The Tundra Biome

True or False: Even though the tundra has an extremely cold climate, it can still support life.

• True

• False

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

True or False: Animals in the tundra struggle to find food and keep warm.

• True

• False

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following statements about the tundra is true?

• The tundra has a dense covering of trees.

• There are two main categories of the tundra biome

• Temperatures in the tundra range from extreme highs to extreme lows

• The tundra biome does not support animal life.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Why is there limited vegetation in the tundra?

• The soil is frozen and devoid of nutrients

• There is frequent flooding and the soil is nutrient-poor

• There is frequent flooding and the soil is nutrient-rich

• The soil is frozen and contains pockets rich in nutrients.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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What type of vegetation is not frequently found in the tundra?

• mosses

• shrubs

• lichens

• trees

What is the main difference between the alpine tundra and the arctic tundra?

• The alpine tundra includes trees

• The alpine tundra occurs on mountaintops

• The alpine tundra has no animal life

• The alpine tundra has lower temperatures.

Organisms that live in the tundra biomes have developed unique adaptations that aid in their survival. The Labrador tea plant is a shrub that grows to be approximately five feet tall. Its leaves are used by human residents of the Arctic tundra to create both beverages and medicine. The leaves are harvested from each plant individually off the branches throughout the year. How has the Labrador tea plant adapted to enable its survival against the cold of the tundra biome?

• shallow roots

• dense hairs

• retention of dead leaves

• low to the ground

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of the following is an adaptation to permafrost?

• retention of dead leave

• dense hairs

• shallow roots

• waxy leaves

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The large size of the musk ox and polar bear __________.

• helps minimize heat loss

• is offset by its long legs

• helps the animal graze less often

• helps maximize heat loss

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NGSS.MS-PS3-3

This is the world’s coldest biome. It receives only 6-10 inches of precipitation per year and has a permanently frozen layer of earth called permafrost. The soil is nutrient-poor with very little vegetation.

• Taige

• Tundra

• Deciduous Forests

• Alpine

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4