TEST NAME: Matter TEST ID: 49717 GRADE: 05 SUBJECT: Life and Physical Sciences TEST CATEGORY: My Classroom Matter Page 1 of 39 Student: Class: Date: 1. Which would most likely cause a decrease in the predator population in an ecosystem? A. an increase in the types of plants in the ecosystem B. a decrease in the prey population in the ecosystem C. an increase in the height of trees in the ecosystem D. a decrease in the types of decomposers in the ecosystem 2. Which best describes the importance of photosynthesis in an ecosystem? A. It allows plants to create energy and pass it along to other members of the ecosystem. B. It allows animals to create energy and pass it along to other members of the ecosystem. C. It allows decomposers to create energy and pass it along to other members of the ecosystem. 3. It is common to see wild animals like deer and coyotes in large cities and neighborhoods. Which is most likely a reason the animals are found in these areas? A. They prefer to be near houses. B. They prefer to be near people. C. Their habitat is increasing in size. D. Their habitat is decreasing in size. 4. Which is a benefit of having different types of producers in an ecosystem? A. There is more competition for food by consumers. B. The ecosystem can support more types of consumers. C. There will be more decomposers living in the ecosystem. D. The ecosystem will be better able to support carnivores. Matter Page 2 of 39 5. How would a reduction in the number of producers in an ecosystem affect the consumers? A. Fewer producers in an ecosystem means less carbon dioxide is available for consumers. B. Fewer producers in an ecosystem means less energy is available for consumers. C. Fewer producers in an ecosystem means more oxygen is available for consumers. D. Fewer producers in an ecosystem means more nitrogen is available for consumers. 6. A developer buys land on a wooded mountain to build hotels for people visiting a new winter sports center. How will this most likely affect birds living in the area? A. Birds will become completely dependent on humans for food and water. B. Birds will have more places to build nests as more trees will be planted. C. Population diversity and the number of birds will increase as more food and water resources become available. D. Population diversity and the number of birds will decrease as fewer food and water resources become available. Matter Page 3 of 39 7. Which pair of organisms will most likely compete for a similar food source? A. B. C. D. Matter Page 4 of 39 8. The diagram illustrates a salt marsh ecosystem. Using the diagram, which statement can most likely be concluded? A. The Sun directly provides energy to the heron. B. The oysters find shelter in the cordgrass. C. The marsh crab uses the terrapin for food. D. The cordgrass provides shelter for the periwinkle snail. 9. Which will most likely result if large areas of trees in a forest are removed to build neighborhoods? A. There would be an increase in the loss of habitats. B. There would be an increase in the number of predators. C. There would be an increase in food resources for animals. D. There would be an increase in the number species of plants. 10. A zebra eats grass and then is eaten by a lion. Which is the predator in this situation? A. grass B. lion C. sun D. zebra Matter Page 5 of 39 11. Which is one way earthworms improve the ability of most plants to survive in their habitats? A. They improve the quality of the soil. B. They provide more water for the soil. C. They increase the temperature of the soil. D. They fight diseases that occur on plant roots. 12. Which group will carnivores feed upon? A. fungi B. bacteria C. consumers D. producers 13. Which will most likely happen to the grasshopper population if the grass population decreases? A. The grasshopper population will increase because there will be less competition. B. The grasshopper population will decrease because there will be less food available. C. The grasshopper population will increase because there will be more food available. D. The grasshopper population will decrease because there will be an increase in the predator population. 14. An owl gets its energy from a field mouse it eats. From which food source did the mouse most likely get its energy? A. soil B. water C. sun D. grass Matter Page 6 of 39 15. Maria notices oil leaking from a car onto the street outside her house. She lives beside a lake and knows the oil will flow into the lake. What is the best thing for Maria to do at this point? A. Alert local officials immediately; they can take action to protect the quality of the water. B. Write a letter in the local paper discussing ways to conserve water in homes. C. Go outside and use cleaning products to clean up the oil spill. 