Some beetles break down the remains of dead animals. Some mushrooms break down the remains of dead trees. How do these actions most benefit plants?

• By returning nutrients to the soil

• By decreasing the population of herbivores

• By releasing oxygen into the air

• By making space for new animals

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In fall and winter, many trees lose their leaves in response to cooler temperatures and —

• a decrease in average wind speed

• an increase in humidity

• more direct sunlight

• fewer hours of daylight

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The roots of the prickly pear cactus spread out in a wide underground network. How does this type of root system benefit a prickly pear cactus?

• By capturing sunlight and getting rid of waste materials

• By releasing nutrients into the sandy soil and taking in oxygen

• By absorbing water and supporting the plant in loose, sandy soil

• By producing fruit and storing water

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Which organism obtains energy without depending on another organism?

• Oak tree

• Cottontail rabbit

• Mushroom

• Mountain lion

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A student walks through the park and observes a fire ant on a bench, a blue jay standing on a rock, a hawk flying above, and a bee on a flower. Which of these living organisms was interacting with another living organism in the environment?

• Fire ant

• Blue jay

• Bee

• Hawk

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Tropical climates have warm temperatures and abundant sunlight all year. What else must be available for plants in these climates to make their own food throughout the year?

• Shade

• Birds

• Water

• Bacteria

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Green anole lizards are bright-green reptiles native to the southeastern United States and the Caribbean islands. They can be kept in terrariums to study their behavior and how they interact with their environment. Which observation describes this anole lizard interacting with the living elements in its environment?

• The anole jumped from the rock and scattered sand with its tail.

• The anole climbed the plant and then ate a cricket off one of the leaves.

• The anole rested on one of the rocks and lifted its head toward the light.

• The anole drank some water and then ran across the sand.

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Many gardeners use red worms like the ones shown in the photograph to turn vegetable and fruit scraps into topsoil for plants. The gardeners build a worm farm in a large container lined with old newspapers and filled with moist garden soil. The worms eat about half their body weight daily and produce waste that can be used as plant fertilizer. The container for a worm farm needs to have a lid, but the lid must be left partially open because worms require which of the following in order to survive?

• Carbon dioxide

• Sunlight

• Oxygen

• All of these

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A flea feeds on a dog's blood and lives in its fur. Is this an example of interdependence?

• True

• False

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A female mosquito lays its eggs in stagnant water. Is this an example of interdependence between two organisms?

• True

• False