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5th Grade Science › Life Science
In 1859, a farmer brought 24 rabbits to Australia. There were many green plants for the rabbits to eat. The rabbits grew strong and reproduced rapidly. By 1950, Australia had 600 million rabbits! Unfortunately, the rabbits damaged the ecosystem. After that one-hundred-year period, there were no green plants left. Scientists decided to try to lower the number of rabbits by releasing a disease into their environment. The disease killed many of the rabbits. But the dead rabbits created problems for the environment. There were many dead rabbits, but eventually, decomposers cleaned them up.
Why were there no green plants left in the 1950s?
The rabbits had eaten them all, and they could not reproduce as fast or faster than the rabbits could eat them.
The disease from the rabbits spread to the green plants and infected them, so they slowly died off.
Australia is very hot, and many plants cannot survive in those conditions, so they withered and died.
The farmer removed the green plants so that there was room for his rabbits to run free and jump.
Explanation
Energy is transferred throughout the environment by consuming plants and animals, photosynthesis, and the breaking down of dead organisms. In this environment, a new consumer was introduced - the rabbit. They ate all of the producers (plants) in the area because they are herbivores. The plants could not keep up with their reproduction and were wiped out because of the large rabbit population and the number of plants needed to sustain them. The farmer would have to supplement the rabbits with other plant or plant by-products to keep his rabbit population growing.
Producers make their food. They use a process called photosynthesis to make their food. Photosynthesis uses which of the following ingredients
water, sunlight, soil
water, air, sunlight
water, sunlight, carbon dioxide
water, soil, air
Explanation
Plants (producers) are at the beginning of every food chain that involves the Sun. All energy comes from the Sun, and plants are the ones who make food with that energy through photosynthesis. Plants get their energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide, and water. Without water transporting nutrients to the plants, they would not grow and survive. Water also helps cool plants as they evaporate water through transpiration.
In 1859, a farmer brought 24 rabbits to Australia. There were many green plants for the rabbits to eat. The rabbits grew strong and reproduced rapidly. By 1950, Australia had 600 million rabbits! Unfortunately, the rabbits damaged the ecosystem. After that one-hundred-year period, there were no green plants left. Scientists decided to try to lower the number of rabbits by releasing a disease into their environment. The disease killed many of the rabbits. But the dead rabbits created problems for the environment. There were many dead rabbits, but eventually, decomposers cleaned them up.
Why were there no green plants left in the 1950s?
The rabbits had eaten them all, and they could not reproduce as fast or faster than the rabbits could eat them.
The disease from the rabbits spread to the green plants and infected them, so they slowly died off.
Australia is very hot, and many plants cannot survive in those conditions, so they withered and died.
The farmer removed the green plants so that there was room for his rabbits to run free and jump.
Explanation
Energy is transferred throughout the environment by consuming plants and animals, photosynthesis, and the breaking down of dead organisms. In this environment, a new consumer was introduced - the rabbit. They ate all of the producers (plants) in the area because they are herbivores. The plants could not keep up with their reproduction and were wiped out because of the large rabbit population and the number of plants needed to sustain them. The farmer would have to supplement the rabbits with other plant or plant by-products to keep his rabbit population growing.
The saguaro cactus has adapted in numerous ways to protect the water that it collects during rare rainstorms in the desert. It has a vast root system that allows the plant to absorb water near the surface during rainfall. It also has thorns that deter thirsty animals from getting inside the stem of the cactus and drinking its water. The saguaro cactus also has a very thick, barrel-shaped stem used for holding water. Plants that are adapted to these dry places like the saguaro cactus, are called xerophytes. They must collect, store, and conserve large amounts of water to grow and flourish in this harsh environment.
Which claim below does this passage support?
All plants, even cacti, need water to survive and will adapt new ways to find and keep it.
Some plants need water. The cactus has adapted to like without water and only requires a tiny amount.
Water is an important resource for plants that live in desert environments. Plants in areas of rainfall do not depend on water.
None of these claims are supported by the passage.
