Energy and Matter in Ecosystems

What is the source of energy that plants use to produce food?

• other plants

• the sun

• the moon

• animals

Answer explanation

The source of energy for plants to make food is the sun. Through photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, allowing them to produce food from carbon dioxide and water.

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What is the name of the food produced by plants?

• glucose

• oxygen

• leaves

• carbon dioxide

Answer explanation

The food that plants make during photosynthesis is called glucose. This sugar serves as an energy source for the plant, while oxygen is a byproduct, and carbon dioxide is a reactant in the process.

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How are plants beneficial to animals?

• they eat harmful animals

• they provide oxygen, shelter, and food to animals

• they provide carbon dioxide to animals

• they produce glucose for animals to eat

Answer explanation

Plants are essential for animals as they provide oxygen for respiration, shelter for protection, and food for nourishment. This makes the choice 'they provide oxygen, shelter & food for animals' the correct answer.

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What is the structure that plants use to breathe?

• stomata

• chlorophyll

• carbon dioxide

• glucose

Answer explanation

Plants breathe through structures called stomata, which are tiny openings on leaves that allow for gas exchange, including the intake of carbon dioxide and the release of oxygen.

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Does a food chain start with the sun?

• yes

• no

Answer explanation

Yes, a food chain starts with the sun as it provides the energy necessary for photosynthesis in plants, which are the primary producers in the food chain.

An orca is an example of a

​ (a)   in the ocean.

• mammal

• fish

• reptile

• amphibian

Answer explanation

A Killer Whale, or Orca, is an apex predator in the ocean, meaning it is at the top of the food chain and has no natural predators. This distinguishes it from producers, herbivores, omnivores, and fish.

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What is a consumer?

• an organism that breaks down dead organisms

• an organism that produces its own energy and food

• an organism that feeds on other organisms to obtain energy

Answer explanation

A consumer is defined as an organism that eats other organisms for energy. This distinguishes it from decomposers, which break down dead matter, and producers, which create their own food.

What is a food web?

• a model that contains many food chains

• a model that contains a food chain

• a model that shows where the sun gets its energy

• a model that shows how decomposers break down organisms

Answer explanation

A food web is a complex model that illustrates how various food chains interconnect within an ecosystem, showing the relationships between different organisms and their energy sources.

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True or false:

A food chain shows how energy and matter flow through an ecosystem.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

True. A food chain illustrates the transfer of energy and matter through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, showing how organisms are interconnected.

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If there is a change in the environment, organisms may die or have to leave.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

The statement is true because when an organism faces environmental changes, it must adapt, relocate, or it risks dying. Thus, the only options are to leave or perish.

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