Year 6 Science · Offspring, adaptation and evolution · Test yourself
Year 6 Science Offspring, adaptation and evolution: check-up and practice test questions
Part of the Year 6 Science offspring, adaptation and evolution chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Exercise 6Z Check-up
1
What are the young of living things called? Write the word.
offspring
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. The young of living things are called offspring.offspring
- Write the answer. offspring
Check. Offspring are of the same kind as their parents. ✓
2
Do offspring normally vary from their parents? Write yes or no.
yes
Method. Recall the idea.
- Recall. Offspring normally vary, and are not identical to their parents.vary
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Variation is normal. ✓
3
What is the range of the seed lengths in section 6.2? Write the number of millimetres.
4 mm
Method. Subtract the lowest from the highest.
- Read the values. The highest is 14 mm and the lowest is 10 mm.14 and 10
- Subtract. The range is 14 minus 10.14 - 10 = 4
- Write the answer. 4 mm
Check. 10 + 4 = 14. ✓
4
What is the mode of the seed lengths in section 6.2? Write the number of millimetres.
12 mm
Method. Count the lengths.
- Count. The length 12 mm occurs three times.3 times
- Write the mode. So the mode is 12 mm.12 mm
- Write the answer. 12 mm
Check. The mode is the most common value. ✓
5
Which animal in section 6.3 has a hump that stores fat? Write the name.
camel
Method. Read the table.
- Read the row. The camel has a hump that stores fat.hump
- Write the answer. camel
Check. The camel lives in hot deserts. ✓
6
What adaptation helps a duck to swim? Write the words.
webbed feet
Method. Read the table.
- Read the row. The duck has webbed feet.webbed feet
- Write the answer. webbed feet
Check. Webbed feet push water backwards. ✓
7
What does the thick stem of a cactus store? Write one word.
water
Method. Read the description.
- Read the description. The thick stem stores water.water
- Write the answer. water
Check. The spines reduce water loss. ✓
8
Using the table in section 6.5, what percentage of beetles were brown in generation 4? Write the number.
10%
Method. Use the total of 100.
- Read the row. Generation 4 has 90 green beetles out of 100.90
- Subtract. The brown beetles are 100 minus 90.100 - 90 = 10
- Write the answer. 10%
Check. 90 green plus 10 brown is 100. ✓
9
Name the process that changes a population over many generations, by helpful variations surviving. Write the words.
natural selection
Method. Read the steps.
- Read the steps. Helpful variations help survival, and more of their offspring survive.survival
- Write the words. The process is natural selection.natural selection
- Write the answer. natural selection
Check. This is one way that evolution happens. ✓
10
Explain how adaptation may lead to evolution. Write one sentence.
Accept any sentence that says a helpful adaptation spreads through a population over generations, which can change the species.
Method. Think about the adaptation.
- Think about survival. A helpful adaptation helps survival and reproduction.survival
- Think about change. Over many generations it becomes common, which can change the species.change
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a helpful adaptation spreads through a population over generations, which can change the species.
Check. Adaptation can lead to evolution over time. ✓
Total 17 marks. Allow about 17 minutes.
Exercise 6X Practice test questions
1
FOffspring are of the same kind as their parents. Are they always identical to them? Write yes or no.[1 mark]
no
Method. Read the idea.
- Read the idea. Offspring normally vary, so they are not always identical to their parents.vary
- Decide. So the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Variation is normal. ✓
2
FA bean pod has seeds of lengths 10 mm, 12 mm, 14 mm, 12 mm, 12 mm and 10 mm. Write the range of the lengths, in millimetres.[1 mark]
4 mm
Method. Subtract the lowest from the highest.
- Read the values. The highest is 14 mm and the lowest is 10 mm.14 and 10
- Subtract. The range is 14 minus 10.14 - 10 = 4
- Write the answer. 4 mm
Check. 10 + 4 = 14. ✓
3
PSUsing the same seed lengths, write the mean length, in millimetres. Add all six lengths, then divide by 6.[2 marks]
11.7 mm
Method. Add the six lengths, then divide by 6.
- Add. The total is 10 + 12 + 14 + 12 + 12 + 10 = 70.70
- Divide. Divide 70 by 6, which is 11 with a remainder of 4, or about 11.7.70 / 6 = 11.7
- Write the answer. 11.7 mm
Check. 11.7 times 6 is about 70. ✓
4
RA cactus has spines instead of leaves. Explain how the spines help the cactus. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says spines reduce water loss, so the cactus keeps water in a dry place.
Method. Think about the spines.
- Think about the surface. Spines have a small surface, so less water escapes.less water
- Think about the place. In a dry place this helps the cactus keep the water it stores.keep water
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says spines reduce water loss, so the cactus keeps water in a dry place.
Check. Spines are not leaves. ✓
5
FName the animal that has webbed feet, and say what the feet help it to do. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Duck; the feet help it swim.
Method. Read the table.
- Find the row. The duck has webbed feet.duck
- Say what they do. Webbed feet push water backwards so the duck can swim.swim
- Write the answer. Duck; the feet help it swim.
Check. Webbed feet make a paddle. ✓
6
PSThe percentage of green beetles was 60% in generation 1 and 90% in generation 4. Write the rise in percentage points.[2 marks]
30
Method. Subtract the generation 1 value from the generation 4 value.
- Read the values. The values are 90% and 60%.90 and 60
- Subtract. The rise is 90 minus 60.90 - 60 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 60 + 30 = 90. ✓
7
RExplain why the green beetles became more common over generations. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says green beetles are harder for birds to see, so more survive and reproduce, and more offspring are green.
Method. Think about the birds.
- Think about the birds. Birds find the brown beetles more easily.brown beetles easier
- Think about survival. So more green beetles survive, reproduce and pass on their colour.pass on
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says green beetles are harder for birds to see, so more survive and reproduce, and more offspring are green.
Check. This is natural selection over many generations. ✓
8
FWrite the name of the process in which living things that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more. Write the words.[1 mark]
natural selection
Method. Read the idea.
- Read the idea. Living things that are better suited survive and reproduce more, which is natural selection.natural selection
- Write the answer. natural selection
Check. Natural selection changes a population over many generations. ✓
9
RExplain why a plant that lives in a wet place is unlikely to have a thick stem that stores water. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says a wet place has plenty of water, so there is no need to store it, and a thick store is not useful.
Method. Think about the water.
- Think about the place. A wet place has plenty of water.plenty of water
- Think about the store. So a store of water is not needed, and it is not an adaptation for that place.not needed
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a wet place has plenty of water, so there is no need to store it, and a thick store is not useful.
Check. Adaptations match the environment. ✓
10
RExplain why an adaptation may lead to evolution over many generations. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says a helpful adaptation is passed on, becomes more common, and changes the species over many generations.
Method. Think about the adaptation.
- Think about survival. A helpful adaptation helps the living thing survive and reproduce.survive
- Think about change. Over many generations it becomes more common, which can change the species.change
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a helpful adaptation is passed on, becomes more common, and changes the species over many generations.
Check. Evolution is change over many generations. ✓