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3rd Grade Science › Life Science
Amazon Rainforest: In the Amazon Rainforest is rains almost every day. There are very tall trees that create a canopy, and the ground of the forest is covered in plants. The plants on the ground try to grow wide or tall to reach sunlight. The very tall trees can block much of the sunlight.
Which animal would most likely NOT survive in this habitat, and why?
A spider would not survive because it would be at risk of getting squished.
A rabbit would not survive because it would have nowhere to hide.
A hawk would not survive because there is nothing in a grassy area for it to hunt.
A parrot would not survive because it would be too loud and pretty.
Explanation
In this type of environment, it would be tough for a hawk to survive. Hawks hunt small mammals that they spot with their keen eyesight on the ground in grassy fields and open areas. They fly high above, looking for prey and swoop down on them. In a rainforest, it can be dark, and there is limited open space to hunt. It would be difficult for hawks to adapt and find food.
Which scenario below is an example of plants being affected by an environmental change?
Amelia gets a new potted plant from the store and adds it to her collection.
Robert gives his wife a bouquet of roses for their wedding anniversary.
Cindy throws away the dead leaves from a house plant.
Johnny's tomato plants withered and died during a drought.
Explanation
All of these scenarios feature plants, but only one highlights a change in the environment, which in turn affects the plants. The tomato plants were deprived of water due to the drought, so they withered and died. Plants need water to survive, and the change in the environment negatively affected the tomato plants.
Researchers were digging in the desert when they came across a fossilized cactus leaf buried in the sand.
Environments can change over time. Some places stay the same. What might this environment have been in the past?
The environment has not changed since the fossil was formed.
The environment used to be a tropical island.
The environment used to be underwater.
The environment used to be a grassland.
Explanation
Many environments change over time, and fossils tell researchers what those changes are. In this example, the scientists are digging in the desert and found a cactus leaf. A cactus would most likely be found in the desert, so the environment has not changed over time. If a seashell were found or an aquatic plant, researchers would know there had been a shift over the years from a wet area to very dry.
All organisms follow a life cycle, even humans. In the model below, what is the missing piece of the cycle?
Newborn Infant
Child
Adult
Elderly
Toddler
Teenager
Baby
Senior Citizen
Explanation
The missing stage of this life cycle model is "Teenager." All organisms move through life on a similar path from birth to death. In the cycle presented, this person has not completed their teenage years, which comes before being an adult. Different organisms have their specific periods, so it may look different when comparing an insect and a plant.
Which example(s) is a learned behavior rather than an inherited trait?
Speaking English
Flower Color
Fur Length
Leaf Pattern
Explanation
Inherited traits come from the parents of a young plant or animal. These are traits that are passed along through genes and are a mix of both the mother and father. Learned behaviors are things taught to an offspring by the parents. Hunting, creating tunnels, and caring for young are all behaviors that are taught through observation and repetition. These are things that need to be learned. The color of flower petals, length of animal fur, and patterns on a leaf are all inherited traits. Speaking any language is a learned behavior that must be taught.
Meerkats live in large families. Some are look-outs while others care for the young. Other meerkats are in charge of digging tunnels, and some are hunters. The meerkats will trade jobs and take turns.

What could happen to the meerkats if they started living alone instead of in groups?
They could die without the group to help them.
They could get lonely and find new friends.
They could become very mean.
They could do all of the different jobs by themselves.
Explanation
Living in a large family benefits the meerkats because they can split up the work and have members of the family working together to keep the family safe and healthy. Rather than all of the work falling on a few animals, it can be split up amongst dozens. Living in large groups like this help with protection, food collection, and general survival. If the meerkats were forced to live alone rather than in family groups, they might die. If they are busy gathering food or digging tunnels, they may not see predators. It would be hard for a meerkat to do all of the jobs by itself.
Why does the puppy in the photo below look so similar to both of its parents?

The parent's traits have been passed to the puppy.
The puppy is a clone of the adult dogs.
The adult dogs are not the puppy's parents; they are siblings.
The puppy does not look similar to the adult dogs.
Explanation
Plants and animals inherit their traits and genes from their parents. Each offspring is a mix of both parents and will display characteristics from their mother and father. The adult dogs are all the same species, color, patterns, and breed, so they will pass on traits that will cause the puppy to look similar.
Pollinators prefer plants that have strong smells and brightly colored flower petals when they are selecting a place to collect nectar like the one pictured below. How does this variation in appearance give them an advantage in reproducing?

Attracting more pollinators gives the plant a higher chance of spreading pollen.
Attracting more pollinators gives the plant a lesser chance of spreading pollen.
Attracting fewer pollinators gives the plant a higher chance of spreading pollen.
There is no advantage in reproduction because of flower color or smell.
Explanation
When a bee, bat, butterfly, etc. lands on the flower and moves to collect the nectar, pollen is transferred onto the animal's body, and then cross-pollination happens when it lands on another flower. The photo shows very brightly colored flowers that would catch the eye of a passing pollinator. Flowers that are brightly colored and have strong odors are more likely to attract pollinators, which give them an advantage in reproduction. If more pollinators are landing on their petals and spreading their pollen, they have a better chance of creating new plants.
A population of dark-colored moths moves into an area with light-colored moths. The area has lots of birch trees. The dark-moths stand out against the white and grey trees. More dark moths are eaten by predators than light moths. Only moths that live to reproduction age will produce offspring.
Which moth or moths has the advantage because of their traits to get the change of reproducing?

Neither; The light-colored and dark-colored moths have no advantage of getting to reproduce, and neither will reach the age of mating.
Light-colored moth; This moth has a better chance of reproducing because more of them will survive to the age of mating.
Dark-colored moth; This moth has a better chance of reproducing because more of them will survive to the age of mating.
Both moths; The light and dark moths will both have an equal chance of reproducing, and neither has an advantage over the other.
Explanation
In this scenario, the lighter-colored moth has a better chance at survival because it blends in with the beige and white birch trees. The more moths that survive, the more can reach adulthood and create offspring. The dark-colored moths are more likely to stand out against the white and beige trees, so there are less that will survive to reproduce.
Panda: This bear is huge and can weigh up to 300 pounds. It has very thick black and white fur that keeps it warm when it is cold or chilly outside. It primarily eats bamboo but will also eat rodents, grass, and meat if needed. They drink their water from streams and rivers. They take shelter in hollow trees and the holes between rocks.
Sahara Desert: The Sahara Desert is made entirely of sand. It rarely rains and is very dry. There are only a few plants, and they have small leaves. The sand is scorching and moves every time it is touched; when the wind blows, the sand shifts in all directions.
Based on the information provided, how well would the panda survive in this habitat, and why?
The panda would survive very well because it is adapted and has the traits to live in the Sahara Desert.
The panda would not survive because it is not adapted and does not have the traits to live in the Sahara Desert.
The panda would survive less well in the desert than other places because it is not adapted and does not have the traits to live in the Sahara.
There is not enough information to decide if the panda could survive in the desert.
Explanation
In this habitat, the panda would not survive. The panda has thick fur to protect it against cold weather, and the desert is sweltering, so it would overheat quickly. It's black and white coat would offer no camouflage in the sand, and there is no water source for the panda to drink from. The food sources that pandas rely on are not available in the Sahara. The panda would not survive in this habitat because it is not adapted to live there.