16. Eduardo saw some cats living in an alley. Which of these does a cat need to survive? A. grass to sleep in B. large trees to climb C. predators to chase it D. small animals to eat 17. A rabbit eats a variety of plants in an ecosystem. Which best describes the effect a drought would have on both rabbits and plants in an ecosystem? A. Both populations would increase. B. Both populations would decrease. C. Plant life would decrease and the rabbit population would increase. 18. The number of fish in a lake suddenly increases. How will the increase most likely affect the lake? A. There will be less water in the lake. B. More plants will grow in the lake. C. More frogs will live in the lake. D. There will be fewer insects in the lake. 19. Which would be most beneficial to a snail in an aquarium ecosystem? A. small fish B. large rocks C. green algae D. aquatic insects Matter Page 7 of 39 20. The main source of food for a coyote population in one area is mice. Which is most likely to happen to these coyotes if a new predator begins eating the mice? A. There will be fewer coyotes. B. The coyotes will produce more young. C. More coyotes will arrive from other locations. D. Each coyote will spend less time hunting food. 21. Which best describes the result if the number of lilypads in a pond ecosystem increases? A. Consumers of the lilypads would increase because of a larger food source. B. The lilypads would prevent fish from absorbing the sun’s energy. C. Consumers of the lilypads would decrease because of increased competition. D. The lilypads would use the oxygen in the air, which would lower the number of consumers. 22. Which best explains why sunlight is important in an ecosystem? A. Sunlight is the main source of food in an ecosystem. B. Sunlight helps the animals in the ecosystem to mate. C. Sunlight provides energy for producers in the ecosystem. D. Sunlight heats the soil to increase the nutrients for the consumers. 23. In a grassland ecosystem, lions prey on wildebeest. The population of wildebeest has declined steadily because of hunting. What will most likely happen to the lion population? A. The lion population will increase. B. The lion population will decrease. C. The lion population will remain the same. Matter Page 8 of 39 24. Which picture best shows an animal helping a plant? A. B. C. D. 25. Which part of a pond ecosystem gives small fish shelter? A. rocks B. water C. frogs D. soil 26. Farmers plant fruit trees in an area that was once a grassy meadow. Which will most likely happen to the rabbits living in the meadow? Matter A. They will learn to eat fruit. B. They will learn to climb trees. C. The number of their young will increase. D. The size of their population will decrease. Page 9 of 39 27. Which term defines animals that obtain food by hunting other animals? A. predators B. prey C. producers D. scavengers 28. Which best explains why predators need other animals within an ecosystem? A. They depend on them for food. B. They depend on them for water. C. They depend on them for protection. D. They depend on them for competition. 29. Which best explains how organisms in an overpopulated community interact with each other? A. They compete with each other for food and survival. B. They occupy different habitats to avoid overcrowding. C. They work together to gather food for their community. D. They use fewer resources so that there is enough for each organism. 30. In a grassland ecosystem, lions prey on wildebeest. The population of lions has declined steadily because of illegal hunting. What will most likely happen to the population of wildebeest? A. The wildebeest population will increase. B. The wildebeest population will decrease. C. The wildebeest population will remain the same. Matter Page 10 of 39 31. What would most likely happen to producers if clouds constantly blocked the sun’s rays? A. Producers would move to another environment. B. Producers would no longer release carbon dioxide. C. Producers would rely on other sources for energy. D. Producers would be less able to provide energy for other organisms. 32. Which is most likely responsible for the pollutants that enter a wetland ecosystem after a heavy rain? A. animal waste B. human chemical use C. atmospheric conditions D. changes in daily temperatures 33. The American alligator can be found in wetland habitats. Scientists think that if populations of American alligators decrease, populations of rats and other small animals might increase. The relationship between rats and alligators can best be described in which way? Matter A. The alligators eat the rats as food. B. The rats eat young alligators as food. C. The rats eat food that alligators leave behind. D. The alligators and the rats eat the same kind of food. Page 11 of 39 34. Why is the presence of insects in a rain forest ecosystem important? A. Insects store water needed by other animals. B. Insects create energy needed by other animals. C. Insects help keep plant growth under control by eating leaves. D. Insects are a source of food for many organisms living in this ecosystem. 