Adaptations – Questions
1. What is an adaptation?
2. Why are adaptations important for living things?
3. Name three types of habitats mentioned in the text.
4. List two things living things can do if they are well adapted to their habitat.
5. What are structural adaptations?
6. Give one example of a structural adaptation in animals.
7. How does the shape of a dolphin’s body help it survive?
8. Why do cacti have needle-like leaves?
9. What are behavioural adaptations?
10. Give one example of a behavioural adaptation in animals.
11. How do meerkats protect themselves from predators?
12. Why do penguins huddle together?
13. How do snakes move without legs?
14. How do strong muscles help kangaroos survive?
15. What is the function of a cheetah’s tail when it runs?
16. What is a streamlined body shape?
17. Why is a streamlined body useful for animals living in water?
18. Name two modified limbs used by aquatic animals for movement.
19. What is a swim bladder and what is its function?
20. Why do birds have hollow bones?
21. Why do living things need adaptations to cope with extreme temperatures?
22. What are desert environments like during the day?
23. How do large ears help the fennec fox survive in a hot environment?
24. Why does the banded gecko come out at night?
25. How do camels survive with little water in the desert?
26. What happens to water vapour in a camel’s nostrils?
27. How do cacti store water for the dry season?
28. Why do cacti have needle-like leaves?
29. Why are polar habitats difficult for living things?
30. What is hibernation?
31. How does hibernation help animals survive winter?
32. Why do pine trees have needle-like leaves?
33. Why do some birds migrate during winter?
34. How do penguins keep themselves warm?
35. What helps polar bears stay warm in cold environments?
36. What are the adaptations for breathing in water?
37. Why do living things need oxygen?
38. How do frogs breathe in water?
39. Why must a frog’s skin stay moist?
40. What are gills used for?
41. Name two animals that use gills to breathe.
42. How do mosquito larvae breathe in water?
43. What is the function of air tubes in aquatic insects?
44. How do water beetles and water spiders get oxygen underwater?
45. Why do aquatic mammals need to come to the surface to breathe?
46. Where are the nostrils of seals and manatees located?
47. What is a blowhole?
48. How does a blowhole help whales and dolphins breathe?
49. Why do plants need sunlight?
50. How do woody stems help land plants get sunlight?
51. Why can tall plants get more sunlight?
52. Why do some plants need to climb or creep?
53. What are climbers?
54. Name one plant that is a climber.
55. How do tendrils or clasping roots help climbers?
56. What are creepers?
57. Name one plant that creeps on the ground.
58. How do creepers spread their leaves to get sunlight?
59. How does the water hyacinth float on water?
60. Why do aquatic plants need adaptations for sunlight?
61. Why can sunlight not reach deep water easily?
62. How do aquatic plants get enough sunlight?
63. How do waxy leaves help the water lotus?
64. What are the adaptations for catching prey?
65. Why do predators need to catch prey?
66. How do strong jaws and claws help predators?
67. Why do predators have sharp teeth?
68. How do eagles catch their prey?
69. Why are sharp senses important for predators?
70. Which sense helps eagles find prey?
71. Which sense helps bats hunt prey?
72. How do sticky tongues help frogs and chameleons?
73. How do spiders catch their prey?
74. Why do some predators use venom?
75. How does speed help cheetahs catch prey?
76. Why is hunting in groups useful?
77. Name one predator that hunts in groups.
78. What is camouflage?
79. How does camouflage help predators catch prey?
80. What is the difference between predators and prey?
81. Why do prey animals need protection from predators?
82. How do scales help animals protect themselves?
83. Name two animals that have shells for protection.
84. Why are spines useful for some animals?
85. Which animals have poisonous skin?
86. Why are poisonous animals often brightly coloured?
87. How does appearing bigger help animals avoid predators?
88. How does the bearded dragon appear bigger?
89. What is camouflage?
90. Name one animal that uses camouflage to avoid predators.
91. How do leaf insects avoid being eaten?
92. What is mimicry?
93. Why do birds avoid the syrphid fly?
94. How does mimicry help animals survive?
95. What are the adaptations for reproduction?
96. Why do animals and plants need to reproduce?
97. How do colourful body coverings help male animals?
98. Why does a peacock display its tail feathers?
99. How do fireflies attract their mates?
100. Why do some deep-sea fish have light-producing body parts?
101. What happens during mating season in some animals?
102. How do mating calls help animals reproduce?
103. Why do flowering plants have brightly coloured flowers?
104. What attracts insects and birds to flowers?
105. How are seeds dispersed by birds?
106. What happens when living things cannot adapt to changes in their habitat?
107. What does extinction mean?
108. Name one extinct animal mentioned in the text.
109. What does endangered mean?
110. Why are many living things endangered today?
111. Name two human activities that cause animals to become endangered.
112. Name one endangered animal.
113. Name one endangered plant.