Earth’s Biomes and Their Features
What is a biome?
A. A small habitat for one animal
B. A large area with similar climate, plants, and animals
C. A single type of forest
D. A weather pattern that changes each day
B. A large area with similar climate, plants, and animals
In deciduous forests, what happens to trees during autumn?
A. They grow new leaves
B. Their leaves change color and fall off
C. They stop photosynthesis permanently
D. They absorb nutrients from animals
B. Their leaves change color and fall off
About what fraction of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans?
A. Half
B. Two-thirds
C. Three-fourths
D. One-third
C. Three-fourths
What is a Mediterranean climate known for?
A. Warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters
B. Hot, wet winters and dry summers
C. Cold, snowy winters and hot summers
D. Constant rainfall throughout the year
A. Warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters
The bighorn sheep’s ability to run along cliffs helps it survive mainly by—
A. Escaping predators like mountain lions
B. Finding water sources
C. Migrating across deserts
D. Digging for roots
A. Escaping predators like mountain lions
Why do plants in hot, dry deserts often have waxy leaves or spines?
A. To absorb more sunlight
B. To protect from predators
C. To attract pollinators
D. To prevent water loss
D. To prevent water loss
Which biome’s animals often burrow underground to escape daytime heat?
A. Taiga
B. Tundra
C. Desert
D. Rainforest
C. Desert
Why is life in the shallow-water zone richer than in the deep-water zone?
A. Because it has more salt
B. Because sunlight and nutrients support more producers
C. Because tides constantly bring in oxygen
D. Because deep water is too cold for fish to survive
B. Because sunlight and nutrients support more producers
Why is the desert tortoise considered a keystone animal?
A. It is the largest animal in the desert
B. It digs burrows that other animals depend on for shelter
C. It controls the insect population
D. It provides food for predators
B. It digs burrows that other animals depend on for shelter
Which of the following is a producer in California’s ecosystems?
A. Kangaroo rat
B. Joshua tree
C. Bighorn sheep
D. Coyote
B. Joshua tree
What makes the soil of deciduous forests so fertile?
A. Frequent rainfall
B. Snowmelt
C. Decay of fallen leaves
D. Thick canopy shade
C. Decay of fallen leaves
Which biome is known as the world’s largest forest biome?
A. Taiga
B. Deciduous forest
C. Rainforest
D. Grassland
A. Taiga
Which factor does NOT directly affect ocean life?
A. Amount of sunlight
B. Temperature
C. Air pressure above the ocean
D. Depth of water
C. Air pressure above the ocean
Which desert contains the lowest point in the United States?
A. Great Basin Desert
B. Atacama Desert
C. Colorado Desert
D. Mojave Desert
D. Mojave Desert
Which insect is unique to California’s sand dunes?
A. Thorne’s hairstreak butterfly
B. Hermes copper butterfly
C. Kelso Dunes Jerusalem cricket
D. Praying mantis
C. Kelso Dunes Jerusalem cricket
In which biome do trees grow in four vertical layers, including the emergent layer and forest floor?
A. Taiga
B. Deciduous Forest
C. Tropical Rainforest
D. Grassland
C. Tropical Rainforest
Which animal is most likely to live in a taiga?
A. Polar bear
B. Penguin
C. Giraffe
D. Lynx
D. Lynx
Which of the following correctly lists the flow of energy in an ocean food chain?
A. Shark → large fish → plankton → bacteria
B. Plankton → small fish → large fish → shark
C. Plankton → small fish→ producers
D. Plankton → bacteria → small fish → whales
B. Plankton → small fish → large fish → shark
What event is most likely to cause wildfires in the chaparral?
A. Heavy spring rains
B. Santa Ana winds in late summer
C. Ocean fog and cool air
D. Earthquakes along the coast
B. Santa Ana winds in late summer
What made the California condor nearly go extinct?
A. Forest fires
B. Habitat loss and poisoning
C. Competition with eagles
D. Changes in ocean currents
B. Habitat loss and poisoning
Which environmental factors cause tundras and high mountain regions to have similar plant life?
A. High rainfall and warm air
B. High altitude and cold temperatures
C. Warm climate and rich soil
D. Thick vegetation and long growing seasons
B. High altitude and cold temperatures
Which biome has animals such as gophers, prairie dogs, and coyotes?
A. Grassland
B. Taiga
C. Tundra
D. Desert
A. Grassland
Which type of ocean organism depends on chemicals instead of sunlight for energy?
A. Swimmers
B. Plankton
C. Bottom dwellers like tube worms
D. Small fish
C. Bottom dwellers like tube worms
Which statement correctly compares redwoods and sequoias?
A. Redwoods are shorter but have thicker trunks than sequoias
B. Sequoias are taller than redwoods
C. Redwoods are taller, while sequoias have thicker trunks
D. Both grow only in southern California
C. Redwoods are taller, while sequoias have thicker trunks
If the San Joaquin kit fox disappears, what could happen to its ecosystem?
A. Nothing — it has no role in food chains
B. Predator populations would increase uncontrollably
C. Populations of its prey might rise
D. More condors would move into its habitat
C. Populations of its prey might rise