End-of-Unit Assessment: Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

1. The sun has been up for several hours, and it has been shining on these trees. What can the trees do because they are in the sunlight? What does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the trees?
   
   The trees can . . .

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon allows them to make energy storage molecules.

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon uses up energy storage molecules.

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to make energy storage molecules.

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to break down energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

2. These goats are eating grass on a sunny day. What is happening to the carbon in the air around the living things on the mountain? Is carbon moving into the air, moving out of the air, or both?

• Carbon is only moving into the air; it is not moving out of the air.

• Carbon is moving into the air and out of the air at the same time.

• Carbon is not moving into the air; it is only moving out of the air.

• With this information, there is no way to know for sure.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

3. Will has an aquarium with water, plants, and fish that eat the plants. It is sealed so no material can get in or out, and has glass sides that allow sunlight to come in. The aquarium can also be covered to prevent light from entering.
   
   The amount of carbon in the aquarium's water started out high. Now, the amount of carbon in the water is decreasing. Is the aquarium now in sunlight or is it covered? What is happening to the number of energy storage molecules in the plants and fish as a result?

• The aquarium is now in sunlight, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

• The aquarium is now in sunlight, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

• The aquarium is now covered so no light can get in, and there are more energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

• The aquarium is now covered so no light can get in, and there are fewer energy storage molecules in the plants and fish.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS1-7

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Scientists are studying photosynthesis in a forest ecosystem that has plants, animals, and decomposers (which consume dead things). Which group or groups of organisms in the forest carry out photosynthesis?

• all organisms in the forest

• animals and decomposers

• plants and decomposers

• plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

5. A herd of deer lives in a forest where they eat the leaves of trees. The number of energy storage molecules in the trees and in the deer has increased. What has happened to the amount of carbon in the trees and in the deer?
   
   The amount of carbon in the trees and in the deer . . .

• has increased.

• has decreased.

• has not changed.

• is not related to the number of energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

6. This sea grass has had the sun shining on it for most of the day. What can the sea grass do because it is in sunlight? What does this mean for the number of energy storage molecules in the sea grass?
   
   The sea grass can . . .

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to break down energy storage molecules.

• take in carbon from the air. The carbon is used to make energy storage molecules.

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon allows the sea grass to make energy storage molecules.

• give off carbon to the air. Giving off carbon uses up energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

This tortoise is eating cactus on a sunny day. Is carbon moving into the air, moving out of the air, or both?

• Carbon is not moving into the air; it is only moving out of the air.

• With this information, there is no way to know for sure.

• Carbon is only moving into the air; it is not moving out of the air.

• Carbon is moving into the air and out of the air at the same time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Lily has an aquarium with water, plants, and fish that eat the plants. The aquarium is sealed so no material can get in or out, and has glass sides that allow light to come in. The aquarium can also be covered to prevent light from entering.

The number of energy storage molecules in the plants and fish started out low, but that number has been increasing over time. Has the aquarium been in sunlight or has it been covered during this time? What has happened to the carbon in the water?

• The aquarium has been covered so no light gets in, and there is less carbon in the water.

• The aquarium has been covered so no light gets in, and there is more carbon in the water.

• The aquarium has been in sunlight, and there is more carbon in the water.

• The aquarium has been in sunlight, and there is less carbon in the water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Scientists are studying cellular respiration in a jungle ecosystem that has plants, animals, and decomposers (which consume dead things). Which group or groups of organisms in the jungle carry out cellular respiration?

• plants

• animals and decomposers

• all organisms in the jungle

• animals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

10. Giant pandas eat bamboo plants in the mountains of China. The number of energy storage molecules has decreased in both the bamboo and the pandas. What has happened to the amount of carbon in the bamboo and the pandas?
    
    The amount of carbon in the bamboo and pandas . . .

• has not changed.

• is not related to the number of energy storage molecules.

• has increased.

• has decreased.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4