Question 1

In a laboratory, a mouse runs a maze faster on the third try and even faster on the fifth try. Which of the following best describes what has taken place?

Accepted Answer

The mouse has learned more about the maze on each trial, as evidenced by the fact that it runs the maze faster on the third and fifth tries. This suggests that the mouse is gaining more knowledge and expertise with each attempt. The other options (such as imprinting, fixed behavior, or learning followed by imprinting) do not fit the scenario as well as the idea of continued learning and improvement.

Question 2

When you see a speed limit sign, you control your speed according to the "rule." This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Seeing a speed limit sign and adjusting one's speed is a learned behavior that is acquired through prior experience and training. It is not genetically controlled or affected by hormones, nor is it a fixed behavior that is instinctual or innate.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about behaviors is true?

Accepted Answer

Many animals use both fixed and learned behaviors. While some behaviors may be innate and fixed, animals also learn from experience and can modify their behaviors accordingly. Both types of behaviors can be useful in different situations.

Question 4

Female frogs deposit their eggs in water and then often leave the area, saving energy by not having to raise their young. Based on this information, should you expect the species-specific frog calls to be a learned or a fixed behavior?

Accepted Answer

If the female frogs do not stay with their young to teach them their specific call, it is more likely that the calls are a fixed behavior that the young frogs are born with. Therefore, option D is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because it suggests that young frogs learn call from each other, which may not always be the case. Option B is also incorrect because not all frog calls need to be learned from adults of the species. Finally, option C is incorrect because not all vocalizations are behavior that animals are born with.

Question 5

Examine the graph below. 
According to this graph, a gosling is most likely to _____ about 15 hours after hatching.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Examine the graph below. 
According to this...

Question 6

When a mother nurses her child for the first time, the sucking of the infant stimulates the release of milk. Within a few weeks of birth, the cry of the infant stimulates the same response. Which of these is a fixed behavior?

Accepted Answer

Releasing milk in response to sucking is a fixed behavior that is instinctive in lactating mothers. It is not a learned response, and it is a reflexive action. On the other hand, the release of milk in response to crying is not a fixed behavior because the cry of the infant can also signal other needs, such as a need for a diaper change or for comfort, and it is not an automatic reflex.

Question 7

Some organisms do not actively raise their young. Other animals have a period during which the young are part of a family unit. Which of the following is the best description of the results of these two styles of behavior?

Accepted Answer

Organisms that are not actively raised by their parents will have less opportunity to learn from their parents, and therefore will rely more heavily on instinctual or fixed behaviors. On the other hand, organisms that are part of a family unit will have more opportunities to learn from their parents and exhibit more learned behaviors. Therefore, choice C is the most accurate description of the results of these two styles of behavior.

Question 8

Pit bulls do not have the same behavior patterns as collies. The differences are

Accepted Answer

Genetically based behaviors are determined by the breed of the dog, which means that pit bulls and collies have different inherent behavior patterns due to their genetic makeup. Imprinted behaviors are developed during critical periods of a dog's early life, learned behaviors are acquired through training and experience, and fixed behaviors are rigid actions that cannot be changed.

Question 9

Which sorts of behaviors, if any, offer an organism the best chance of survival?

Accepted Answer

Both fixed and learned behaviors can offer an organism the best chance of survival. Fixed behaviors, also known as innate behaviors, are behaviors that an organism is born knowing how to do. Examples include suckling in newborn mammals or spider webs in spiders. These behaviors are essential for the organism's survival and reproduction. Learned behaviors, on the other hand, are behaviors that an organism acquires through experience. These can include things like predator avoidance or finding food. By learning from experiences, an organism can improve its chances of survival even further. Therefore, a combination of fixed and learned behaviors can provide the best chance of survival for an organism.

Question 10

Human culture is not a result of

Accepted Answer

Human culture is primarily a result of learned behavior and communication. Fixed behavior, or genetically predetermined behavior, plays a minor role in culture. Social behavior is also important, but it is a manifestation of the learned and communicative aspects of culture rather than a cause of it.

Question 11

Male mice "record" the odor of their siblings during the first 3 weeks of life. When these mice reach sexual maturity, they avoid mating with their siblings. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of imprinting, which is the process of an organism forming an attachment or preference for a certain stimulus during a critical period of development. In this case, the male mice imprint on the odor of their siblings and avoid mating with them later in life.

Question 12

Sharks are drawn to blood in the water because they have

Accepted Answer

Sharks have a fixed response to blood in the water, which is the presence of chemicals like amino acids and urea that are released when an animal is wounded. This response is instinctual and not learned or imprinted. Sharks have a well-developed sense of smell that allows them to detect these chemicals from miles away, drawing them to the source of blood.

Question 13

When a dog sits in response to a command from a human, the dog is exhibiting a(n)

Accepted Answer

When a dog sits in response to a command from a human, it is a learned behavior. The dog has been trained to associate the command with the action of sitting. This behavior is not genetic or fixed, and while it may be part of an orientation behavior (such as sitting to greet a person), the specific context and cue of the human command indicate that this is a learned behavior.

Question 14

Flies are most likely attracted in great numbers to decaying meat because they

Accepted Answer

Flies have a fixed behavioral response to certain smells, and the odor of decaying meat is one of the smells that triggers this response. This is an instinctual behavior, rather than a learned one, that is deeply ingrained in the neurological and physiological makeup of the fly species that are attracted to meat. The flies are simply following their natural instincts when they swarm to a source of decaying meat.

Question 15

Which of the following does not describe a learned behavior?

Accepted Answer

Sea turtles moving toward the ocean immediately after hatching is an instinctual behavior, not a learned one.

Question 16

Learned behaviors

Accepted Answer

Learned behaviors can be acquired through social situations and interactions with others, and can benefit the species by promoting adaptation and survival. They are not limited to youth and can occur throughout an individual's lifetime. Imprinting is a specific type of learning that occurs during a critical period in an organism's development and is not the only way learned behaviors can be acquired.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about fixed behaviors is false?

Accepted Answer

Fixed behaviors are innate and stereotyped responses to specific stimuli, but they are not always present in all situations and conditions. They are often triggered by specific cues in the environment and can be influenced by hormonal levels and environmental factors.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about fixed behaviors is true?

Accepted Answer

Fixed behaviors are predictable responses to specific stimuli.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about learned behaviors is true?

Accepted Answer

Learned behaviors allow animals to adjust their responses based on their environment and experiences, providing them with flexibility.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about behavior is false?

Accepted Answer

Behavior always involves either sensory input, physical motion, or both. Therefore, statement B is false.

Quiz 34: Animal Behavior