35. Deer are plantseaters. A winter storm kills many of the plants deer eat. The storm will most likely result in the deer A. shedding a lot of fur. B. traveling in a herd. C. becoming thin. D. feeding on meat. 36. Which population is the primary cause of habitat reduction? A. humans B. predators C. scavengers D. decomposers 37. A group of frogs live together near a small pond. The frogs compete with each other most for which resource? A. air B. insects C. plants D. sunlight 38. What would most likely happen if there were no plants left in an ecosystem? A. All life within the system would suffer. B. Some life within the system would suffer. C. Herbivores would have to become carnivores. Matter Page 12 of 39 39. Which would be the most likely result if all the producers in an area were destroyed? A. Herbivores in the area would become carnivores in order to survive. B. The number of all of the organisms in the area would increase. C. Different types of animals would move into the area. D. The number of consumers would greatly decrease. 40. Shaun sees a goldfinch and a junco in a tree at the school. These birds will most likely have to compete with one another for A. food. B. mates. C. nests. D. oxygen. 41. Matter Which best explains why many kinds of plants and animals can live together in an ecosystem? A. The plants and animals all care for each other and protect one another. B. The plants and animals are all part of a food chain and depend on each other to live. C. The plants and animals are independent of one another, so they can live together. D. The plants and animals all feed on the same things, so they compete with each other for food. Page 13 of 39 42. What will most likely happen to this food chain if a farmer decides to dust a wheat crop with an insecticide? wheat → insects → sparrows → hawks A. The grass would become greener. B. More birds would move into the fields. C. The hawks would eat more of the grass. D. There would be fewer sparrows seen in the fields. 43. Which would be most harmful to sea plants living near the surface of the ocean? A. limited sunlight B. increased sunlight C. more carnivores moving into the area 44. Which is one way people often destroy animal habitats? A. by building new homes B. by recycling waste products C. by producing new energy sources D. by creating new varieties of plants 45. Two different species in the same ecosystem are most likely to compete over which limited resource? A. air B. water C. mates D. minerals 46. Matter When the prey population in an ecosystem increases, which will most likely happen to the predator population? A. The predator population will die out. B. The predator population will decrease. C. The predator population will gradually increase. D. The predator population will move to another ecosystem. Page 14 of 39 47. Many neighborhoods in the western mountains of North Carolina experience problems with black bears destroying bird feeders and garbage containers. Which is the most likely explanation for the bears’ actions? A. The bears have developed a liking to wild bird feed. B. The bears’ behavior is normal; they are just curious animals. C. The bears have become lazy and depend on humans for survival. D. The bears’ habitat has been reduced due to housing development and clearing the land. 48. This is a list of some parts of an ecosystem. star fish kelp rocks salt water Which ecosystem would have these parts? A. a stream B. a lake C. a tide pool D. a river 49. Which best identifies what is needed for a complete food chain in an ecosystem? A. consumers and producers B. decomposers and producers C. consumers, producers, and scavengers D. producers, consumers, and decomposers 50. A squirrel gathering nuts helps trees A. grow. B. reproduce. C. resist disease. D. become stronger. Matter Page 15 of 39 51. There are usually fewer plants growing on the floor of a deciduous forest than in the areas outside the forest. Which best describes this situation? A. Small plants need more water than tall trees, and there is little water in a deciduous forest. B. Small plants need nutrientrich soil, and this type of soil cannot be found in a deciduous forest. C. All plants need sunlight to grow, and tall trees block sunlight from reaching small plants in a deciduous forest. D. All plants need carbon dioxide to grow, and small plants cannot get enough carbon dioxide in a deciduous forest. 