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8.91 Natural Selection and Adaptation Worksheet

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Worksheet Overview & Skills Covered

Core academic competencies and curriculum alignment

This Grade 8 Science worksheet provides structured practice on 8.91 Natural Selection and Adaptation. Students are guided through targeted exercises that build foundational understanding, computational accuracy, and critical thinking skills.

Natural Selection and Adaptation - Which analysis best data showing how trait variation and differential survival/reproduction can change trait frequencies over time? (NGSS MS‑LS4‑4; CCSS Math 8.F (graphs); TEKS §112.28 Grade 8; FL NGSSS; VA SOL; MA STE)

Whether you are an educator preparing classroom handouts, a tutor reinforcing weekly topics, or a parent supporting homeschool learning, this printable resource gives students the deliberate practice required to achieve subject fluency and master state standards.

Grade

Grade 8

Subject

Science

Domain

Science Curriculum

Formats

PDF & DOCX

Sample Practice Problems

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Below are sample questions representative of the exercises included on this worksheet and related 8.91 Natural Selection and Adaptation skill assessments:

Problem 1Difficulty: Mastery

A class studied rice plants with two heritable trait versions: dry-soil preference and flood tolerance. They lived in a low field. After seasonal floods lasted longer, students recorded survival and average offspring per surviving adult. Trait | Start (out of 100) | Survival to adulthood | Avg offspring/adult ------|--------------------|-----------------------|-------------------- dry-soil preference | 55 | 40% | 3 flood tolerance | 45 | 90% | 5

Which analysis BEST explains the likely change in trait frequency in the next generation?

AIndividuals changed their traits during their lifetimes to match the environment, and then passed those acquired changes to offspring.

BBecause individuals with flood tolerance had higher survival and/or produced more offspring and the trait is inherited, they are expected to leave more offspring, so flood tolerance should become more common. The expected frequency of flood tolerance rises from about 45% to about 75%.

CThe environment directly caused every individual to mutate in the same helpful way, so the trait became common without differences in survival or reproduction.

DThe pattern is best explained by migration or chance alone, because the data show no relationship between the trait and survival or offspring.

Solution & Explanation:Natural selection involves heritable variation plus differences in survival or reproduction. In this scenario, the favored trait matches the environmental pressure and has the stronger survival/reproduction data, so its frequency is expected to increase.

Problem 2Difficulty: Mastery

A class studied lichen with two heritable trait versions: pollution tolerance and pollution sensitivity. They lived in a city trees. After air pollution increased, students recorded survival and average offspring per surviving adult. Trait | Start (out of 100) | Survival to adulthood | Avg offspring/adult,,Science ------|--------------------|-----------------------|--------------------,,Science pollution tolerance | 60 | 85% | 4,,Science pollution sensitivity | 40 | 55% | 2,,Science "Which analysis BEST explains the likely change in trait frequency in the next generation?,A. Individuals changed their traits during their lifetimes to match the environment

Aand then passed those acquired changes to offspring.

BBecause individuals with pollution tolerance had higher survival and/or produced more offspring and the trait is inherited

Solution & Explanation:so pollution tolerance should become more common. The expected frequency of pollution tolerance rises from about 60% to about 82%. | C. The environment directly caused every individual to mutate in the same helpful way

Problem 3Difficulty: Mastery

A class studied dragonflies with two heritable trait versions: slower flight and faster flight. They lived in a pond edge. After birds caught slow flyers more often, students recorded survival and average offspring per surviving adult. Trait | Start (out of 100) | Survival to adulthood | Avg offspring/adult ------|--------------------|-----------------------|-------------------- slower flight | 50 | 45% | 3 faster flight | 50 | 80% | 5

Which analysis BEST explains the likely change in trait frequency in the next generation?

AIndividuals changed their traits during their lifetimes to match the environment, and then passed those acquired changes to offspring.

BThe environment directly caused every individual to mutate in the same helpful way, so the trait became common without differences in survival or reproduction.

CThe pattern is best explained by migration or chance alone, because the data show no relationship between the trait and survival or offspring.

DBecause individuals with faster flight had higher survival and/or produced more offspring and the trait is inherited, they are expected to leave more offspring, so faster flight should become more common. The expected frequency of faster flight rises from about 50% to about 75%.

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QWhat grade level and standards does this worksheet align with?

This worksheet is designed specifically for Grade 8 Science students. It aligns with educational standard SCI.8.91 (Explain how inherited variation and selection lead to adaptation over time.).