MC	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Birds in a desert climate survive on soft parts of cactus. Scientists observed that during a drought, many of the birds died. The ones that survived had larger beaks and were able to crack open and eat hard seeds that would ordinarily not be used. The next generation of birds all had large beaks.

How did inherited traits help some birds survive?

a. all surviving birds migrated

b. inherited traits helped birds get water

c. inherited traits helped birds change foods

d. the inherited traits changed the environment

Correct Answer: c

MC	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Who would most directly benefit from the study of genetics?

a. dairy farmers

b. pianists

c. actors

d. cooks

Correct Answer: a

MC	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Some organisms have colorful appearances to warn their predators (animals that would try to eat them) that they are harmful or do not taste good. If other organisms mimic these colors in areas where the predator is not exposed to the original organism, how successful would the mimics be in survival?

a. They would be successful because predators are always afraid of colorful organisms.

b. They will not be successful because predators avoid eating others only after an original harmful or distasteful experience.

c. They will be successful because predators are colorblind and will not see them.

d. They will not be successful because predators only avoid eating others after their original harmful experience kills them.

Correct Answer: b

MC	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Use and develop a simple classification system.
Indicator:	c. Generalize rules for classification.
ILO:

The more classification levels shared by two organisms:

a. the easier it is to tell them apart

b. the more distantly related they are

c. the move characteristics they have in common

d. the closer they live together in their environment

Correct Answer: c

MC	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Read the following situation and answer the questions.

Your mother sends you to the store to buy some tomatoes. You notice when you get there that there are several choices to make. Among those choices you notice a sign that announces a new genetically altered tomato that resists “rotting,” “stays firmer longer” and has a “longer shelf life.”

How would you go about testing (doing) sciences to support or reject these claims?

a. Buy a genetically engineered tomato and a regular tomato and compare the two.

b. Ask your neighbor who is a scientist if these claims are true.

c. Buy 2 genetically engineered tomatoes and compare them.

d. Buy 2 regular tomatoes and compare them.

e. It is not possible for a student to test these claims.

Correct Answer: a

MC	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Many animals that live near the North Pole are white. Why is being white a helpful inherited trait for the North Pole environment?

a. white absorbs more heat

b. white blends in with the surroundings

c. white reflects sunlight

d. white helps animals to move faster

Correct Answer: b

I	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Students dropped different colored toothpicks in lawn grass. They were given one minute to pick up as many toothpicks as they could. Students found that they had more red and blue toothpicks than green.

Ecologists observed that the Varying hares (“rabbits”) fur is brown in the summer and white in winter. They found that the population remained about the same in winter and summer.

1. According to these investigations, how does color affect organisms?

a. It helps them stand out from their surroundings.

b. It helps them find more food.

c. It helps them escape predators.

d. It helps them find communities to live in.

2. What advantage does the model presented in the classroom have over the natural setting?

a. It shows how easily people would find animals of different colors.

b. It is more accurate because classroom models better represent nature than nature itself.

c. It is easier to calculate the results because of the controlled environment.

d. It bears no advantage over the natural testing environment.

3. What advantage does the model presented in the classroom have over the natural setting?

a. It can be observed in a short time.

b. It is more accurate and testable.

c. It has only real populations and methods.

d. It can be observed and tested.

Correct Answers:

1. c

2. c

3. a

E	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Suppose that a brown bear has a cub with a mutation that makes the cub have white fur. How would this white fur trait affect the bear’s survival if the bear lived in an evergreen forest environment? How would the trait affect survival if the bear lived in an environment like the Arctic?

Ideal Answer: In an evergreen forest, the white fur mutation would probably be a disadvantage. If the bear were a predator, it would be more easily noticed than a bear with darker coloring as it hunted for prey. In an environment like the Arctic, the whiteness of its fur would blend into the surroundings and allow the bear to move around without being noticed. It could hunt and find its prey easier than a dark animal.

Scoring Guide:

Coloration used to hunt food-40%

Coloration used as protection-40%

Spelling, punctuation, language usage-20%

E	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Many people fear the advancements being made in so-called genetic engineering. What are they afraid might happen?

Ideal answer: Many people fear that genetic engineering is moving faster than it can be controlled. They fear that scientists, in their efforts to make money and develop new technology, may not consider what is best for mankind. They fear that scientists may develop deadly microbes and release them into the environment, or that they may develop new plant and animal species and release them in to the environment without knowing their impact on a fragile ecosystem. Farmers and ranchers fear that with the development of new plant and animal species for human consumption would result in large companies charging enormous fees for the products, since they control patents, and could force smaller operators out of business. Others fear that clones may be developed for the purpose of weapons, or providing organs for donation.

Scoring Guide:

shows understanding of the issue 40%

the issue is well thought out 40%

the explanation is well written 20%

E	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

By changing their genetic material, certain kinds of bacteria can be used to make life-saving substances such as insulin. What advantages does this insulin have over that used years ago? What other substances might be produced in this way to benefit mankind?

Ideal answer: Because the code for making human insulin is coded into the bacteria, they produce human insulin. This is an advantage to people using insulin, because there are fewer side effects from the human insulin than from the insulin that people used to use. This former insulin was extracted from cows and pigs and many people were allergic to it. In the future, hormones, enzymes, and other chemicals that people sometimes need might be produced by this method, thus saving many lives.

Scoring Guide:

complete 40%

accurate 40%

well written 20%

E	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Moscow tomato plants have been found to be susceptible to disease. Scientists have used genetics to change the plant to make it more disease resistant. By doing this they have changed the plant from its original form.

Based upon your research, write an essay describing the pros and cons of the following statement:

Changing plants genetically to benefit people is acceptable regardless of the effect upon our ecosystem.

Rubric:

4 - Students bring up pros and cons of genetically changing plants. Genetic technology is also mentioned. Responsibility of ethical and social issues and problems involved in genetics are included. Spelling and punctuation are correct.

3 - Student writes about pros and cons of genetically changing plants and includes technology and our ethical and social responsibility in dealing with these issues.

2 - Students bring up ethical issues and pros or cons.

1 - Student chooses one side of the issue to discuss without identifying pros or cons.

E	7^th Grade Integrated Science	Standard: 04
Objective: 02. Relate the adaptability of organisms in an environment to their inherited traits and structures.
ILO:

Through selective breeding, scientists have been able to increase the yield of many crops. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this type of breeding.

Rubric:

4 - 2 advantages are stated and 2 disadvantages are stated

3 - 2 advantages and 1 advantage or 1 advantage and 2 disadvantages are stated

2 - 1 advantage is stated and 1 disadvantage is stated

1 - only 1 advantage or disadvantage is stated