52. In a food chain, foxes are consumers of rabbits and mice. If the mice population suddenly decreases, what will most likely happen to the number of foxes? A. The number of foxes will increase because they will eat fewer rabbits. B. The number of foxes will stay the same because they will eat more rabbits. C. The number of foxes will decrease because they will be eaten by the rabbits. D. The number of foxes will decrease because they will only have one remaining food source. 53. Which two organisms in the food chain shown below are carnivorous? A. grass and mice B. mice and snakes C. hawks and grass D. snakes and hawks 54. Both harbor seals and gray seals can be found on Sable Island in the Atlantic Ocean. As scientists have studied the island, they have noticed an increase in the population of gray seals. They have also noticed the population of harbor seals has decreased. Which most likely caused the decrease in the population of the harbor seals. A. change in ocean temperature B. an increase in rainfall on the island C. competition for food between the seals D. change in the type of food eaten by the seals Matter Page 16 of 39 55. Which best describes an animal that hunts living animals for food? A. herbivore B. predator C. prey D. scavenger 56. Which best describes the role of litter in an ecosystem? A. Litter causes landfills to fill up more quickly. B. Litter is a pollutant that can harm living things in an ecosystem. C. Litter provides natural habitats for certain organisms in an ecosystem. 57. Which most influences a forest ecosystem’s ability to support life? A. the size of the trees and the temperature B. the amount of sunlight and the type of soil C. the size of the trees and the type of soil D. the number of insects and the temperature 58. Which best describes what would happen if decomposers were removed from an ecosystem? A. The ecosystem would have too many producers. B. The ecosystem would only support the consumers. C. The ecosystem would increase and produce more organisms. D. The ecosystem would fail to support the organisms it contains. 59. In what way do bushes benefit from bears eating their berries? A. Their seeds are spread around. B. Other predators are scared away. C. Nearby ground becomes compacted. D. Their stems and branches are broken. Matter Page 17 of 39 60. Which would most likely happen to organisms in an ecosystem if the temperature suddenly increased for an extended period of time? A. Some organisms would not survive. B. All of the organisms will move to nearby ecosystems. C. Many of the organisms will quickly adapt to the resulting climate change. D. None of the organisms would be able to adapt to the resulting climate change. Matter Page 18 of 39 61. Students tested how plants grow in different places in the classroom. They planted a seed in a pot for each place. They drew pictures of each plant after one month. Which diagram is most likely of a plant that was in a dark closet? A. B. C. D. Matter Page 19 of 39 62. What would be the best way to prevent people from littering in a public park? A. Only allow people in the park for a few hours a day. B. Hang up a sign that says, “Keep our park clean.” C. Place garbage cans around the park. 63. Which action can reduce the amount of garbage produced by humans? A. burning the garbage B. building more landfills C. recycling and reusing materials D. dumping the garbage in the ocean 64. Noah visited a park that had many oak trees. Which best describes the role of an oak tree in its ecosystem? A. Oak trees can live for a long time. B. Oak trees have leaves that change colors. C. Oak trees have strong branches and trunks. D. Oak trees are a source of food and shelter for animals. 65. Which would be most directly affected by a reduction in nutrients in the soil? A. sunlight B. abiotic factors C. plant community 66. Which would most likely happen if all the soil in an ecosystem washed away? A. Most of the plants would die. B. Most of the plants would grow in rocks. C. All animals would become carnivores. D. All animals and plants would relocate. Matter Page 20 of 39 67. Aphids are tiny insects that feed on the leaves of garden plants. As the aphids eat, they leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew. This honeydew attracts a substance called sooty mold. When the sooty mold covers the leaves, it affects how the plant makes its food. Ladybugs eat aphids. If ladybugs eat all the aphids in a garden, which will most likely increase over time? A. the number of ladybugs B. the amount of honeydew C. the amount of sooty mold D. the number of garden plants 68. One year, the oak trees in a park began producing more acorns than usual. The next year, the population of chipmunks in the park also increased. Which best explains why there were more chipmunks the next year? A. Shady areas increased. B. Food sources increased. C. Oxygen levels increased. D. Available water increased. 