Ecosystems for First Graders: Explore the World Around Us

Question 1

How do plants and animals help each other in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Plants make food for animals, and animals give back nutrients to plants when they die.

Answer

Plants and animals fight for the same things, like water and sunlight.

Answer

Animals keep plants safe from being eaten by other animals.

Answer

Plants and animals don't have anything to do with each other.

Question 2

What can happen when even one type of plant or animal disappears from an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Other species that depend on it may not have enough food.

Accepted Answer

The ecosystem may become less stable.

Answer

The ecosystem may become more polluted.

Answer

The ecosystem may become more beautiful.

Question 3

What is an example of an invasive species?

Accepted Answer

A plant that grows quickly and takes over an area

Answer

A bird that eats insects

Answer

An animal that lives in trees

Answer

A fish that lives in the ocean

Question 4

In a forest, what factor limits the number of animals that can live there?

Accepted Answer

The variety of plants in the forest

Answer

The amount of sunlight in the forest

Answer

The size of the forest

Question 5

How do water and other essential elements travel around the Earth to support the health of plants and animals?

Accepted Answer

Through cycles like the water cycle that transport these elements.

Answer

Through the wind that carries these elements to different areas.

Answer

Through animals that move these elements from one place to another.

Answer

Through the soil that absorbs and stores these elements in one location.

Question 6

Imagine a forest with many different plants and animals. How can we test if squirrels help trees grow new trees?

Accepted Answer

Collect acorns from different trees and plant some with squirrel help and some without.

Answer

Count the number of squirrels in the forest.

Answer

Follow squirrels around the forest to see which trees they visit.

Answer

Ask the park ranger if they think squirrels help trees grow.

Question 7

What does ecological balance mean?

Accepted Answer

There is enough food, water, and shelter for all the living things in an ecosystem.

Answer

There is enough food and water for all the animals in an ecosystem.

Answer

The weather in an ecosystem never changes.

Question 8

What makes up an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

All the living things in a place and the things they need, like air, water, and sunshine.

Answer

A group of animals that live together.

Answer

The weather in a place.

Answer

A type of plant that grows in a certain area.

Question 9

How can we help keep ecosystems healthy and balanced?

Accepted Answer

Plant trees, use less plastic, and recycle.

Answer

Throw trash everywhere and pollute the environment.

Answer

Cut down trees and hunt animals without planting or replacing them.

Question 10

In an ecosystem, how do food chains differ from food webs?

Accepted Answer

Food chains are simple and show who eats what, while food webs are more complex and show who eats whom and how energy flows.

Answer

Food chains show all the possible connections between organisms, while food webs only show a few.

Answer

Food chains are always longer than food webs.

Question 11

Imagine an ecosystem as a neighborhood where many different living things share the same space. Which of these are examples of living things you might find in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Plants, animals, and insects

Answer

Rocks, soil, and water

Answer

Buildings, cars, and roads

Answer

Only the biggest animals

Question 12

Which of these places is home to animals like fish and dolphins?

Accepted Answer

A big ocean with lots of water

Answer

A forest with tall trees

Answer

A grassy field with flowers

Question 13

Which of these features helps animals stay warm in cold places?

Accepted Answer

Thick fur

Answer

Bright feathers

Answer

Big ears

Question 14

What can happen when the balance in an ecosystem is disrupted?

Accepted Answer

The ecosystem might have problems, like fewer animals and plants or more pollution.

Answer

The ecosystem becomes healthier.

Answer

The number of animals and plants stays the same.

Answer

The ecosystem will always go back to how it was before.

Question 15

Imagine you are walking through a forest and you see many different plants and animals. How can you use this information to create a food web for the forest?

Accepted Answer

Sort the plants and animals into groups based on what they eat, like plants, meat-eaters, and plant-eaters.

Answer

Draw a picture of the forest and label all the plants and animals.

Answer

Count how many of each type of plant and animal there are.

Question 16

Where does the energy that living things in an ecosystem mostly come from?

Accepted Answer

The sun

Answer

The wind

Answer

The soil

Answer

The water

Question 17

What is a key job that decomposers do in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

They break down waste and put nutrients back in the soil.

Answer

They help plants and animals grow.

Answer

They build homes for other creatures.

Question 18

How can non-native species hurt an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

They take food and space from animals that live there.

Accepted Answer

They can bring new diseases that animals in the ecosystem aren't used to.

Answer

They can't survive in the new place and die off quickly.

Question 19

What is a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

A plant or animal that is very important for keeping the ecosystem balanced, even if there aren't many of them.

Answer

A special animal that is the leader of all the other animals.

Answer

A type of animal that is only found in one place in the world.

Answer

A species that is always at the top of the food chain.

Question 20

How can pollution and using too many resources harm our environment?

Accepted Answer

Pollution and overconsumption can hurt animals and plants in our environment.

Answer

Pollution and overconsumption make our environment healthier and more diverse.

Answer

Pollution and overconsumption help balance our environment.

Answer

Pollution and overconsumption have no impact on our environment.

Question 21

In a forest, trees make their own food and are green. What are these trees called?

Accepted Answer

Producers

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Scavengers

Question 22

What makes an ecosystem healthy and balanced?

Accepted Answer

Many different plants and animals living together

Answer

No humans living in or near the ecosystem

Answer

Only one type of plant growing in the ecosystem

Answer

No changes happening in the ecosystem over time

Question 23

How do food chains and food webs differ?

Accepted Answer

Food chains show one path of eating, while food webs show many.

Answer

Food chains are more detailed than food webs.

Answer

Food chains are a type of food web.

Answer

Food webs are simpler than food chains.

Question 24

In an ecosystem, which of these things is NOT part of it?

