally likely to survive
Look at the chart. A fox is chasing both rabbits. Which rabbit has the survival advantage?
- Rabbit A
- Rabbit B
- Neither has an advantage
Two lizards live in the same rocky desert. One has rough, gray-brown skin. The other has smooth, bright pink skin. Over many years, which lizard's traits are more likely to spread through the group?
- The pink lizard's traits, because pink stands out and gets more mates
- Both spread equally, skin color never matters
- The gray-brown lizard's traits, because it survives and reproduces more often
A scientist says: 'Only the fastest animal in a group can ever survive.' What is wrong with this idea?
- Different traits, not just speed, can help an animal survive
- Nothing is wrong, only speed matters
- Animals never have different traits

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Traits That Give a Survival Advantage W1-mt_UR5LvBeyF1-s1

Camouflage that matches the ground · Camouflage is a variation that can help an animal hide from predators. The other choices describe a habitat or no variation at all, not an advantageous trait.
Variation · Variation is the word for differences in traits among individuals of one species.
False · Individuals in the same species can differ in traits like color, size, and speed.
Drought resistance · Drought resistance lets a plant survive with little water, which is the biggest challenge in a dry place.
The green beetles, because they blend in with the leaves · The green beetles are harder for predators to spot against green leaves, so they are more likely to survive.
Rabbit B · Rabbit B runs faster, so it is more likely to escape the fox and survive.
The gray-brown lizard's traits, because it survives and reproduces more often · The gray-brown lizard blends into the rocks, so it is more likely to survive, find mates, and pass on its traits to its young.
Different traits, not just speed, can help an animal survive · Traits like camouflage, drought resistance, and sharp senses can also give a survival advantage, not just speed.