69. A group on a safari observes lions interacting with each other. The next day, the group observes how giraffes interact with each other. On the third day, the group takes pictures of antelopes in their natural habitats. What are they studying? A. different habitats B. different ecosystems C. different populations D. different communities Matter Page 21 of 39 70. Which best describes what would happen if the wetlands were to dry up? A. Fewer amphibian and reptile eggs would develop. B. Amphibians and reptiles would find another source of prey. C. Amphibians and reptiles would lay eggs and develop on dry land. 71. Bald eagles were once in danger of extinction. Since being protected by laws, the bald eagle population has grown. Bald eagles eat a variety of organisms including snakes. How did the increase in the population of bald eagles most likely affect snakes living in eagle habitats? A. The increase reduced the number of snakes. B. The increase forced the snakes to change habitats. C. The increase made the snakes find new food sources. D. The increase caused the snakes to develop new traits. 72. Which is most likely an effect of construction on a forest ecosystem? A. Construction will decrease the amount of sunlight for the ecosystem. B. Construction will increase the amount of food for organisms in the ecosystem. C. Construction will increase the number of trees and smaller plants growing in the ecosystem. D. Construction will decrease the amount of natural cover and nesting places for organisms in the ecosystem. 73. Which human action will cause the most harm to a wetland ecosystem? A. boat fishing in this area B. feeding the ducks in this area C. building homes around the area Matter Page 22 of 39 74. The gray myotis is a type of bat found in Florida. Gray myotis bats are flying mammals that live close together in caves. The bats leave the cave each night to hunt insects. If another population of bats arrived, for which resource in the cave would gray myotis bats most likely compete with other bats? A. air B. space C. sunlight D. water 75. Which would most likely increase the number of squirrels living in an area? A. cutting down trees that serve as habitats for squirrels B. planting trees that produce nuts squirrels do not eat C. reducing the number of animals that hunt and kill squirrels D. removing all of the food sources for squirrels from the area 76. Which best explains how an ecosystem supports a variety of organisms? A. Most organisms are completely independent. B. Organisms sometimes die out and are replaced. C. All organisms are able to live in separate habitats. D. Organisms use parts of the ecosystem differently. Matter Page 23 of 39 77. Koala bears eat very little other than eucalyptus leaves. Which would most likely happen if this food source were destroyed? A. Koalas may become extinct. B. Koalas may become carnivores. C. Koalas may remain in the area. D. Koalas may change their mating season. 78. Wood ducks build their nests in holes in trees near lakes. If some of the trees were removed from around the lake, how would the wood ducks be affected? A. Wood ducks would become a new species. B. Wood ducks would lay more eggs in each nest. C. Wood ducks would increase their competition for nests. D. Wood ducks would begin building their nests on the ground. 79. Which best explains how abiotic factors affect organisms in an ecosystem? A. Abiotic factors rely on living organisms to survive in an ecosystem. B. Abiotic factors affect the food chain of organisms within the ecosystem. C. Abiotic factors determine the amount of pollution present in an ecosystem. D. Abiotic factors affect the type and number of organisms living in an ecosystem. 80. What would happen if the snakes were taken out of this food chain? Clover → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Owl A. Frogs would decrease. B. Frogs would increase. C. Grasshoppers would decrease. D. Owls would increase. Matter Page 24 of 39 81. What would most likely happen if plant life was removed from a pond ecosystem? A. The level of the water in the pond would increase. B. The number of fish would decrease due to reduced oxygen. C. The amount of sunlight reaching the bottom would decrease. D. The number of fish would increase due to an increase in oxygen. 