wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Matter Cycles and Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Total questions: 75

Worksheet time: 2hrs 46mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Consumers have several energy levels. All the statements are false except

a)

As consumers advance to other levels, they get fewer in number.

b)

As consumers advance to higher levels, they become more numerous.

c)

As consumers advance, they restrict their diet to one organism.

d)

As consumers advance they make more energy.

2.
How does matter move among the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem?
a)
matter is recycled within and between ecosystems
b)
one-way flow of energy
c)
two-way flow of energy only
d)
three-way flow of energy only
3.
What is our role in the carbon cycle? 
a)
We are made of carbon. 
b)
We release it into the atmosphere when we breathe. 
c)
We release it into the atmosphere when using fossil fuels. 
d)
All of the above. 
4.
Where is the majority of nitrogen located?
a)
Most of the nitrogen on Earth is in the atmosphere.
b)
Most of the nitrogen on Earth is in the soil.
c)
Most of the nitrogen on Earth is in the water.
d)
None of the above.
5.
When animals break down glucose to create energy, they release water and carbon dioxide (CO2.) How can carbon dioxide (CO2) be reused within the food web?
a)
It can be used by animals as a source of oxygen.
b)
It can be used by both plants and animals to produce energy.
c)
It can be used by plants during photosynthesis to create glucose.
6.
By which process is water taken from the ocean to form clouds?
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
transpiration
7.
Which group in a food web is most likely to change atmospheric nitrogen into forms that are usable?
a)
consumers
b)
decomposers
c)
producers
d)
scavengers
8.
Which shows the correct flow of energy through this simple food chain?
a)
fox → grass → rabbit
b)
grass → fox → rabbit
c)
grass → rabbit → fox
d)
rabbit → grass → fox
9.
What is the energy source for the carbon dioxide cycle?
a)
plants
b)
the Sun
c)
respiration
10.
Which best explains the role of bacteria in an ecosystem?
a)
They break down organic matter into necessary nutrient components.
b)
 They release energy from the decomposition of atmospheric gases.
c)
They convert carbon dioxide and water into simple carbohydrates.
d)
They absorb energy from the synthesis of inorganic compounds.
11.
Which molecule is necessary in order for respiration to occur in plants and animals?
a)
nitrogen
b)
oxygen
c)
sulfur
d)
water
12.
Which best describes the role plants serve in the oxygen cycle?
a)
They absorb oxygen during photosynthesis.
b)
They absorb oxygen during decomposition reactions.
c)
They release oxygen as a waste product of photosynthesis.
d)
They release oxygen as a waste product in cellular respiration.
13.
Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor in an ecosystem?
a)
sunlight
b)
stream
c)
rock
d)
tree
14.
Most producers get energy from the Sun using the process of
a)
cellular respiration
b)
chemosynthesis
c)
photosynthesis
d)
consumption
15.
Decomposers are important to ecosystems because they
a)
return vital nutrients to the ecosystem
b)
capture energy from the Sun
c)
are producers
d)
can be omnivores
16.
A consumer gets energy by
a)
absorbing sunlight.
b)
breaking down dead organisms.
c)
soaking it up from the ground.
d)
feeding on other organisms.
17.
The cycling of matter is important because
a)
Matter can be created and destroyed
b)
Only a limited amount of matter is available so it has to be recycled
c)
Matter can only be found in a solution
d)
Bacteria use matter to convert organisms into solar energy
18.

Plants, animals, and decomposers (which consume dead things) are in a forest ecosystem. Scientists are studying photosynthesis in the forest. Which group or groups of organisms should they study?

a)

all organisms in the forest

b)

animals and decomposers

c)

plants and decomposers

d)

plants

19.
Where does cellular respiration take place in the cell?
a)
Cell Membrane
b)
Nucleus
c)
Mitochondria
d)
Vacuole
20.
What kind of things perform cellular respiration?
a)
All living cells
b)
plants only
c)
animals only
d)
yeast only
21.
Where in the cell does photosynthesis occur?
a)
mitochondria
b)
stomata
c)
xylem
d)
chloroplast
22.
All the living and nonliving things interacting in a particular area create an ________________.
a)
ecosystem
b)
biodome
c)
playground
d)
park
23.
Which of the following removes carbon from the atmosphere?
a)
Combustion
b)
Respiration
c)
Photosynthesis
d)
Death
24.
Molecules are 
a)
2 atoms bound together 
b)
2 elements bound together 
c)
2 or more atoms mixed together
d)
2 or more atoms bound together 
25.
Respiration is the process by which animals take in _____ and release _____. 
a)
photosynthesis, air
b)
carbon, oxygen
c)
oxygen
d)
oxygen, carbon dioxide
26.