Explanation
The claim that is supported by the passage is "All plants, even cacti, need water to survive and will adapt new ways to find and keep it.". The saguaro cactus has a vast root system, a thick stem, and thorns. These adaptations allow the cactus to survive in an environment of very little water which is an essential resource for all plants. The cactus has methods of retrieving water, storing it, and protecting it.
Producers make their food. They use a process called photosynthesis to make their food. Photosynthesis uses which of the following ingredients
water, sunlight, soil
water, air, sunlight
water, sunlight, carbon dioxide
water, soil, air
Explanation
Plants (producers) are at the beginning of every food chain that involves the Sun. All energy comes from the Sun, and plants are the ones who make food with that energy through photosynthesis. Plants get their energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide, and water. Without water transporting nutrients to the plants, they would not grow and survive. Water also helps cool plants as they evaporate water through transpiration.
Which of the following is an example of something that is abiotic?
a flower
a rock
mushrooms
a mouse
Explanation
The term abiotic means something that is not living; it is devoid of life. Abiotic materials are still part of an ecosystem, but they are not living organisms. Of the answer choices, only one is a nonliving thing, a rock. The other options are all living organisms and are biological rather than physical.
True or False: For a seed to germinate, it must receive an adequate amount of water.
True
False
Explanation
The statement "For a seed to germinate, it must receive an adequate amount of water." is true. The seed is a small part of a plant and contains the embryo, a tiny new plant. If this seed has the right conditions, including an adequate amount of water, it will germinate, and a new plant will sprout. Without water, the seed will not grow, and no new plants will form.
Which of the following is an example of something that is abiotic?
a flower
a rock
mushrooms
a mouse
Explanation
The term abiotic means something that is not living; it is devoid of life. Abiotic materials are still part of an ecosystem, but they are not living organisms. Of the answer choices, only one is a nonliving thing, a rock. The other options are all living organisms and are biological rather than physical.
The saguaro cactus has adapted in numerous ways to protect the water that it collects during rare rainstorms in the desert. It has a vast root system that allows the plant to absorb water near the surface during rainfall. It also has thorns that deter thirsty animals from getting inside the stem of the cactus and drinking its water. The saguaro cactus also has a very thick, barrel-shaped stem used for holding water. Plants that are adapted to these dry places like the saguaro cactus, are called xerophytes. They must collect, store, and conserve large amounts of water to grow and flourish in this harsh environment.
Which claim below does this passage support?
All plants, even cacti, need water to survive and will adapt new ways to find and keep it.
Some plants need water. The cactus has adapted to like without water and only requires a tiny amount.
Water is an important resource for plants that live in desert environments. Plants in areas of rainfall do not depend on water.
None of these claims are supported by the passage.
Explanation
The claim that is supported by the passage is "All plants, even cacti, need water to survive and will adapt new ways to find and keep it.". The saguaro cactus has a vast root system, a thick stem, and thorns. These adaptations allow the cactus to survive in an environment of very little water which is an essential resource for all plants. The cactus has methods of retrieving water, storing it, and protecting it.
The saguaro cactus has adapted in numerous ways to protect the water that it collects during rare rainstorms in the desert. It has a vast root system that allows the plant to absorb water near the surface during rainfall. It also has thorns that deter thirsty animals from getting inside the stem of the cactus and drinking its water. The saguaro cactus also has a very thick, barrel-shaped stem used for holding water. Plants that are adapted to these dry places like the saguaro cactus, are called xerophytes. They must collect, store, and conserve large amounts of water to grow and flourish in this harsh environment.
Which claim below does this passage support?
All plants, even cacti, need water to survive and will adapt new ways to find and keep it.
Some plants need water. The cactus has adapted to like without water and only requires a tiny amount.
Water is an important resource for plants that live in desert environments. Plants in areas of rainfall do not depend on water.
None of these claims are supported by the passage.
Explanation
The claim that is supported by the passage is "All plants, even cacti, need water to survive and will adapt new ways to find and keep it.". The saguaro cactus has a vast root system, a thick stem, and thorns. These adaptations allow the cactus to survive in an environment of very little water which is an essential resource for all plants. The cactus has methods of retrieving water, storing it, and protecting it.