82. What would most likely happen to a native fish population if larger, non native fish were introduced to a small pond ecosystem? A. It would decrease. B. It would increase. C. It would stay the same. D. It would become dominant. 83. Honeybees collect nectar from flowers to make honey. When a honeybee goes to a flower, some of the pollen gets on its legs. This pollen drops into the next flower the honeybee visits. Which statement best describes the role of honeybees in the life cycles of flowering plants? A. Honeybees help spread plant seeds. B. Honeybees help flowering plants reproduce. C. Honeybees help plants photosynthesize. D. Honeybees provide flowering plants with energy. 84. Kodiak bears live in a certain part of southwestern Alaska. How would decreasing the size of the habitats for territorial animals like Kodiak bears most likely affect them? A. They would become herbivores. B. They would become endangered. C. They would move to another territory. D. They would have cubs in other locations. Matter Page 25 of 39 85. Which food chain below is shown correctly? A. B. C. 86. Which is the best evidence of the quality of soil composition in a forest environment? A. Decomposers have few dead organisms to eat. B. Consumers are able to eat a variety of soil organisms. C. Producers are able to easily remove nutrients from the soil. D. Scavengers have access to soil nutrients created by decaying organisms. Matter Page 26 of 39 87. A simple food web is shown. Which population would most likely increase if the crayfish population decreased? A. hawk B. mink C. fish D. snail 88. The average temperatures rise in an area, making a lake get warmer and warmer. This makes it impossible for plankton to survive in the lake. Which is the most likely result? A. The organisms that eat plankton will begin finding different food sources. B. The plankton will quickly adapt and be able to survive in the warmer water. C. The plankton will die, but the other organisms in the ecosystem will be unaffected. D. The food web within the lake will change, and other organisms may begin to die. 89. Matter Billy lives near a lake where he likes to go fishing. He notices that many fish in the lake are dying. Which most likely explains why the fish are dying? A. A tree fell into the lake. B. The sun is shining directly on the lake. C. Rainfall has caused the lake level to rise. D. The lake has become muddy because of construction. Page 27 of 39 90. When the predator population in an ecosystem decreases, which will most likely happen to the prey population? A. The prey population will die out. B. The prey population will decrease. C. The prey population will gradually increase. D. The prey population will move to another ecosystem. 91. Josefina saw a house covered in a plant called kudzu. Kudzu grows so fast it can cover objects and even other plants causing them to die. How does the ability to grow quickly most likely help kudzu survive? A. It uses structures like houses for protection. B. It makes the plant more resistant to disease. C. It reduces the competition for resources. D. It allows for new plant species to grow. 92. Which is most likely to happen if an ecosystem does not receive sunlight for a long time? A. All living organisms would eventually die. B. The number of plants would be increased. C. All living organisms would eventually adapt. D. The number of herbivores would be increased. Matter Page 28 of 39 93. Look at the food chain below. Leaf → Cricket → Frog → Garter snake → Skunk What would most likely cause the number of garter snakes to decrease? A. more leaves B. more crickets C. more frogs D. more skunks 94. Which illustration below shows living things helping each other? A. B. C. D. 95. The diagram shows a food web in an ecosystem. The removal of which organism would result in the most damage to the ecosystem? A. fox B. rabbit C. grasshopper D. grass Matter Page 29 of 39 96. What is the primary source of energy in many ecosystems? A. water B. the Sun C. consumers D. producers 97. Which type of organisms would be most affected if many planteating animals became extinct in an ecosystem? A. decomposers B. consumers C. omnivores D. producers 98. An ecologist makes the following observations in her journal: drinks at 7:00 a.m. sleeps from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. eats at 10:00 a.m. sleeps 11:00 a.m. until noon Which is she describing? A. the niche of an organism B. the habitat of an organism C. the community of an organism D. the relationships between organisms 99. Which would be the most likely effect of a large decrease in the number of woodpeckers in a forest? A. Temperatures