Organisms that make their own food

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Decomposer

27.

Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Decomposer

28.

Organisms that break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the environment

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Decomposer

29.

Consumers that eat only plants

a)

Carnivores

b)

Omnivores

c)

Herbivores

d)

Scavengers

30.

Consumers that eat only animals

a)

Carnivores

b)

Omnivores

c)

Herbivores

d)

Scavengers

31.

Consumers that eat both plants and animals

a)

Omnivores

b)

Carnivores

c)

Herbivores

d)

Scavengers

32.

Consumers that feed on the bodies of dead organisms

a)

Carnivores

b)

Omnivores

c)

Herbivores

d)

Scavengers

33.

A food _______ is a series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy.

a)

chain

b)

web

c)

pyramid

d)

plate

34.

A food _______ consists of many overlapping food ________.

a)

web, chains

b)

chain, webs

c)

pyramid, webs

d)

web, pyramids

35.

As you work your way up the energy pyramid, what happens to the energy?

a)

It increases

b)

It decreases

c)

It stays the same

d)

Nothing

36.

In the food web above, what eats the rabbit?

a)

Fox

b)

Hawk

c)

Vole

d)

Grass

37.

In the energy pyramid, what is the bottom level composed of?

a)

Producers

b)

First-Level Consumers

c)

Second-Level Consumers

d)

Third-Level Consumers

38.

In the energy pyramid, what comes after the producers?

a)

Producers

b)

First-Level Consumers

c)

Second-Level Consumers

d)

Third-Level Consumers

39.
How is Nitrogen removed from the air and put into compound that living things can use?
a)
plants
b)
photosynthesis
c)
chemosynthesis
d)
nitrogen fixing bacteria
40.
What gas does burning things release into the atmosphere?
a)
oxygen
b)
carbon dioxide
c)
nitrogen
d)
diethylchlorofloromethane
41.
What happens to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels?
a)
carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere rise
b)
carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere fall
c)
carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere stay the same
42.
Which of the following take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere?
a)
plant and animal respiration
b)
volcanoes
c)
combustion of fossil fuels
d)
photosynthesis
43.
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
a)
hydrogen
b)
oxygen
c)
helium
d)
nitrogen
44.
What happens during the process of nitrogen-fixation?
a)
Nitrogen compounds turn into free nitrogen
b)
Free nitrogen turns into nitrogen compounds
45.
Identify the cycle pictured.
a)
The Water cycle
b)
The Carbon cycle
c)
The Nitrogen cycle
d)
The Phosphorus cycle
46.
What is this a picture of?
a)
Nitrogen cycle
b)
carbon cycle
c)
water cycle
d)
plant cycle
47.
How does matter move among the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem?
a)
matter is recycled within and between ecosystems
b)
one-way flow of energy
c)
two-way flow of energy only
d)
three-way flow of energy only
48.

What is a major contributor to global warming?

a)

excess oxygen

b)

excess carbon dioxide

c)

excess carbon monoxide

d)

excess hydrogen

49.

Which of the following puts an enormous amount of carbon in the atmosphere?

a)

photosynthesis

b)

burning fossil fuels

c)

cellular respiration

d)

decomposition

50.

Farmer Joe is worried he will not get enough of his corn crop there year. Which process below will be help his crop to grow?

a)

Denitrification through soil bacteria

b)

Nitrogen Fixation through soil bacteria

c)

Cellular Respiration in the plants

d)

Chemosynthesis in the soil

51.

Horses are a primary consumer that eat plants. What defines other organisms that share the same trophic level as horses?

a)

Cougar, coyotes, and other animals that eat horses

b)

Other organisms in the community that interact with horses

c)

Grassland animals that are the same size as horses

d)

Grassland animals that also eat plants and plant products

52.

