Environments and Habitats

Alligators live in areas that are warm to hot. They live near freshwater that is often shallow. They eat fish, birds and small mammals.

In what type of environment are you most likely to find alligators?

• grasslands

• swamps

• polar lands

• deserts

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Alaska is very cold. Below is a fossil of an ancient palm tree found there. Palm trees grow in warm weather.

What is the best claim we can make from this evidence?

• Palm trees can move from warmer weather.

• Alaska was once near water.

• Alaska was once much warmer.

• Palm trees once grew in cold areas.

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The following can occur when people clear forests to build new houses.

1. Animals find fewer trees for food and shelter.

2. People will have more shelter.

3. Animals that thrive in grassland areas have new space.

4. There are more areas for grass and shrubs to grow.

What is a harmful effect of building new houses?

• number 1

• number 2

• number 3

• number 4

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A student was asked to make a model of a food chain. Which of the following could she use as the producer in her food chain?

• fox

• trees

• sun

• rabbit

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The model below shows the possible responses of animals to a change in Earth’s climate.

• They would hibernate.

• They would increase in population.

• They would become extinct.

• They would migrate.

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Beavers build dams across streams. This stops the flow of the stream and creates a pond. Plants and animals that live downstream may not have enough water.

What is a benefit caused by beaver dams?

• Animals downstream may not have enough water.

• Plants that live downstream may dry up.

• The stream may dry up below the dam.

• The pond is a new habitat for some animals.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Fossils of ancient bison have been found in South Carolina. What is the best claim we can make from this evidence?

• The ocean was farther inland many years ago.

• There were larger rivers many years ago.

• South Carolina had grasslands many years ago.

• South Carolina had large forests many years ago.

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Forest fires burn the food and shelter that animals use. The fires kill many animals. Fires also burn dead plants and dense foliage. This allows room for new plants to grow and thrive.

What is a benefit of forest fires?

• Trees that provide shelter for animals are burned.

• Many animals may be killed in the fires.

• Food for animals is destroyed.

• New plants have more room to grow.

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The model below shows the migration paths of birds in winter.

Why do the birds most likely fly south?

• to avoid cold temperatures

• to avoid warm temperatures

• to find more predators

• to find more water

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Deserts are very dry. Some deserts are covered with sand. Deserts are hot during the day and cold at night. Most of the plants in the desert have ways to store moisture.

Which of the following best explains which plants usually live in desert areas?

• Trees because they can store water.

• Cacti because they need a lot of water.

• Cacti because they can store water.

• Trees because they need a lot of water

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