Accepted Answer

Buildings

Answer

Plants

Answer

Animals

Answer

Water

Question 25

Which animal eats other animals to survive?

Accepted Answer

Lion

Answer

Zebra

Answer

Giraffe

Answer

Elephant

Question 26

What is the job of decomposers like mushrooms in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Break down dead plants and animals

Answer

Make food for other living things

Answer

Give animals a place to live

Answer

Keep plants healthy

Question 27

Which of these is NOT an example of a natural ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Zoo

Answer

Forest

Answer

Farm

Answer

Ocean

Question 28

What is the name for the area where two different ecosystems come together?

Accepted Answer

Ecotone

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Biome

Answer

Niche

Question 29

In a forest, which of these is NOT a living thing?

Accepted Answer

Rocks

Answer

Trees

Answer

Animals

Answer

Plants

Question 30

Who helps break down dead plants and animals in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Producers

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Non-living things

Question 31

Which of these is a living thing in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Animals

Answer

Sun

Answer

Water

Answer

Air

Question 32

How do plants make their food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Digestion

Answer

Pollination

Answer

Respiration

Question 33

How do ecosystems change?

Accepted Answer

Both humans and nature can change them

Answer

Only when humans change them

Answer

Only when nature changes them

Answer

They never change

Question 34

Why is it important to keep ecosystems balanced?

Accepted Answer

So all living things can survive

Answer

To stop pollution

Answer

To make the weather better

Answer

To have more plants and animals

Question 35

How can people affect ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

In good ways, bad ways, or both

Answer

Only in good ways

Answer

Only in bad ways

Answer

People don't affect ecosystems

Question 36

What is not a part of the forest ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Houses

Answer

Trees

Answer

Animals

Answer

Water

Question 37

What is the area where two different ecosystems meet called?

Accepted Answer

Ecotone

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Biome

Answer

Niche

Question 38

Which of these places has lots of sun, heat, and barely any rain?

Accepted Answer

Desert

Answer

Forest

Answer

Grassland

Answer

Swamp

Question 39

Which of these is NOT a way plants help an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Make pollution

Answer

Give food

Answer

Make oxygen

Answer

Clean water

Question 40

How do plants make their own food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Breathing

Answer

Decomposing

Answer

Sweating

Question 41

Which of these is NOT an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

School

Answer

Forest

Answer

Desert

Answer

Ocean

Question 42

What do living things in an ecosystem need to stay alive?

Accepted Answer

Food, water, and shelter

Answer

Money and friends

Answer

Toys and games

Answer

Phones and computers

Question 43

Which of these shows a predator-prey relationship?

Accepted Answer

Lion and zebra

Answer

Lion and lioness

Answer

Bee and flower

Answer

Grass and grasshopper

Question 44

How can changes in temperature affect an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

They can change where plants and animals live.

Answer

They have no effect on ecosystems.

Answer

They make ecosystems more colorful.

Answer

They cause all animals to become extinct.

Question 45

Which of these actions can help protect an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Recycling and reducing waste

Answer

Buying products made from endangered species

Answer

Using pesticides to kill insects

Answer

Littering and polluting the air

Question 46

What is the main difference between a forest and a grassland?

Accepted Answer

Type of plants

Answer

Amount of water

Answer

Temperature

Answer

Animal species

Question 47

How do animals change to fit their ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

They grow special body parts and learn new skills to help them survive.

Answer

They move to a different ecosystem.

Answer

They learn to speak different languages.

Answer

They use technology to create a better environment.

Question 48

Which of these is an example of a special relationship where two living things help each other?

Accepted Answer

Clownfish and sea anemone

Answer

Lion and gazelle

Answer

Tree and bird

Answer

Shark and fish

Question 49

What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

They break down dead plants and animals.

Answer

They make food for other living things.

Answer

They control the number of predators.

Answer

They create new ecosystems.

Question 50

How can we keep ecosystems healthy?

Accepted Answer

Reduce pollution, protect habitats, and save resources.

Answer

Ignore environmental issues and focus on making money.

Answer

Destroy forests and build more towns.

Answer

Hunt and kill endangered species.

Question 51

What do living things like plants and animals need to survive?

Accepted Answer

Food, water, air

Answer

Toys, games, dolls

Question 52

Which type of ecosystem is the rainforest?

Accepted Answer

Forest

Answer

Ocean

Answer

Tundra

Question 53

How might a change in temperature affect an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Change the types of plants and animals that live there

Answer

Have no effect on the ecosystem

Question 54

What can happen when a new animal species is introduced into an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

It can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem

Answer

It always helps the existing species

Question 55

Which animal is a predator?

Accepted Answer

Lion

Answer

Rabbit

Question 56

What is the process by which plants make their own food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Question 57

Which is the biggest ecosystem on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Ocean

Answer

Forest

Question 58

Which of these is NOT found in a forest ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Cars

Answer

Trees

Answer

Animals

Answer

Water

Question 59

A group of living things that depend on each other and their environment is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Community

Answer

Biome

Question 60

Which of these is a living thing in a pond ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Frog

Answer

Rock

Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Air

Question 61

Which of these is a non-living thing in a desert ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Sand

Answer

Cactus

Answer

Snake

Answer

Eagle

Question 62

Which of these is a producer in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Deer

Answer

Fox

Answer

Bacteria

Question 63

What is a food chain?

Accepted Answer

A line of living things that depend on each other for food

Answer

A group of animals that live together in the same place

Answer

A type of plant that grows in water

Answer

A place where animals go to drink water

Question 64

Which of these is the largest ecosystem on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Ocean

Answer

Forest

Answer

Desert

Answer

Tundra