would increase. B. Precipitation would increase. C. The number of trees in the forest would increase. D. The insect population in the forest would increase. Matter Page 30 of 39 100. Which best explains why the sun is important to all ecosystems? A. It provides heat. B. It provides daylight. C. Producers rely on it to make their food. 101. A list is shown. ? • Used to make cheese and yogurt • Used to help break down food for digestion • Used to make antibiotics • Used to clean up certain chemical spills Which title is best for this list? A. Jobs Performed by Animals Instead of People B. Ways Fungi Are Dangerous to People C. Benefits of Some Microbes for People D. Types of Infections Bacteria Cause in People 102. Deer are herbivores that often live on the edges of forests. • Describe an effect on the ecosystem if the number of deer in an area increases. • Explain how an increase in deer populations could affect deer predators. 103. Fred goes fishing and notices a sign near the lake saying that he must release all the fish back into the water after he catches them. Which explains how this would most likely benefit the ecosystem? A. It helps to maintain a balanced food chain. B. It supplies more food for aquatic life living in the lake. C. It keeps fish available for the next people that come fishing. Matter Page 31 of 39 104. The seed shown grows on a short plant. The seed is covered by small points that can stick to other objects. Which will most likely transport this seed to a new location? A. flowing water B. the pull of gravity C. the wind blowing D. being carried by an animal 105. Why are different types of organisms able to live together in the wetlands? A. The wetlands provide different temperatures to support different organisms. B. Animals can move from one part of the wetlands to another, depending on their size. C. The wetlands provide a wide variety of breeding and growing areas for many species. 106. What do all these ecosystems have in common? Four Ecosystems reef pond marsh prairie A. fish B. sunlight C. salt water D. tall grasses 107. Why do most amphibians lay their eggs in wetlands? A. Most amphibians need to lay their eggs under water or on moist ground. B. Most amphibians lay eggs in the area where they find a warm spot. C. Most amphibians lay eggs in an area where they are prey. Matter Page 32 of 39 108. When does the greatest competition occur for food and water between organisms from different populations? A. when the populations require similar shelter B. when the populations occupy the same niche C. when the populations are in different ecosystems D. when the populations hunt at the same time of day 109. When a mother dog gives birth to a litter of puppies, she produces milk. Each newborn puppy competes with its litter mates to get close to their mother. What are the puppies competing for most? A. air B. attention C. food D. shelter 110. Some birds eat seeds. If a bird drops a seed in soil, which best explains how a plant could be helped? A. It could get more sunlight. B. It has a chance to reproduce. C. It gets closer to water. D. It makes more oxygen. 111. Some diving sea birds, such as puffins, often eat sand eels as their major source of food. What would most likely happen as a result of overfishing sand eels? A. The size of the sand eels would become larger. B. The sand eels would move to fresh waters. C. The sea birds would eat other sources of food. D. The sea birds would move to other areas to hunt for sand eels. Matter Page 33 of 39 112. When is an ecosystem able to best support a variety of organisms? A. when only one type of shelter is available B. when organisms share food and habitats equally C. when organisms use the parts of the ecosystem differently D. when there is a high level of competition for food among organisms 113. European starlings are birds that take over the nests of other birds. When they move into an area, starlings reproduce quickly. Taking over the nests of other birds most likely increases the number of starlings by helping them to do what? A. attract a better mate B. compete for resources C. migrate during the winter D. blend in with the environment 114. Which consumer in a grassland ecosystem would be considered both predator and prey? A. a grasshopper, because it eats grass and is eaten by birds B. a rabbit, because it eats snakes and is eaten by deer C. a snake, because it eats mice and is eaten by hawks D. an earthworm, because it eats dead animals and is eaten by birds 115. The table shows the food sources for some freshwater fish that live in the Everglades. Freshwater Fish of the Everglades Fish Type Food Source Florida gar Small fish and shrimp Mosquito