food chains
Unit Quiz
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Directions: Select the best answer for each item below.
3.Which of the following
sentences correctly uses
the term photosynthesis?
1.What are two main sources
of energy for living things?
a the Sun and Moon
b electricity and gasoline
c the Sun and food
d food and water
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ideeone Design Solutions
2.What is the
main difference
between a
producer and
a consumer?
a Some cameras use a process
b Animals use photosynthesis
c Plants use photosynthesis to
d Photosynthesis describes
a A consumer makes its
own food, but a producer
must get food from other
living things.
b A producer makes its own
food, but a consumer
must get food from other
living things.
c A producer is part of a food
chain, but a consumer is
part of a food web.
d A consumer is part of a
food chain, but a producer
is part of a food web.
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called photosynthesis
to turn light into digital
pictures.
to turn sunlight, air, water,
and nutrients into food
energy.
turn sunlight, air, water, and
nutrients into food energy.
how animals compete for
the same natural resources.
4.Which list shows a group of
living things in the correct
sequence within a food chain?
a wolf—deer—leaves
b black bear—insects—salmon
c dog—parakeet—hamster
d snake—moose—berries
Unit Quiz continued on following page
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ASSESSMENT
Food Chains—Unit Quiz
continued
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
5.Why is the base of an energy
pyramid wider than the top?
tertiary
consumer
(carnivore)
golden eagle
secondary
consumers
(carnivores)
6.If most of the
rabbits on an
island became
sick and died,
what would likely
happen to the
populations of
other species
on that island?
a The population of eagles
b The population of ladybugs
c The population of blue jays
d The population of foxes
black-footed ferrets
primary
consumers
(herbivores)
prairie dogs
producers
(plants)
grass
a There are usually many
more producers than top
predators in an ecosystem.
b Only a small portion
of energy can be passed
from a lower level to the
level above it.
c Both a and b are true.
d Neither a nor b is true.
Photos/Art (top to bottom, left to right): 1, 3, 4, 5:
© Jupiterimages Corporation; 2: © iCLIPART.com
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would probably increase.
would probably increase.
would probably decrease.
would probably decrease.
7.What sort of living thing can
connect the top of a food chain
back to the bottom when a top
predator dies?
a decomposer
b producer
c consumer
d Nothing can connect
the top and bottom
of a food chain.
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ASSESSMENT
Food Chains—Unit Quiz
continued
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
8.An owl is a predator,
so a mouse is _________.
a an herbivore
b prey
c a consumer
d a decomposer
9.Why do animals have
adaptations?
a There is competition for
b Ecosystems can change.
c Special body parts
the same food sources.
and behaviors are
needed for survival.
d All of the above
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a Each species in a
b If one species
c Like a chain, the species in
d There is an equal population
chain plays the
same role and has
the same importance.
becomes weak
or is eliminated,
the whole chain suffers.
© iStockphoto.com/Studio Araminta
© iStockphoto.com/David Lochhead
10.How are the species
in an ecosystem similar
to links in a chain?
an ecosystem are always
related in a single line.
of each species, just as each
link in a chain is the same
size as the next.
11.Below is a list of ways an
ecosystem may change. Write
the letter N beside the changes
that are natural, and write
the letter H beside the changes
that are caused by humans.
If the change can be natural
or caused by humans, write
the letter B for both.
___ earthquake
___ oil spill
___ pesticide
___ fire
___ cutting forests ___ volcano
___ disease
___ pollution
Unit Quiz continued on following page
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ASSESSMENT
Food Chains—Unit Quiz
continued
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Directions: Use the diagram below to answer
questions 12–14.
© iStockphoto.com/Irving N. Saperstein
1
12.What type of diagram is shown?
a a food chain
b a food web
c an energy pyramid
d all of the above
13.Which living thing most likely
belongs in box 2?
polar bear
2
a arctic flowers
b tiny ice worms
c a harp seal
d another polar bear
14.What sort of item belongs
in box 4?
a something that would
b something that the
c something that helps
d ocean water
© Hellem/Dreamstime.com
3
codfish
4
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eat the fish
fish would eat
decompose the fish
when it dies
15.Extended Response: Choose
at least three living things
that live in the same ecosystem.
Draw either a food chain or
a food web to show how they
are related.
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food chains
Unit Quiz Answer Sheet
I=inferential
V=vocabulary
L=literal/recall
D=data analysis
1.c L
2. b L
3. c V
4. a I
5. c L
6. d I
7. a L
8.b V
9. d I
10. b I
11. N
earthquake
H
oil spill
H
pesticide B
fire
H
cutting forests N
volcano
B
disease H or Bpollution
12. a D
13.
D
14. b D
15. Extended Response: Students should
select at least three organisms that live
in the same ecosystem. Then students
should accurately depict how these
species are interrelated on either
a food chain or a food web.
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