3rd Grade Science : 3rd Grade Science

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 3rd Grade Science

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Example Questions

Example Question #143 : Life Science

Which answer choice is an example of a change that an animal would be able to make due to the environment changing?

Possible Answers:

Bat's improve their eyesight so they can see more insects as some species start to disappear.

A cat hides under a car to stay dry when caught in a rainstorm.

All birds move to Texas because the weather is pleasant year-round.

Alligators move to saltwater pools because there are better fish.

Correct answer:

A cat hides under a car to stay dry when caught in a rainstorm.

Explanation:

Animals often have to change their behaviors to adapt to changes in the environment. Cats would be able to hide under cars to escape a thunderstorm and stay dry. This is a change that they would be able to do. The other answer choices are improbably or impossible for animals to do.

Example Question #4 : Explain How Animals May Change Due To Environmental Changes

Polar bears hunt seals through holes in the sea ice. They travel from great distances across sheets of frozen water to find seal colonies. The seals rest on the ice in large groups and raise their pups. When the seals go out to hunt fish they slip into the water from the edge of the ice.

If temperatures rise and the ice begins to melt, what impact could there be for the seals?

Possible Answers:

Warmer temperatures and melting sea ice would not impact seals.

Seals would not have places to raise their pups and would be exposed to bears.

Melting sea ice and warmer temperatures means the seals will become better swimmers.

The temperature warming and ice melting would mean more summer fun for seals.

Correct answer:

Seals would not have places to raise their pups and would be exposed to bears.

Explanation:

Animals may have to change when there are environmental changes that impact their lives. In the case of the seal dealing with the difference in the amount of sea ice, the change would need to be huge to survive. Seals rely on the sea ice for raising their pups and escaping polar bears, so they would either need to adapt and change their offspring-rearing techniques or find another place to live. These changes would be challenging, and the seals may not survive.

Example Question #1 : Explain How Trait Variations Give Reproduction Advantages

Pollinators prefer plants that have strong smells and brightly colored flower petals when they are selecting a place to collect nectar. Which plant is LEAST likely to attract a pollinator?

Possible Answers:

Flower, Peony, Ornamental Plant, Spring

Honeysuckle, Nature, Spring, Outdoor

Flower, Clover, Nature, Plant, Spring

Finger Shrub, Nordic Figer Shrub

Correct answer:

Finger Shrub, Nordic Figer Shrub

Explanation:

The plant that is least likely to attract a pollinator would be the shrub. It is only green, has no flowers, and has no nectar to attract a pollinator. 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 other photos show very brightly colored flowers that would catch the eye of a passing pollinator.

Example Question #2 : Explain How Trait Variations Give Reproduction Advantages

Trait variations give reproductive advantages to some plants and animals.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

The statement is true. When traits change or carry, there are benefits or advantages to the process. If a feature is a strength and helps animals to survive, they will be more likely selected as a mate, live longer, and produce healthier offspring. These offspring will carry the adapted characteristics with them and pass them on to their offspring, which in turn makes the family group and species stronger.

Example Question #3 : Explain How Trait Variations Give Reproduction Advantages

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?

Trees, Birch, White, Trunk, Forest

Possible Answers:

Dark-colored moth; This moth has a better chance of reproducing because more of them will survive to 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.

Both moths; The light and dark moths will both have an equal chance of reproducing, and neither has an advantage over the other.

Neither; The light-colored and dark-colored moths have no advantage of getting to reproduce, and neither will reach the age of mating.

Correct answer:

Light-colored moth; This moth has a better chance of reproducing because more of them will survive to the age of mating.

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.

Example Question #4 : Explain How Trait Variations Give Reproduction Advantages

In the cold tundras, ice and snow cover the ground for most of the year. Animals have to have strong traits to survive long enough to find a mate and reproduce. Female animals only want the strongest males with the best characteristics to pass on to their offspring.

Which animal would be more likely to live long enough to reproduce in this type of environment?

Possible Answers:

Ara, Parrot, Yellow Macaw, Bird, Animal

Morpho, Polyphemus, Butterfly, White

Snake, Green, Macro, Animal, Zoo

Fox, Arctic, White, Winter, Cold

Correct answer:

Fox, Arctic, White, Winter, Cold

Explanation:

The animal that would be most likely to live long enough in the cold tundra would be an arctic fox. This animal has thick fur, a layer of fat, white fur to blend with the snow, and even changes its fur color to brown in the summer months when there is no snow. This animal is suited to this environment. The snake, moth, and parrot all are perfect for their environments but would not live to reproduce in the tundra and would not have the right traits to pass on for offspring to survive either.

Example Question #151 : 3rd Grade Science

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?

Forget Me Not, Hoverfly, Fly, Bloom

Possible Answers:

Attracting more pollinators gives the plant a higher chance of spreading pollen.

There is no advantage in reproduction because of flower color or smell.

Attracting fewer pollinators gives the plant a higher chance of spreading pollen.

Attracting more pollinators gives the plant a lesser chance of spreading pollen.

Correct answer:

Attracting more pollinators gives the plant a higher chance of spreading pollen.

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.

Example Question #2 : Explain How Trait Variations Give Reproduction Advantages

Trait variations give reproductive advantages to animals but not plants. Plants do not reproduce.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

The statement in the question is false. When traits change or carry, there are benefits or advantages to the process. If a feature is a strength and helps animals to survive, they will be more likely selected as a mate, live longer, and produce healthier offspring. These offspring will carry the adapted characteristics with them and pass them on to their offspring, which in turn makes the family group and species stronger. Plants reproduce by spreading pollen from plant to plant (carried by pollinators), and seeds are formed. These seeds grow into new plants, and the most reliable genes survive and carry on the species.

Example Question #5 : Explain How Trait Variations Give Reproduction Advantages

Why would a camouflaged animal be more likely to reproduce?

Possible Answers:

A camouflaged animal would not be more likely to reproduce.

An animal with camouflage is attractive, so it will get more mates.

The animal is harder to find so it would have less opportunity to find a mate.

It blends in better, so it is more likely to survive to have offspring.

Correct answer:

It blends in better, so it is more likely to survive to have offspring.

Explanation:

A camouflaged animal is more likely to reproduce because it will have a longer lifespan than something easily spotted by predators. If the animal has a longer lifespan, it has more opportunity to find a mate and have offspring. The offspring will inherit these genetics and be more likely to pass them on later in life as well. This type of trait variation and reproductive advantage keeps species alive and well.

Example Question #5 : Explain How Trait Variations Give Reproduction Advantages

Some animals have variations in their behaviors and physical traits that give them reproduction advantages. Male peacocks will spread their tail feathers and shake them while courting potential mates. Female peacocks will choose the males with the most ornate and beautiful tail feathers. How do traits like peacock tail feathers give their offspring an advantage?

Peacock, Animal, Color, Brightly Colored

Possible Answers:

The males with the best tails will be able to teach their offspring how to groom their tails to attract mates.

There is no advantage for the offspring of animals with these variations in traits.

The offspring of the selected males will know their father was the best, so they will be more confident.

Females will choose the males with the best feathers so that those genes will be passed to their offspring.

Correct answer:

Females will choose the males with the best feathers so that those genes will be passed to their offspring.

Explanation:

The male peacocks that are selected for reproduction by female peacocks will most likely have the best genes. Female peacocks are looking for the flashiest tails and strongest peacocks when they look for a mate. The offspring will inherit these genetics and be more likely to pass them on later in life as well. This type of trait variation and reproductive advantage keeps species alive and well.

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