fish Mosquitos and other insects Sailfin molly Plants and algae Largemouth bass Small fish and frogs Based on the table, which fish are most likely competing with each other for food? A. Florida gar and Mosquito fish B. Sailfin molly and Mosquito fish C. Florida gar and Largemouth bass D. Sailfin molly and Largemouth bass Matter Page 34 of 39 116. For many years, farmers used a chemical called DDT to kill insects in their crops. Gradually, the chemical made its way into streams, rivers, and lakes. After DDT had been used for several years, bald eagles began laying eggs with very thin shells and became endangered. Which is most likely a reason why this happened to bald eagles? A. The water they drank had minerals in it. B. The fish they ate had pesticides in them. C. There was not enough food for them to eat. D. There was not enough water for them to drink. 117. Which pair of organisms benefits each other the most? A. birds building a nest in a bush B. worms eating the roots of a plant C. squirrels burying seeds from a tree D. deer scraping their antlers on a tree 118. Which best describes an ecosystem? A. a kingdom of animals B. all the life on a specific continent C. a community of plants and animals 119. Field mice eat corn. Which would most likely happen if the field mouse population grew? A. There would be more corn to feed the field mice. B. There would be less corn due to the mice eating it. C. The habitat would get overpopulated because the mice would eat too much. Matter Page 35 of 39 120. Which is the most important reason endangered species should be protected? A. People pay a lot of money to visit zoos and see endangered animals. B. Protecting endangered species removes pollution from the environment. C. Endangered species are viewed as unique by the people in the community. D. When any endangered species dies it affects other animals within the ecosystem. 121. Which of these is not a benefit of microorganisms? A. They release nutrients in soil. B. They help make antibiotics. C. They cause food to spoil. D. They break down waste. 122. A bee depends on certain flowers for food. The flowers depend on the bee to A. carry pollen for reproduction. B. make sugars for photosynthesis. C. remove wastes for healthy growth. D. sting herbivores for protection. 123. Numbers of Florida scrub jays have recently been decreasing throughout Florida. Which is the most likely reason for smaller populations of Florida Scrub Jays? A. habitat loss B. fewer predators C. more eggs hatching D. new food sources available Matter Page 36 of 39 124. Which organism’s food source would most likely be the first to be affected by a drought? A. owl B. wolf C. rabbit D. mushroom 125. The picture shows two different white oak trees. Tree 1 grows in an open field. Tree 2 grows in a forest with many other trees. Tree 2 grew tall because it is competing for a resource. For what resource is Tree 2 most likely competing? A. birds B. insects C. rain D. sunlight 126. What is an example of a shelter in an ecosystem? A. a gray squirrel eating an acorn B. a raccoon in a hollow log C. a blue whale migrating D. a tick feeding on a coyote Matter Page 37 of 39 127. What would most likely happen in a forest ecosystem if dead plants and animals did not decompose? A. The quality of the soil would decrease. B. The population of fungi would increase. C. The predator population would leave the area. D. The quality of the air in the forest would decrease. 128. Screech owls nest in holes in trees. They eat mice and crickets. Where would a screech owl most likely live? A. a beach B. a forest C. a desert D. a rainforest 129. Who would be most affected if the number of producers in the ocean decreased? A. carnivores B. herbivores C. decomposers 130. A pond has become overgrown with algae. The fish and plants in the pond are beginning to die. Which human activity would most likely be responsible for the decrease in pond life? A. people throwing garbage near a road B. farmers using excess fertilizers on crops C. logging companies cutting trees in forests D. factories producing smoke that pollutes the air 131. Which is a possible result of humans destroying habitats? A. an increase in available niches B. an increase in the number of prey C. an increase in the number of predators D. an increase in the number of endangered species Matter Page 38 of 39 132. A population of deer recently increased in size. Which most likely could have caused the deer population to increase? A. a disease was spreading B. their habitat was destroyed C. food sources were hard to find D. their predators were disappearing Matter Page 39 of 39
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