Migration
Which are examples of migration?
A. A bear settles in a den for many months in the winter.
B. Geese fly south to find food in the winter.
C. Bumblebees spend the winter under dead leaves.
D. Butterflies travel to cooler climates at colder times of the year.
B. Geese fly south to find food in the winter.
A group of scientists observe a maple tree shedding its leaves earlier than usual in the fall. What environmental factor is MOST LIKELY causing this response?
A. Increase in soil nutrients in the area
B. Shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures
C. More frequent rainfall in the area
D. Warmer nights in the fall
B. Shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures
Which sentence correctly identifies a plant structure and its function?
A. Leaves carry nutrients through the plant.
B. Tree trunks produce seeds so the tree can reproduce.
C. Roots absorb water and nutrients.
D. Flowers stop animals from eating plant stems and leaves.
C. Roots absorb water and nutrients.
A shrub in a cold region flowers only after experiencing several weeks of freezing temperatures. Why does the shrub require freezing temperatures to flower?
A. It uses the cold to kill harmful pests.
B. The cold signals the end of dormancy.
C. Freezing temperatures help the shrub grow faster.
D. The shrub stores energy more efficiently in cold weather.
B. The cold signals the end of dormancy.
Owls and bats both hunt at night in the forest. How does an owl’s structure help it survive?
A. Large eyes help it see in the dark.
B. Sharp claws help it hang upside down like a bat.
C. Hollow bones make it lighter to run faster.
D. Its beak is long so it can drink nectar from flowers.
A. Large eyes help it see in the dark.
Which of these statements explains how changes in precipitation affect animals?
A. A region has cold and snowy winters. The ground squirrels sleep through winter in this region.
B. Trees do not grow very tall in deserts. Deserts are very dry and have little rain.
C. Reindeer have their young in the spring. The weather is warm and there is a lot of food.
D. It does not rain in the region for a long time. The plants dry up and the deer cannot find food.
D. It does not rain in the region for a long time. The plants dry up and the deer cannot find food.
A gardener notices that her tulips bloom every spring after a cold winter but fail to bloom after a mild winter. What process explains this observation?
A. The tulips require exposure to cold temperatures for blooming.
B. The plants were not watered enough during the winter.
C. The soil nutrients are used up after a mild winter.
D. The tulips need warmer temperatures and longer days to bloom.
A. The tulips require exposure to cold temperatures for blooming.
A student compares the teeth of a lion and a deer. The lion has sharp, pointed teeth, while the deer has flat, wide teeth. What does this tell us about their diets?
A. Deer eat meat, while lions eat plants.
B. Lions eat meat, while deer eat plants.
C. Both animals eat the same food.
D. Teeth shape has no connection to diet.
B. Lions eat meat, while deer eat plants.
When temperatures drop and food becomes scarce, what might happen to an animal that does not hibernate or migrate?
A. It will stop eating and drinking.
B. It will grow stronger to adapt to the cold.
C. It may struggle to survive or die.
D. It will find new sources of food nearby.
C. It may struggle to survive or die.
Unlike humans, otters have special flaps that close off their nostrils and ears. These flaps help otters survive in an environment that is -
A. terrestrial
B. snowy
C. windy
D. aquatic
D. aquatic
A group of birds leaves a cold northern region to travel south for the winter. What is the main reason for their migration?
A. To find more food and warmer temperatures
B. To escape predators
C. To look for new habitats
D. To avoid getting wet from rain
A. To find more food and warmer temperatures
Imagine a plant species that usually blooms in spring but begins flowering in winter after an unusually warm December. What is the MOST LIKELY explanation for this behavior?
A. The plant does not need dormancy due to warm temperatures.
B. The plant did not adapt to changing weather patterns.
C. Warmer-than-usual temperatures disrupted its dormancy cycle.
D. The plant prefers to flower during cooler months.
C. Warmer-than-usual temperatures disrupted its dormancy cycle.
A student is studying plants in the desert. They notice that cacti have thick, waxy skin and spines instead of leaves. What is the main reason for these adaptations?
A. To attract animals to eat them
B. To grow taller than other plants
C. To store water and reduce evaporation
D. To help the cactus move to different locations
C. To store water and reduce evaporation
A porcupine has sharp quills, and a skunk sprays a foul-smelling liquid when threatened. What do these adaptations have in common?
