Science Review
Wan is investigating birds in a wetland. He notices that many of the birds have similar
beaks with the same kind of shape. Which statement is the most likely explanation for
the similar beaks?
A
B
C
D
All birds have similar beaks.
The birds all belong to the same species.
The beaks are suited to the food available.
The birds build the same types of shelters.
Hurricanes that strike Florida are considered natural disasters. What type of
environmental change to hurricanes cause?
A
B
C
D
slow change
rapid change
both rapid change and slow change
Hurricanes don’t cause environmental change
Although it is now extinct, the Carolina parakeet was last seen in Florida in 1920. Back
then, large areas of habitat were logged and converted to agricultural fields. Honeybees
evicted the parakeets from hollow trees where they nested. Many parakeets were shot
for food and their feathers. In addition, farmers shot the parakeets to keep them from
eating their seeds. What can you conclude from these observations about why the
Carolina parakeet became extinct?
A Extinction may be the result of several factors.
B Extinction is always the result of human activity.
C Extinction occurs when an organism adapts to changes in its
environment.
D Extinction can be reversed if conservation measures are immediately
put in place.
Organisms that live in coral reefs need warm, shallow seas to survive. Which of these
environmental changes would be the greatest threat to coral reefs?
A
B
a beaver dam
open-pit mi
C
D
rising sea water level
using land for farming
The kudzu vine was introduced to this country in the late 1800s. Today, it is common
throughout most of the southeastern United States. Kudzu eventually kills other plants it
covers because it blocks out sunlight. What can you conclude from this information?
A Kudzu is an invasive organism that can change an ecosystem.
B Kudzu is an illustration of a predator-prey relationship in a community.
C Kudzu is an example of a cyclic change where the forest land will
eventually be restored.
D Kudzu is an example of a pollutant that is destroying forest ecosystems.
In which of these ways would doubling a region’s human population most likely change
the environment?
A People will use fewer resources.
B People will protect more organism than they did before the population
boom.
C People will set aside more land for conserving organism.
D People will destroy more habitat by building homes and buildings.
Flamingos have several unusual features. Which of these features of a flamingo helps
them to survive in marshes?
A
B
C
D
They are pink in color.
They can stand on one leg.
They run before taking off to fly.
They have glands that help them excrete excess salt.
A farmer plants corn every year. One year, the farm experiences a drought and receives
less rainfall than is normal during the growing season. Which of the following is the
most likely result?
A The corn plants will not grow at all.
B The corn plants will be taller than they usually are.
C The corn plants will be shorter than they usually are.
D The corn plants will grow the same as they usually do.
Bullfrogs are Florida’s largest frog. Frogs spend part of their life cycles in water and part
on land. Which physical characteristic is most useful for a water environment?
A
B
C
D
thin skin
large eyes
webbed feet
long, strong legs
Trout are fish that live in clear, cold rivers that are rich in oxygen. What do fish use to
get oxygen?
A fins
B gills
C scales
D tail
Rivers and streams are sometimes fast moving. What characteristics would help plants
live in swiftly moving water?
A stiff stems and broad leaves
B shallow roots and long stems
C thin leaves and large flowers
D flexible stems and ability to cling to rocks
Sharks can smell very small amounts of substances in ocean water. What does this
adaptation most likely let sharks do?
A sense water temperature
B find a place to lay eggs
C find a safe place to hide
D find food that is far away
In the fall, a ground squirrel will store the energy from food as a thick layer of fat. What
is most likely the reason for this adaptation?
A It keeps the animal from being exposed to diseases in winter.
B It keeps the animal from being eaten by predators that hunt during
winter.
C It helps the animal get exercise during winter when it is snowing.
D It helps the animal survive a cold winter when there is very little food.
Akimi found a toad while hiking in a temperate forest. The toad was hiding among some
small rocks near a creek. The toad had brown skin with many bumps on it. How does
the toad’s skin help it survive in its environment?
A It warns predators that it is poisonous.
B It helps it blend in with its surroundings.
C It protects it from sharp rocks and teeth.
D It keeps it warm during the cold seasons.
It is estimated that fewer than 100 Florida panthers are still living. Florida now has a
protected habitat for the panther. How will the protected habitat affect the panthers?
A
B
C
D
The panthers will probably become extinct.
Panthers will no longer be adapted to living in Florida.
The Florida panther population will decrease in the near future.
The panther population may increase now that they are being
conserved in a protected habitat.
The Florida panther has many adaptations. Here are some of them.
• The male panther will roam within an area of about 200 square miles.
• The panther runs in short bursts up to 35 mph.
• The panther usually travels in a zigzag pattern.
• The panther hunts at night and rests during the day.
Which term describes all of these adaptations?
A
B
C
D
physical adaptations
life-cycle adaptations
behavioral adaptations
reproductive adaptations
In southern Florida, the population of Burmese pythons has been increasing. These
snakes can also survive outside of southern Florida, and could even live as far north as
South Carolina. What is most likely to happen to these snakes in the near future?
A
B
C
D
Their habitat will remain the same.
They will move into new habitats.
They will no longer be adapted to their habitat.
The habitat of southern Florida will expand to cover more area.