Concept: This problem uses the fundamental trigonometric identity \(\sin^2 A + \cos^2 A = 1\).
Step 1: Manipulate the given equation
We are given: \( \sin A + \sin^2 A = 1 \).
Rearrange this equation to isolate \(\sin A\):
\[ \sin A = 1 - \sin^2 A \]
Step 2: Use the fundamental identity
We know that \(\sin^2 A + \cos^2 A = 1\).
From this identity, we can write \(\cos^2 A = 1 - \sin^2 A\).
Step 3: Substitute to find a relationship between \(\sin A\) and \(\cos^2 A\)
From Step 1, we have \( \sin A = 1 - \sin^2 A \).
From Step 2, we have \( \cos^2 A = 1 - \sin^2 A \).
Since both \(\sin A\) and \(\cos^2 A\) are equal to \(1 - \sin^2 A\), we can conclude:
\[ \sin A = \cos^2 A \]
Step 4: Evaluate the expression \( \cos^2 A + \cos^4 A \)
We need to find the value of \( \cos^2 A + \cos^4 A \).
We can write \(\cos^4 A\) as \((\cos^2 A)^2\).
So the expression is \( \cos^2 A + (\cos^2 A)^2 \).
From Step 3, we found that \( \cos^2 A = \sin A \).
Substitute this into the expression:
\[ \cos^2 A + \cos^4 A = \sin A + (\sin A)^2 \]
\[ \cos^2 A + \cos^4 A = \sin A + \sin^2 A \]
Step 5: Use the original given condition
The original given condition was \( \sin A + \sin^2 A = 1 \).
Therefore,
\[ \cos^2 A + \cos^4 A = 1 \]
The value of the expression is 1.