Which statement describes an animal adaptation?

Which statement describes an animal adaptation?

• A. A trait that is inherited only during a single lifetime
• B. A trait that helps an animal survive in its environment
• C. A change in an animal's color after birth
• D. A trait that appears only if the animal eats a certain food

Answer: (B)

An adaptation is a trait that helps an animal survive in its environment. It’s a feature that gives the animal advantages for finding food, avoiding predators, staying warm, or reproducing, and it’s typically inherited and present across generations. The best statement describes a trait that helps an animal survive in its environment, which is exactly what an adaptation does. The other ideas aren’t about survival-enhancing features built into the animal. A trait that appears only during a single lifetime isn’t necessarily an inherited adaptation. A color change after birth could be normal development or a temporary change, not a characteristic that helps the animal survive in its surroundings. A trait that shows up only if the animal eats a particular food isn’t describing a built-in adaptation.

An adaptation is a trait that helps an animal survive in its environment. It’s a feature that gives the animal advantages for finding food, avoiding predators, staying warm, or reproducing, and it’s typically inherited and present across generations. The best statement describes a trait that helps an animal survive in its environment, which is exactly what an adaptation does.

The other ideas aren’t about survival-enhancing features built into the animal. A trait that appears only during a single lifetime isn’t necessarily an inherited adaptation. A color change after birth could be normal development or a temporary change, not a characteristic that helps the animal survive in its surroundings. A trait that shows up only if the animal eats a particular food isn’t describing a built-in adaptation.