Shell Geography Revision

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. What is this called?

• Ecosystem

• Habitat

• Population

• Biome

Answer explanation

An ecosystem is defined as a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. It encompasses both the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components, making it the correct answer.

An organism that can make its own food. What is this called?

• Producer

• Consumer

• Decomposer

• Parasite

Answer explanation

An organism that can make its own food is called a producer. Producers, like plants, use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy, forming the base of the food chain.

Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical energy. What is this process called?

• Photosynthesis

• Respiration

• Transpiration

• Fermentation

Answer explanation

The process of converting light energy from the sun into chemical energy is called photosynthesis. During this process, plants use sunlight to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

90% of energy is released as heat (homeostasis causes heat to be an unusable form of energy), 10% is passed on to the next consumer level. What is this describing in an ecosystem?

• flow of energy in an ecosystem

• carbon cycle in an ecosystem

• water cycle in an ecosystem

• decomposition process in an ecosystem

Answer explanation

This describes the flow of energy in an ecosystem, where 90% of energy is lost as heat and only 10% is transferred to the next consumer level, illustrating energy transfer efficiency.

A slide of large masses of snow and ice down a mountain. What is this called?

• avalanche

• earthquake

• tornado

• volcano

Answer explanation

A slide of large masses of snow and ice down a mountain is called an avalanche. This term specifically refers to the rapid descent of snow and ice, distinguishing it from other natural phenomena like earthquakes or tornadoes.

A large-scale avalanche formed when ice and snow breaks away from the main ice pack. What is this called?

• slab avalanche

• powder avalanche

• crevasse fall

• ice jam

Answer explanation

A slab avalanche occurs when a cohesive layer of snow breaks away from the underlying snowpack, often triggered by weight or instability. This is the correct term for the large-scale avalanche described in the question.

________ are caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, underwater explosions, landslides, glacier calvings, or meteorite impacts.

• Tsunamis

• Hurricanes

• Tornadoes

• Earthquakes

Answer explanation

Tsunamis are large ocean waves generated by disturbances such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or meteorite impacts. The other options, like hurricanes and tornadoes, are not caused by these geological events.

A ________ is an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms.

• consumer

• producer

• decomposer

• autotroph

Answer explanation

A consumer is an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms, unlike producers that create their own energy and decomposers that break down dead matter. Therefore, the correct answer is consumer.

Each step in a food chain or food web is called a ________.

• trophic level

• biome

• habitat

• organism

Answer explanation

Each step in a food chain or web represents a trophic level, indicating the position of organisms in the flow of energy. Other options like biome, habitat, and organism do not specifically refer to these steps.

A ________ is a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten.

• food chain

• water cycle

• rock layer

• weather pattern

Answer explanation

A food chain illustrates how energy is transferred through different organisms in an ecosystem, where one organism eats another. This process is essential for understanding ecological relationships.