Evidence for Inherited Variation Practice Test

A school garden grew pepper plants in the same plot (same soil, sunlight, and watering). Students recorded fruit shape across three generations.

Generation 1 (Parents): one parent produces round fruit, one parent produces long fruit

Generation 2 (Offspring): 8 round, 12 long

Generation 3 (Offspring from two round Generation 2 plants): 9 round, 3 long

Variation can be inherited. Which explanation best fits the inherited variation pattern across generations?

A student made a claim after observing beak shape in a group of finches raised in the same aviary (same food type and temperature).

Generation 1 (Parents): one parent has thick beak, one parent has thin beak

Generation 2 (Offspring): 10 thick, 8 thin

The student claims: “Because the environment is the same, beak shape differences cannot be inherited.”

Variation can be inherited. Which statement best evaluates the student’s claim using evidence from the generations?