1.
What is the main source of food energy for this food web?
Correct Answer
C. Plants
Explanation
Plants are the main source of food energy for this food web because they are the primary producers. They convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, and this energy is then passed on to the herbivores like rabbits. The herbivores are then consumed by the carnivores like hawks, who obtain their energy by feeding on the herbivores. Therefore, plants form the base of the food web and provide the initial energy for all other organisms in the web.
2.
In a forest, deer eat plants. Snakes eat small animals and birds. Raccoons eat mice, insects, fruits, and plants. What is the raccoon?
Correct Answer
C. Omnivore
Explanation
The raccoon is an omnivore because it eats a variety of foods including mice, insects, fruits, and plants. An omnivore is an animal that has a diet consisting of both plant and animal matter. In this case, the raccoon's diet includes both small animals and birds as well as plants and fruits, making it an omnivore.
3.
In a swamp, rabbits eat marsh grass. Bobcats eat rabbits. How are the rabbits and bobcats interacting?
Correct Answer
A. Rabbits are prey and bobcats are predators.
Explanation
The relationship between rabbits and bobcats is one of predator and prey. This means that the bobcats hunt and eat the rabbits, making the rabbits the prey and the bobcats the predators.
4.
Which part of this food chain is missing? sun -> ? -> grasshopper -> snake -> hawk
Correct Answer
D. Producer
Explanation
In this food chain, the missing part is the producer. Producers are organisms, usually plants, that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. They are the primary source of food for other organisms in the food chain. In this case, the sun provides energy to the grass, which is eaten by the grasshopper, which is then eaten by the snake, and finally, the snake is eaten by the hawk. The missing part, the producer, is the grass which converts sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
5.
Which statement is true about a community?
Correct Answer
C. A community is made up of different populations that depend on one another.
Explanation
A community is made up of different populations that depend on one another. This means that within a community, there are multiple species living in the same ecosystem and interacting with each other. These interactions can include competition for resources, predation, and mutualism. The populations within a community rely on each other for survival and the overall functioning of the ecosystem.
6.
Matthew and José are on a forest field trip. They observe that the forest floor is covered with dead plants. Matthew says, “Those plants don’t do anything good for the forest.” What could José tell Matthew?
Correct Answer
B. José could say that dead plants will become more food for the forest.
Explanation
José could tell Matthew that dead plants will become more food for the forest. This is because dead plants decompose and provide nutrients to the soil, which in turn helps other plants grow. Decomposition is an important natural process that allows the recycling of organic matter and the replenishment of nutrients in ecosystems. Therefore, even though the dead plants may not be actively growing or performing photosynthesis, they still serve a valuable purpose in the forest ecosystem.
7.
What would a herbivore eat (check all that apply)?
Correct Answer(s)
A. Berries
D. Leaves
E. Seeds
Explanation
A herbivore is an animal that primarily feeds on plants. Berries, leaves, and seeds are all plant-based food sources that herbivores typically consume. Berries are fruits produced by plants, leaves are the foliage of plants, and seeds are the reproductive structures of plants. In contrast, rabbits and mice are animals and not plants, so they would not be considered food sources for herbivores.
8.
Carla wants to show how living things get their energy. Which sequence is correct?
Correct Answer
D. Sunlight → producer → consumer → decomposer
Explanation
This sequence is correct because it follows the flow of energy in an ecosystem. Sunlight is the initial source of energy, which is used by producers (such as plants) to perform photosynthesis and convert it into chemical energy. Consumers (such as animals) then obtain energy by consuming producers. Finally, decomposers break down the remains of dead organisms, releasing energy back into the ecosystem.
9.
In Michael’s garden, caterpillars sometimes eat vegetables. Then the beetles eat the caterpillars. If the beetle population decreased, what would most likely happen to the vegetables?
Correct Answer
B. There would be more vegetables.
Explanation
If the beetle population decreased, there would be more vegetables. This is because the beetles eat the caterpillars that eat the vegetables. With fewer beetles, there would be fewer caterpillars eating the vegetables, resulting in a higher vegetable yield.
10.
In a swamp, archerfish live among the mangrove tree roots. In or near the water, heron feed on fish, frogs, and insects. Which term describes each separate group of living things?
Correct Answer
D. Population
Explanation
The term "population" describes each separate group of living things in this scenario. In this case, it refers to the individual groups of archerfish and heron that live in the swamp. A population refers to a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed, sharing a common gene pool. In this context, the archerfish and heron populations are distinct from each other, as they belong to different species.