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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Habitats, biomes & food chains
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. What term describes a close relationship in which two species both benefit (such as clownfish and sea anemones): mutualism or parasitism?
What term describes a clos… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
2. What happens to energy as it moves up each trophic level in a food chain: most is lost as heat, or it doubles at every step?
What happens to energy as … · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
3. Why do many rainforest leaves have pointed “drip tips”: to shed heavy rainwater quickly, or to trap snow?
“drip tips” · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
4. What do we call a network of many interconnected food chains in an ecosystem: a food web or a rock cycle?
What do we call a network … · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
5. Which terrestrial biome receives very little rainfall (under 250 mm per year) and features plants like cacti with water-storing stems: a desert or a tundra?
250 mm · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
6. Which shallow marine meadows of flowering plants stabilise lagoon sand and feed green sea turtles: seagrass beds or rocky cliffs?
Which shallow marine meado… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
7. Which treeless polar biome has permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost: the Arctic tundra or the savanna?
Which treeless polar biome… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
8. Which warm, shallow marine habitat is built by tiny cnidarian polyps secreting calcium carbonate: a coral reef or a kelp forest?
Which warm, shallow marine… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
9. Which layer of a tropical rainforest receives the most direct sunlight above the main canopy: the emergent layer or the forest floor?
Which layer of a tropical … · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
10. How does a polar bear’s thick white coat help it survive in the Arctic: camouflage and insulation, or photosynthesis?
How does a polar bear’s th… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
11. In a food chain, what do we call green plants and algae that make their own food using sunlight: producers or decomposers?
In a food chain, what do w… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
12. Why do desert foxes (such as the fennec fox) have large ears with many blood vessels: to radiate excess body heat and listen for prey, or to swim?
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Habitats, biomes & food chains
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. What term describes a close relationship in which two species both benefit (such as clownfish and sea anemones): mutualism or parasitism?
Mutualism
In mutualism, both partner species gain a survival benefit.
2. What happens to energy as it moves up each trophic level in a food chain: most is lost as heat, or it doubles at every step?
Most is lost as heat
Only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level; the rest is used in respiration and lost as heat.
3. Why do many rainforest leaves have pointed “drip tips”: to shed heavy rainwater quickly, or to trap snow?
To shed heavy rainwater quickly
Drip tips allow water to run off rapidly, preventing fungal and algal growth on leaves.
4. What do we call a network of many interconnected food chains in an ecosystem: a food web or a rock cycle?
Food web
A food web shows the feeding relationships among multiple species in a community.
5. Which terrestrial biome receives very little rainfall (under 250 mm per year) and features plants like cacti with water-storing stems: a desert or a tundra?
Desert
Deserts are defined by aridity, and succulents store water in thick stems.
6. Which shallow marine meadows of flowering plants stabilise lagoon sand and feed green sea turtles: seagrass beds or rocky cliffs?
Seagrass beds
Seagrasses are true marine flowering plants that form underwater meadows.
7. Which treeless polar biome has permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost: the Arctic tundra or the savanna?
Arctic tundra
Tundra ecosystems have cold temperatures, short growing seasons and permafrost.
8. Which warm, shallow marine habitat is built by tiny cnidarian polyps secreting calcium carbonate: a coral reef or a kelp forest?
Coral reef
Coral polyps build calcium carbonate skeletons that form coral reefs.
9. Which layer of a tropical rainforest receives the most direct sunlight above the main canopy: the emergent layer or the forest floor?
Emergent layer
Giant emergent trees rise above the main canopy into full sunlight.
10. How does a polar bear’s thick white coat help it survive in the Arctic: camouflage and insulation, or photosynthesis?
Camouflage and insulation
Thick fur and blubber trap body heat while white fur blends with snow and ice.
11. In a food chain, what do we call green plants and algae that make their own food using sunlight: producers or decomposers?
Producers
Producers (autotrophs) synthesise organic food from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.
12. Why do desert foxes (such as the fennec fox) have large ears with many blood vessels: to radiate excess body heat and listen for prey, or to swim?
