Vocab 1
Vocab 2
Genes and DNA
Animals and the environment
Interesting facts
(don't need to know for the test)
100

Write the word to match the meaning:


the place where an animal lives

habitat

100

Write the word to match the meaning:

when a changing environment makes survival difficult

environmental pressure

100

How much DNA do you get from your mum and how much do you get from your dad? 

You get half from mum and half from dad.

100

A camel moves from a hot desert to the cold Arctic. Will it survive?

No, it will struggle. The camel's adaptations help it live in a hot environment, it will have a lot of environmental pressure when it moves to the Arctic because it will be so cold. 

100

90% of the world have black or brown hair. Why do you think that is?

The genes that produce dark hair are much more common in humans. Most humans have "dark hair" genes in their bodies.

200

Write the word to match the meaning:

an animal that catches and eats other animals

predator

200

Write the word to match the meaning:

when an animal moves to another place, usually because of seasons changing

migration

200

If twins have the exact same DNA, how can they still be a little different?

Twins can have different environments and learned traits, and eat different food. 

200

Which animal would survive easily in a drought? Explain why and use the word "adaptation" in your answer. 

Example answer:


A camel would survive in a drought because of it's adaptations. It can store water and survive for a long time without drinking water.

200

Why are flamingos pink if they are not born pink?


They get the pink pigments from the tiny animals and algae they eat. Their bodies use these pigments to colour their feathers.

300

Write the word to match the meaning:

an animal that is eaten by a predator

prey

300

Write the word to match the meaning:

when an animal sleeps for a long time in winter to save energy

hibernation

300

Compare yourself to a banana, a monkey and another human. Write the percentage of DNA you share with each of these?

banana: 50%

monkey: 98.8%

human: 99.9%

300

What's the difference between endangered and extinct?

An extinct animal is gone forever — there are none left alive in the whole world. An endangered animal is still alive, but there are very few left. If we don't protect them and their habitats, they could become extinct too.

300

Why does an octopus have three hearts and blue blood? 


Two hearts pump blood to its gills, and one pumps it around its body. Its blood uses copper (铜) instead of iron (铁) to carry oxygen, which works well in cold, low-oxygen water.

400

Write the word to match the meaning:

a characteristic of a living thing

trait

400

Write the word to match the meaning:

the type of trait you get when you study something

learned trait

400

Emma and Jay are siblings. Emma has blonde hair like their mum and Jay has brown hair like their dad. Why?

Each child gets half their genes from mum and half their genes from their dad. They will get a different mix of genes, this variation makes brothers and sisters look different. 

400

A frog is born in a pond with lots of predators, but it does not have legs. What kind of mutation is this? Why?

It's a harmful mutation, without legs it can not escape it's predators. 

400

Why do humans get goosebumps when they are cold or scared?

Our ancestors had much more body hair. Raising those hairs helped trap warm air and could make an animal look bigger. Humans still have the same response, even though it does little to warm us today.

500

Write the word to match the meaning:

traits you are born with

inherited traits

500

Write the word to match the meaning:

carries all the genetic information

DNA

500

Which of these are inherited traits?

freckles       speaking Japanese      cooking      eye colour

hair type             height          hibernation       playing piano

freckles, eye colour, hair type and height

500

A white rabbit lives in the snow, and a worm looks like a snake. Which animal is using camouflage, and which is using mimicry? Explain the difference. 

The white rabbit is using camouflage — its white fur blends in with the snow so predators can't see it. The worm is using mimicry — it looks like a dangerous snake to trick predators into leaving it alone. The difference is that camouflage helps an animal hide, while mimicry tricks predators into thinking the animal is dangerous.

500

Why do reindeer eyes change colour between summer and winter? 

Their eyes change from golden in summer to blue in winter. This helps them see in the very different light conditions of the Arctic, especially during the dark winter months.

600

Write the word to match the meaning:

a small change in a gene

mutation

600

Write the word to match the meaning:

When a species has died out completely

extinction

600

Compare DNA and genes to a cookbook and a recipe.

DNA is like a cookbook with many recipes. Genes are like recipes in a cookbook. There are many recipes (genes) in a cookbook (DNA).

600

Complete this table about animals and habitats:


600

Why do some lizards break off their own tails?


This adaptation, called autotomy, helps them escape predators. The detached tail keeps moving and distracts the predator while the lizard runs away. Some lizards can grow a new tail, although it may look different from the original.