In the image provided, what is shown by the arrows that lead to and from the wolf?

a)

The wolf is part of several food chains, but not a food web

b)

The wolf is part of several food chains and several food webs

c)

The wolf is part of one food web but no food chains

d)

The wolf is part of one food web but several food chains

53.

Which of the following methods is how primary producers obtain energy?

a)

Use the sun to produce energy rich compounds

b)

Produce CO2 through cellular respiration

c)

Break down chemicals to produce energy rich compounds

d)

Consuming other organisms

54.

Using the diagram, which of the following describes how energy moves through the food chain?

a)

between producers and consumers, in either direction

b)

consumers --> producers; in one direction

c)

producers --> consumers; in one direction

d)

producers --> consumers; in a cycle

55.

True or False: In an ecosystem, energy is recycled and nutrients/matter flow in one direction

a)

True

b)

False: energy flows in one direction and nutrients/matter recycle

56.
Which of the following is an example of a food producer?
a)
Human
b)
Grizzly Bear
c)
Orca
d)
Oak Tree
57.
Which are decomposers ?
a)
humans
b)
trees
c)
red wolves
d)
worms
58.
Which choice has a group of only consumers?
a)
grass, cows, birds
b)
tigers, turtles, seaweed
c)
owl, snake, bear
d)
castus, sun, mushroom
59.
Which choice has a group of only producers?
a)
red wolf, coyote, grey wolf
b)
sunflower, grass, pine tree
c)
mushrooms and worms
d)
seaweed, algae, mushrooms
60.
How is the sun a part of a food chain?
a)
it is eaten
b)
it is the energy source
c)
it feeds animals
d)
it tastes good
61.
What is a food chain?
a)
A necklace.
b)
Jewelry made of food.
c)
A path showing how energy moves from one living thing to another.
d)
A life cycle.
62.
What do the arrows represent in a food chain?
a)
Stop
b)
Start
c)
"Gives energy to"
63.
The shrew provides energy for the _______?
a)
cricket
b)
grasshopper
c)
frog
d)
snake
64.
What is this called?
a)
Food Web
b)
Food Chain
c)
Abiotic Factors
65.
What is this called?
a)
Food Web
b)
Food Chain
c)
Abiotic Factors
66.
Which is the correct sequence to show how organisms live in an environment?
a)
decomposer-->consumer-->producer
b)
consumer-->decomposer-->producer
c)
producer-->decomposer-->consumer
d)
producer-->consumer-->decomposer
67.
What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
a)
Produce food
b)
recycle matter
c)
provide oxygen
d)
supply water
68.
decomposer
a)
an organism that kills another organism or a prey (called predator)
b)
an organism that breaks down dead organisms and returns material to the environment
c)
an organism that gets killed by a predator (called prey)
69.

process that uses oxygen to break down glucose to release energy

a)

Cellular Respiration

b)

Photosynthesis

c)

Chemical energy

d)

Radiant Energy

70.

Sugar

a)

photosynthesis

b)

carbon dioxide

c)

glucose

d)

water

71.

Sunlight

a)

Chemical energy

b)

radiant energy

c)

oxygen

d)

glucose

72.

gas that animals exhale

a)

carbon dioxide

b)

oxygen

c)

water

d)

glucose

73.

stored energy in the molecules of glucose

a)

radiant energy

b)

water

c)

carbon dioxide

d)

chemical energy

74.

Organisms that make their own food

a)

plants

b)

autotrophs

c)

producers

d)

All of these

75.

Which statement is true?

a)

Ecosystems are interdependent.

b)

Producers only depend on the sun for all of their resources.

c)

Consumers can do the process of photosynthesis.

d)

Cellular respiration only occurs in plants.

Similar Resources on Wayground

Earth's Layers and W.E.D.

71 questions

Earth's Layers and W.E.D.

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Ch. 2 Forms of Energy Review

71 questions

Ch. 2 Forms of Energy Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Christmas Science Quiz

75 questions

Christmas Science Quiz

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th - 9th Grade

Intro to Experimental Design

70 questions

Intro to Experimental Design

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th - 10th Grade

Physical and Chemical Properties and Changes

70 questions

Physical and Chemical Properties and Changes

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th - 8th Grade

speed

74 questions

speed

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Q2 Benchmark 24-25

70 questions

Q2 Benchmark 24-25

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th Grade

Water Cycle-JONES

70 questions

Water Cycle-JONES

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th Grade - University