Unit Checkpoint: Ecosystems
Instructions
This checkpoint tests everything you learned about ecosystems. Answer all questions to see how well you've mastered these concepts.
Questions
1. What is a food chain?
A) A type of restaurant
B) A path showing how energy moves from one organism to another
C) A chain made of food
D) A list of foods to eat
Answer
B) - A food chain shows how energy flows from one living thing to another through eating.
2. Which organism makes its own food using sunlight?
A) Consumer
B) Decomposer
C) Producer
D) Carnivore
Answer
C) Producer - Producers like plants use photosynthesis to make their own food from sunlight.
3. In the food chain: Grass → Cricket → Frog → Snake, what is the frog?
A) Producer
B) Primary consumer
C) Secondary consumer
D) Decomposer
Answer
C) Secondary consumer - The frog eats the cricket (primary consumer), making it a secondary consumer.
4. What do decomposers do for an ecosystem?
A) Hunt prey
B) Make food from sunlight
C) Break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients
D) Build nests
Answer
C) - Decomposers break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil.
5. Where does ALL energy in a food chain originally come from?
A) The soil
B) The sun
C) Water
D) The moon
Answer
B) The sun - All energy in ecosystems ultimately comes from the sun, captured by producers.
6. An animal that eats ONLY plants is called a:
A) Carnivore
B) Omnivore
C) Herbivore
D) Producer
Answer
C) Herbivore - Herbivores are plant-eaters like rabbits, deer, and caterpillars.
7. Why are there usually more plants than animals in an ecosystem?
A) Animals hide better
B) Plants grow faster
C) Energy decreases at each level of the food chain
D) Animals are harder to count
Answer
C) - Only about 10% of energy passes to the next level, so more organisms are needed at lower levels.
8. What would MOST LIKELY happen if all the producers in a forest died?
A) Nothing would change
B) Only herbivores would be affected
C) The entire food chain would collapse
D) Carnivores would thrive
Answer
C) - Without producers, herbivores would starve, then carnivores would have no food either.
9. A bear eats berries, fish, and honey. What type of consumer is a bear?
A) Herbivore
B) Carnivore
C) Omnivore
D) Producer
Answer
C) Omnivore - Bears eat both plants (berries) and animals (fish), making them omnivores.
10. Which is an example of a decomposer?
A) Oak tree
B) Rabbit
C) Mushroom
D) Hawk
Answer
C) Mushroom - Mushrooms break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the soil.
How Did You Do?
- 9-10 correct: Excellent! You've mastered ecosystems!
- 7-8 correct: Good job! Review the questions you missed.
- 5-6 correct: Keep practicing! Review the lessons in this unit.
- Below 5: Go back and review all the lessons before moving on.
Next Steps
- Review any concepts you found challenging
- Explore ecosystems in your local area
- Continue to the Weather & Climate unit