Let’s solve each of the four questions one by one, with clear explanations.
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Question 1: Fill-In the Blank
> *Ostriches have no feathers on their heads, necks, and legs to help keep them ______.*
✔ Answer: cool
Explanation:
Ostriches live in hot, arid environments like the savannas and deserts of Africa. Having bare skin on their heads, necks, and legs helps them
dissipate heat more efficiently. Feathers trap heat, so lacking them in these areas is an
adaptation for thermoregulation — helping them stay cool in high temperatures.
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Question 2: Multiple Choice
> *Meerkats have dark ______ around their eyes to protect against the sun’s glare.*
a. sunglasses
b. stripes
c. scales
d. patches
✔ Answer: b. stripes
Explanation:
Meerkats are diurnal (active during the day) and spend a lot of time standing upright scanning for predators under bright sunlight. The dark
stripes around their eyes act like natural “sunglasses” — they absorb and reduce glare from the sun, improving their vision. This is a physical adaptation, not behavioral or artificial (so “sunglasses” is incorrect).
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Question 3: Riddle / Identification
> *I rotate and help the rhinoceros locate nearby danger. What body part am I?*
✔ Answer: ears
Explanation:
Rhinoceroses have relatively poor eyesight but excellent hearing. Their large,
rotating ears can swivel independently to pick up sounds from different directions. This allows them to detect predators or other dangers even when they can’t see them clearly. So the rotating body part that helps locate danger is their
ears.
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Question 4: True or False
> *Stripes on a zebra is a behavioral adaptation.*
✔ Answer: False
Explanation:
Stripes on a zebra are a
physical (structural) adaptation, not a behavioral one.
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Physical adaptations are body parts or features (like fur, coloration, shape) that help an animal survive.
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Behavioral adaptations are actions or habits (like migration, hibernation, or living in groups).
Zebra stripes help with camouflage, confusing predators, deterring flies, and possibly regulating body temperature — all due to their physical pattern. So this statement is
false.
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
cool
2.
b. stripes
3.
ears
4.
False
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for these!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of animal adaptations worksheet 4th grade.