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Exploring Living Things and Symbiosis

Total questions: 16

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Benjamin is collecting items for his science project. He finds a tree, a rock, a fish, and a bird. Which of the following is not an example of a biotic organism?

a)

Tree

b)

Rock

c)

Fish

d)

Bird

2.

What is the main function of roots in most plants?

a)

To make food

b)

To absorb water and nutrients

c)

To attract pollinators

d)

To produce seeds

3.

Which term describes a relationship where both organisms benefit?

a)

Parasitism

b)

Mutualism

c)

Commensalism

d)

Predation

4.

Which of the following is a producer in an ecosystem?

a)

Lion

b)

Grass

c)

Eagle

d)

Mushroom

5.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between a remora fish and a shark?

a)

The remora benefits, the shark is not affected.

b)

Both benefit equally.

c)

The shark benefits, the remora is harmed.

d)

Both are harmed.

6.

A tapeworm lives inside the intestines of a dog and absorbs nutrients from the dog’s food. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?

a)

Mutualism

b)

Commensalism

c)

Parasitism

d)

Competition

7.

While visiting a garden, Abigail observes a bee collecting nectar from a flower and, in the process, helping the flower with pollination. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?

a)

Parasitism

b)

Mutualism

c)

Commensalism

d)

Predation

8.

Which of the following pairs shows commensalism?

a)

Barnacles on a whale

b)

Tick on a dog

c)

Lion hunting a zebra

d)

Ants and aphids

9.

A student observes that lichens are able to grow on bare rocks where no other plants can survive. Explain how the relationship between the fungus and the algae in lichens helps them survive in such environments.

a)

The fungus provides structure and absorbs water, while the algae make food through photosynthesis.

b)

The algae protect the fungus from sunlight.

c)

The fungus eats the algae.

d)

The algae provide shelter for the fungus.

10.

A farmer notices that certain plants in his field grow better when planted near beans. Beans have bacteria in their roots that fix nitrogen. Using your knowledge of symbiotic relationships, explain why the other plants might benefit from being near beans.

a)

The bacteria in bean roots add nitrogen to the soil, which helps other plants grow.

b)

The beans take water from other plants.

c)

The beans block sunlight from other plants.

d)

The beans attract pests that harm other plants.

11.

A student wants to determine if a certain type of bird helps control the population of insects in a garden. What would be the best way to investigate this?

a)

Observe the garden with and without the birds and compare the number of insects.

b)

Count the number of birds in the garden.

c)

Plant more flowers in the garden.

d)

Remove all insects from the garden.

12.

Suppose a population of cleaner fish is removed from a coral reef. Predict what might happen to the health of the larger fish that used to be cleaned by them.

a)

The larger fish may have more parasites and become less healthy.

b)

The larger fish will become healthier.

c)

The coral will grow faster.

d)

The water will become clearer.

13.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of living things?

a)

They grow and develop.

b)

They reproduce.

c)

They are made of cells.

d)

They do not respond to their environment.

14.

Which of the following best describes the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

a)

They produce food using sunlight.

b)

They break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients.

c)

They hunt and eat other animals.

d)

They compete for sunlight.

15.

Aria notices that her dog keeps scratching itself. Upon closer inspection, she finds small insects feeding on her dog’s blood. Which of the following best describes this relationship?

a)

A bird building a nest in a tree

b)

A flea feeding on a dog’s blood

c)

A bee pollinating a flower

d)

A fish swimming near a turtle

16.

A student observes that moss often grows on the north side of trees in a forest. What could be a possible explanation for this observation?

a)

The north side is shadier and moister, which helps moss grow.

b)

The north side gets more sunlight.

c)

The moss prefers dry conditions.

d)

The moss is eaten by animals on the south side.