Life Science Pre-Quiz

Polar bears live in the Arctic and need both living and nonliving things to survive. Which of these is not living?

• Seals

• Snow and ice

• Fish

• Other polar bears

If the Arctic ice melts faster each year, what might happen to polar bears?

• They would have trouble finding food because they hunt on the ice.

• They would swim better and catch more food.

• Their population would grow because they like warmer weather.

• Nothing would change because they can eat different foods.

What helps keep a polar bear warm in the icy Arctic?

• Sharp claws

• Thick fur and black skin

• A long tail

• Small eyes

How do a polar bear’s big paws help it?

• They help it walk on ice and swim in cold water.

• They help it dig underground homes.

• They help it blend in with the snow.

• They store food for the winter.

Which of these is an instinct (something a polar bear is born knowing how to do)?

• Learning to hunt by watching its mother

• Digging a den in the snow for warmth

• Swimming between pieces of ice

• Teaching cubs to stay away from people

What would happen if there were fewer seals in the Arctic?

• a) Polar bears would eat penguins instead.

• b) Some polar bears might not survive because they have less food.

• c) Polar bears would grow bigger to catch more food.

• d) Nothing would change because polar bears eat lots of different things.

Why do polar bears need sea ice to survive?

• It keeps the ocean cold for fish.

• It helps them catch seals to eat.

• It protects them from humans.

• It gives them a place to store extra food.

Which of these is a learned behavior?

• Cubs following their mother across the ice

• Cubs growing thick fur as they get older

• Cubs practicing how to catch seals

• Cubs sleeping in a den

If oil spilled into the Arctic Ocean, how could this hurt polar bears?

• It wouldn’t hurt them because they don’t eat oil.

• It could make fish and seals sick, leaving polar bears with less food.

• It would make their fur grow thicker.

• It would make them hunt more often.

Why do polar bears have a strong sense of smell?

• To find food under the ice

• To know when other polar bears are nearby

• To find warm places to sleep

• To keep away from predators