A. They help the animals find food.
B. They allow the animals to blend into their environment.
C. They help protect the animals from predators.
D. They help the animals move faster.
C. They help protect the animals from predators.
A desert ecosystem has both kangaroo rats and cacti. How do their structures help them survive in the same environment?
A. Kangaroo rats store water in their leaves, while cacti store food in their tails.
B. Kangaroo rats have long legs for running, while cacti have thick stems to store water.
C. Kangaroo rats get water from food, while cacti have deep roots to absorb underground water.
D. Kangaroo rats and cacti both rely on absorbing water from the air.
C. Kangaroo rats get water from food, while cacti have deep roots to absorb underground water.
During a dry season with little rain, fewer plants grow. How might this affect animals that migrate?
A. Migrating animals will find plenty of food.
B. Migration will stop completely.
C. Animals will stay in one place longer.
D. Animals may need to travel farther to find food and water.
D. Animals may need to travel farther to find food and water.
A farmer notices that tulip bulbs fail to sprout in a warmer-than-usual spring. Why might the tulips not sprout in these conditions?
A. A period of cold temperatures is needed to break dormancy.
B. Warm weather causes the bulbs to dry out.
C. The soil is too moist for the bulbs to grow.
D. They need more sunlight to start growing.
A. A period of cold temperatures is needed to break dormancy.
A scientist studies why giraffes have long necks. She finds that they eat leaves from tall trees. How does this adaptation help giraffes survive?
A. It helps them run away from predators.
B. It allows them to reach food that other animals cannot.
C. It helps them drink water from the ground.
D. It helps them blend in with their surroundings.
B. It allows them to reach food that other animals cannot.
9. What would happen to bears if winter temperatures stayed warm and food was still available?
A. They would hibernate earlier.
B. They might not hibernate because they don’t need to conserve energy.
C. They would migrate to find colder places.
D. Their behavior would not change.
B. They might not hibernate because they don’t need to conserve energy.
Which structure of alligators helps them survive in their environment?
A. Alligators steal nests from birds and guard those nests against raccoons and otters.
B. Alligators, like geckos and turtles, are reptiles that produce young by laying eggs.
C. Alligators have nostrils on the top of their heads that let them breathe while floating in water.
D. Alligators carry their newly hatched babies in their mouths to keep them safe from predators.
C. Alligators have nostrils on the top of their heads that let them breathe while floating in water.
Why do some animals, like turtles, slow their body processes during hibernation?
A. To avoid predators
B. To conserve energy when it is too cold to find food
C. To grow faster during the winter
D. To stay awake longer during cold months
B. To conserve energy when it is too cold to find food
A tree in a forest has fewer leaves after a winter with little snowfall. How might low precipitation during the winter affect the tree’s growth?
A. The tree produces smaller leaves to conserve energy.
B. The tree absorbs water from neighboring plants.
C. The tree stores extra nutrients in its roots.
D. The tree delays entering dormancy.
A. The tree produces smaller leaves to conserve energy.
A student compares a frog and a toad. The frog has smooth, moist skin, while the toad has dry, bumpy skin. How do these differences help them survive?
A. Toads swim more often than frogs.
B. Frogs and toads have the same survival needs.
C. Frogs have bumpy skin to scare predators.
D. Frogs live near water, while toads can live in drier areas.
D. Frogs live near water, while toads can live in drier areas.
A scientist studies two birds. One has small wings and can barely fly, while the other has large, strong wings and flies long distances. What conclusion can the scientist make?
A. Birds with smaller wings are better at flying.
B. Larger wings help birds fly longer distances.
C. All birds use wings to swim instead of fly.
D. Wings do not affect flight ability.
B. Larger wings help birds fly longer distances.
A giraffe and a zebra both live on the African savanna. How does the giraffe’s long neck help it survive in the same environment as the zebra?
A. It allows the giraffe to see predators before zebras do.
B. It helps the giraffe eat leaves that zebras cannot reach.
C. It allows the giraffe to drink water without bending down.
D. It helps the giraffe blend in with the tall grass.
B. It helps the giraffe eat leaves that zebras cannot reach.