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Grade 3 Science · Traits and Inherited Characteristics

Grade 3 Traits and Inherited Characteristics Practice Test

Explore Grade 3 Science with five 10-question practice tests on inherited traits, variation, parent-offspring similarities, learned behaviors, and environmental effects.

Traits and Inherited Characteristics Practice Tests

These Grade 3 Science practice tests help students understand how living things can share characteristics with their parents. Students also explore variation, learned behaviors, and environmental effects on growth.

Skills covered

  • Identifying inherited physical traits
  • Recognizing similarities between parents and offspring
  • Explaining variation within a group
  • Distinguishing learned behaviors from inherited traits
  • Recognizing characteristics acquired through injury or experience
  • Explaining how light, water, habitat, and exercise can affect living things

How to use these practice tests

Ask whether the characteristic is a physical feature that may come from parents, a behavior learned through practice, or a change caused by the environment. Compare several members of a group when looking for variation or inheritance.

For more Grade 3 Science practice, return to the Grade 3 Science category.

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Grade 3 Traits and Inherited Characteristics Practice Tests

A 10-question Grade 3 Science practice test on inherited traits, variation, parent-offspring similarities, learned behaviors, and environmental effects.

Read each science observation carefully. Decide whether it describes an inherited characteristic, variation, learned behavior, or environmental effect.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

Which is an inherited trait in a plant?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The color of its flowers.

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Flower color is a characteristic that can be passed from a parent plant to its offspring.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is The color of its flowers.

Flower color is a characteristic that can be passed from a parent plant to its offspring.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Which plant change is most directly caused by the environment?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A plant bending toward a light source.

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Light is an environmental condition that can affect the direction of plant growth.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is A plant bending toward a light source.

Light is an environmental condition that can affect the direction of plant growth.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What does a seedling receive from its parent plant?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Some inherited characteristics.

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: A seedling can receive inherited characteristics from its parent plant.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Some inherited characteristics.

A seedling can receive inherited characteristics from its parent plant.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

Which example is not an inherited characteristic of a plant?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is A leaf with a hole made by an insect.

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: An insect hole is damage that happened during the plant’s life.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is A leaf with a hole made by an insect.

An insect hole is damage that happened during the plant’s life.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

Which observation shows variation among plants of the same kind?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Some plants have taller stems than other plants..

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Different stem heights show variation within the group.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Some plants have taller stems than other plants..

Different stem heights show variation within the group.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Why might two plants of the same kind look different?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is They may have different inherited traits or growing conditions..

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Both inherited variation and environmental conditions can affect how plants look.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is They may have different inherited traits or growing conditions..

Both inherited variation and environmental conditions can affect how plants look.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

How can water affect a plant?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A plant with enough water may grow better than a plant without enough water..

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Water is an environmental factor that can influence plant growth.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is A plant with enough water may grow better than a plant without enough water..

Water is an environmental factor that can influence plant growth.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

What could scientists compare to study plant traits?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The flowers, leaves, and seeds of parent plants and their offspring.

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Comparing plant parts in parents and offspring can reveal shared characteristics.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is The flowers, leaves, and seeds of parent plants and their offspring.

Comparing plant parts in parents and offspring can reveal shared characteristics.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Which observation supports the idea that a trait is inherited?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Young plants have flower colors similar to the parent plant..

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Similar flower colors in parent and offspring are evidence of inheritance.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Young plants have flower colors similar to the parent plant..

Similar flower colors in parent and offspring are evidence of inheritance.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Which is the best conclusion about plant traits?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Plants can inherit characteristics, and their growth can also be affected by the environment..

  1. Read the observation: Identify the characteristic, behavior, or condition described.
  2. Classify the trait: Plant traits can come from inheritance, while conditions such as light and water affect growth.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Plants can inherit characteristics, and their growth can also be affected by the environment..

Plant traits can come from inheritance, while conditions such as light and water affect growth.

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Frequently asked questions about Grade 3 Traits and Inherited Characteristics

What is an inherited trait?

An inherited trait is a characteristic that an offspring receives from its parents.

What is variation?

Variation means that members of the same kind can have different characteristics.

How many questions are on this page?

The page includes five mini tests with 10 questions each, for 50 Grade 3 Traits and Inherited Characteristics questions in total.