Sandy Deserts

Which of the following is a terrestrial habitat?

• Rainforests

• Ocean

• Tree canopies

• I can't decide!

Answer explanation

Tree canopies are arboreal habitats, and oceans are water bodies

HOW DOES THIS ADAPTATION HELP?

Camels have large padded feet.

• To run long distances

• To carry goods across deserts

• To walk on soft sand

• To keep the body away from warm sand

Answer explanation

FACT: The large size and round shape of their feet help camels to distribute their weight, preventing them from sinking.

FILL IN THE BLANKS:

Cacti's green stems have ___________ and _______, which help them make food.

• Pots, ladles

• Chlorophyll, stomata

• Carbon dioxide, water

• Moisture, humidity

Answer explanation

Since cacti don't have leaves, their green stems have chlorophyll and stomata to make food

Which statement about deserts is true?

• Deserts are hot during day and cold during night.

• Deserts receive about 40 inches of rain annually.

• Deserts are lush areas with warmth and humidity.

• All deserts around the world are hot.

Answer explanation

During the day, sand's radiation of the sun's energy superheats the air and causes temperatures to soar. But, at night, most of the heat in the sand quickly radiates into the air and there is no sunlight to reheat it, leaving the sand and its surroundings colder than before.

WHICH ADAPTATION RELATES TO THIS PICTURE?

• Cacti have tap roots, which are modified to store food

• Cacti roots grow close to the ground to catch water.

• Cacti roots are poisonous

• Cacti roots are tilt roots

Answer explanation

FACT: Cactus roots will grow as deep as three feet into the ground and up to three feet wide as well as horizontally.

WHICH PLANT IS THE ODD ONE OUT?

Aloe vera, cacti, acacia, orchid

• Aloe vera

• Cacti

• Orchid

• Acacia

Answer explanation

Orchid flowers are found in rainforests, not deserts

HOW DOES THIS ADAPTATION HELP?

In most cacti, the leaves are modified into spiky thorns.

• They make cacti look unique

• They prevent transpiration

• They make the cacti look fierce

• They help cacti camouflage

Answer explanation

Cacti can't risk transpiration, so their leaves are modified into spikes to prevent water loss

WHICH ANIMAL IS THE ODD ONE OUT?

Sand cats, meerkats, snakes, albatross

• Sand cats

• Meerkats

• Snakes

• Albatross

Answer explanation

Albatross birds live next to shores

WHICH ADAPTATION RELATES TO THIS PICTURE?

• Camels have larger humps than llamas

• A camel's hump stores fat

• A camel's hump stores water

• The hump of a camel was created to serve as a seat for travelers

Answer explanation

FACT: If a camel uses the fat inside the hump, the hump will become limp and droop down. With proper food and rest the hump will return to normal

FILL IN THE BLANKS:

Desert animals, like fennec foxes, spiders and kangaroo rats, are adapted to live with ____ _____ and _________ ___ temperatures

• Land pollution, very hot

• Less water, scorching hot

• Luxurious camps, cold windy

• Big camels, humid

Answer explanation

Deserts are very hot, due to lack in moisture, no evaporative cooling, less vegetation to use the sunlight ( which lets all the sunlight warm the ground ) and less rainfall means less water.