SOL 4.3 Ecosystems

Which of the following is a TRUE statement about humans and the environment?

• All human activities destroy habitats

• All human activities are good for the environment

• All human activities are bad for the environment

• Some human activities are good for the environment

Answer explanation

The correct statement is that some human activities are good for the environment, as practices like conservation, sustainable farming, and renewable energy can positively impact ecosystems.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Decomposers such as fungi, insects, and molds get their energy from __________.

• Water

• Decaying plants and animals

• Fertilizer

• Sunlight

Answer explanation

Decomposers like fungi, insects, and molds obtain their energy by breaking down decaying plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. This process is essential for nutrient cycling.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The student draws a diagram to show the roles of the producers, consumers, and decomposers in the rainforest. What is the role of the producers?

• The producers eat the plants to get energy.

• The producers make food using energy from the sun

• The producers provide nutrients for the atmosphere.

• The producers break down dead organisms.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is that producers make food using energy from the sun. In ecosystems like rainforests, producers, primarily plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following statements about consumers is CORRECT?

• they make their own food

• they eat other organisms

• they make things other than food

• they obtain food by breaking down the remains of other living things

Answer explanation

Consumers are organisms that obtain their energy by eating other organisms, making the statement 'they eat other organisms' correct. The other options describe producers or decomposers, not consumers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A wetland has been cleared to make space for a new housing development. Which of the following would be considered a negative effect to the bog turtle, a native organism living in the area?

• the bog turtles would eventually be taken in by residents as pets

• a new man–made lake would provide cleaner water to the bog turtle than the wetland

• there would be less predators in the area to prey on the bog turtle

• the bog turtle would no longer have the habitat it is accustomed to in which to lay its eggs

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that the bog turtle would lose its natural habitat for laying eggs, which is a critical negative effect of the wetland's destruction, impacting its reproduction and survival.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A student wants to build a model of a grasslands food chain that includes a frog, grasshopper, snake, and grass. Which organism belongs in this food chain immediately after the Sun?

• Grass

• Frog

• Snake

• Mosquito

Answer explanation

In a grasslands food chain, the Sun provides energy to plants. Grass, as a producer, is the first organism that directly utilizes sunlight for photosynthesis, making it the correct answer immediately after the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Use the food chain below to answer the following question:

Forest food chain

trees → bugs→ birds → fox

If the trees are destroyed in a forest fire, what could happen to the rest of the food chain?

• there will be no change in the food chain

• the population of the primary producers will increase

• the population of the consumers will increase

• the population of the consumers will decrease

Answer explanation

If the trees are destroyed, the primary producers are eliminated, leading to a decrease in food availability for bugs, birds, and foxes. Consequently, the population of consumers will decrease due to lack of food.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Is this organism living or non-living?

• living

• non-living

Answer explanation

The organism is classified as living because it exhibits characteristics such as growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli, which are essential traits of living entities.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

A ___________ is an illustration that shows how animals are connected in their search for food within an ecosystem.

• decomposer

• food chain

• food web

• herbivore

Answer explanation

A food web illustrates the complex feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showing how they are interconnected in their search for food. This makes 'food web' the correct answer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A leopard seal is classified as a carnivore. As a carnivore, choose the two food sources that the leopard seal might eat.

• penguin

• grass

• fish

• seaweed

Answer explanation

Leopard seals are carnivores, meaning they primarily eat meat. They commonly prey on penguins and fish, making these the correct food sources. Grass and seaweed are not suitable for a carnivorous diet.