To radiate excess body heat and listen for prey
Large ears act as thermal radiators in hot desert environments.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Habitats, biomes & food chains
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. What term describes a close relationship in which two species both benefit (such as clownfish and sea anemones): mutualism or parasitism?
What term describes a clos… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
2. What happens to energy as it moves up each trophic level in a food chain: most is lost as heat, or it doubles at every step?
What happens to energy as … · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
3. Why do many rainforest leaves have pointed “drip tips”: to shed heavy rainwater quickly, or to trap snow?
“drip tips” · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
4. What do we call a network of many interconnected food chains in an ecosystem: a food web or a rock cycle?
What do we call a network … · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
5. Which terrestrial biome receives very little rainfall (under 250 mm per year) and features plants like cacti with water-storing stems: a desert or a tundra?
250 mm · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
6. Which shallow marine meadows of flowering plants stabilise lagoon sand and feed green sea turtles: seagrass beds or rocky cliffs?
Which shallow marine meado… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
7. Which treeless polar biome has permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost: the Arctic tundra or the savanna?
Which treeless polar biome… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
8. Which warm, shallow marine habitat is built by tiny cnidarian polyps secreting calcium carbonate: a coral reef or a kelp forest?
Which warm, shallow marine… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
9. Which layer of a tropical rainforest receives the most direct sunlight above the main canopy: the emergent layer or the forest floor?
Which layer of a tropical … · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
10. How does a polar bear’s thick white coat help it survive in the Arctic: camouflage and insulation, or photosynthesis?
How does a polar bear’s th… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
11. In a food chain, what do we call green plants and algae that make their own food using sunlight: producers or decomposers?
In a food chain, what do w… · Habitats, biomes & food ch…
12. Why do desert foxes (such as the fennec fox) have large ears with many blood vessels: to radiate excess body heat and listen for prey, or to swim?
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Habitats, biomes & food chains
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. What term describes a close relationship in which two species both benefit (such as clownfish and sea anemones): mutualism or parasitism?
Mutualism
In mutualism, both partner species gain a survival benefit.
2. What happens to energy as it moves up each trophic level in a food chain: most is lost as heat, or it doubles at every step?
Most is lost as heat
Only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level; the rest is used in respiration and lost as heat.
3. Why do many rainforest leaves have pointed “drip tips”: to shed heavy rainwater quickly, or to trap snow?
To shed heavy rainwater quickly
Drip tips allow water to run off rapidly, preventing fungal and algal growth on leaves.
4. What do we call a network of many interconnected food chains in an ecosystem: a food web or a rock cycle?
Food web
A food web shows the feeding relationships among multiple species in a community.
5. Which terrestrial biome receives very little rainfall (under 250 mm per year) and features plants like cacti with water-storing stems: a desert or a tundra?
Desert
Deserts are defined by aridity, and succulents store water in thick stems.
6. Which shallow marine meadows of flowering plants stabilise lagoon sand and feed green sea turtles: seagrass beds or rocky cliffs?
Seagrass beds
Seagrasses are true marine flowering plants that form underwater meadows.
7. Which treeless polar biome has permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost: the Arctic tundra or the savanna?
Arctic tundra
Tundra ecosystems have cold temperatures, short growing seasons and permafrost.
8. Which warm, shallow marine habitat is built by tiny cnidarian polyps secreting calcium carbonate: a coral reef or a kelp forest?
Coral reef
Coral polyps build calcium carbonate skeletons that form coral reefs.
9. Which layer of a tropical rainforest receives the most direct sunlight above the main canopy: the emergent layer or the forest floor?
Emergent layer
Giant emergent trees rise above the main canopy into full sunlight.
10. How does a polar bear’s thick white coat help it survive in the Arctic: camouflage and insulation, or photosynthesis?
Camouflage and insulation
Thick fur and blubber trap body heat while white fur blends with snow and ice.
11. In a food chain, what do we call green plants and algae that make their own food using sunlight: producers or decomposers?
Producers
Producers (autotrophs) synthesise organic food from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.
12. Why do desert foxes (such as the fennec fox) have large ears with many blood vessels: to radiate excess body heat and listen for prey, or to swim?
To radiate excess body heat and listen for prey
Large ears act as thermal radiators in hot desert environments.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification