Assessment: Adaptation

Subject: Science | Year: 6

Name: _________________________ Class/Set: ____________ Date: ____________

Section A: Knowledge Check (Multiple Choice)

Mark the correct answer.

Q1: Which of the following is an example of a behavioural adaptation? a) ☐ A polar bear having a thick layer of blubber. b) ☐ A cactus having a waxy coating on its stem. c) ☐ A swallow migrating south for the winter. d) ☐ A giraffe having a long neck to reach high leaves.

Q2: Why do many desert plants have spines instead of wide, flat leaves? a) ☐ To help the plant absorb more sunlight for photosynthesis. b) ☐ To reduce water loss by decreasing the surface area. c) ☐ To allow the plant to catch rainwater more easily. d) ☐ To make the plant grow taller than its neighbours.

⇨ The data provided in the table below compares the physical characteristics of two species of fox living in different climates.

Feature	Fennec Fox (Desert)	Arctic Fox (Tundra)
Ear Size	Very large and wide	Small and rounded
Coat Colour	Sandy/Cream	White (Winter) / Brown (Summer)
Paw Padding	Thick fur on soles	Thick fur on soles

Q3: Based on the table, why does the Fennec Fox have much larger ears than the Arctic Fox? a) ☐ To help it hear prey that is further away in the quiet desert. b) ☐ To allow more heat to escape from its body to stay cool. c) ☐ To protect its head from sandstorms and high winds. d) ☐ To help it balance while running across soft sand dunes.

Q4: Which adaptation shown in the table helps the Arctic Fox remain camouflaged throughout the entire year? a) ☐ Having thick fur on the soles of its paws. b) ☐ Possessing small, rounded ears to reduce heat loss. c) ☐ Changing its coat colour depending on the season. d) ☐ Living in a tundra environment with very low temperatures.

Q5: If an animal is well-adapted to its environment, what is the most likely result? a) ☐ It will struggle to find enough food to survive the winter. b) ☐ It will be more likely to survive and pass on its traits to offspring. c) ☐ It will decide to move to a different environment with less competition. d) ☐ It will stop changing and remain the same for millions of years.

Section B: Application (Written Answers)

Answer in the spaces provided.

Q6: Describe how the humps and wide feet of a camel are specific adaptations for survival in a hot, sandy desert. [4 marks]

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⇨ The following scenario describes changes observed in a population of Peppered Moths living in a forest near an industrial town.

In the early 1800s, most Peppered Moths were pale in colour, which helped them hide against light-coloured lichen on tree trunks. During the Industrial Revolution, smoke and soot from factories killed the lichen and turned the tree trunks black. Over several years, scientists noticed that the number of dark-coloured moths increased significantly, while the number of pale moths decreased.

Q7: Explain why the dark-coloured moths had a survival advantage over the pale-coloured moths after the tree trunks turned black, and predict what might happen to the population if the air pollution was reduced. [6 marks]

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Total Marks: _______ / 15

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⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE

💡 Pedagogical Pulse

Identify: Ensure students understand the difference between 'environmental' changes and 'evolutionary' adaptations. Many Year 6 students mistakenly believe individual animals choose to change their features (e.g., "The moth decided to turn black"). Model: Use the term 'Advantageous Trait' when discussing the Peppered Moth scenario to prepare them for Key Stage 3 Science terminology. Support: For Q6, encourage students to link the physical feature directly to the environmental pressure (e.g., Wide feet → Pressure/Sinking).

Section A Answers

Q1: c

Explanation: Migration is a choice/action (behavioural). Options a, b, and d are physical body parts (structural).

Q2: b

Explanation: Spines have a low surface area to volume ratio, reducing transpiration (water loss).

Q3: b

Explanation: Large ears have a high surface area with many blood vessels, allowing heat to radiate away from the body.

Q4: c

Explanation: The seasonal change from white (snow) to brown (earth/rocks) provides year-round camouflage.

Q5: b

Explanation: This is the core principle of natural selection; those best suited to the environment are more likely to reach reproductive age.

Section B Guidance

Q6 Guidance

• 1 Mark: Humps store fat (not water) which can be converted into energy/water when food is scarce.
• 1 Mark: Storing fat in one place helps heat escape from the rest of the body more easily.
• 1 Mark: Wide feet provide a large surface area.
• 1 Mark: This spreads the camel's weight and prevents it from sinking into the soft sand.

Model Answer: "The camel's humps store fat, which acts as an energy reserve when food and water are hard to find in the desert. Its feet are very wide, which gives them a large surface area. This helps the camel walk on soft sand without sinking, as its weight is spread out more evenly."

Q7 Guidance

• 1 Mark: Dark moths were camouflaged against the soot-covered (black) trees.
• 1 Mark: Pale moths were easily seen by predators (birds) against the dark background.
• 1 Mark: Dark moths survived for longer and were able to reproduce.
• 1 Mark: The 'dark' trait was passed on to the next generation.
• 1 Mark: If pollution reduced, lichen would regrow and trees would become light again.
• 1 Mark: The pale moths would then have the advantage, and their numbers would likely increase again.

Model Answer: "After the trees turned black, the dark moths were better camouflaged, meaning birds were less likely to see and eat them. The pale moths were easily spotted and eaten. Because the dark moths survived, they reproduced and passed on their dark-colour trait to their offspring. If pollution were reduced, the trees would become light again. The pale moths would then have the survival advantage because they would be harder to see, so the population would likely shift back to being mostly pale."