Terrestrial Biomes Quiz

Animals that live in the desert a. hibernate in winter. b. are usually nocturnal. c. usually have thin skin to absorb water. d. include camels, moose, and various reptiles.

are usually nocturnal

Biomes a. contain two ecosystems, hence the name "biome." b. are usually described by their vegetation. c. exist in limited regions of the world. d. All of the above

are usually described by their vegetation.

Chaparral plants usually survive fires because a. they contain oils that act as natural fire extinguishers. b. water is stored in their small, leathery leaves. c. they can resprout from small amounts of surviving plant tissue. d. they have deep root systems that keep them moist during a fire.

they can resprout from small amounts of surviving plant tissue

Which of the following adaptations are used by animals of the Arctic tundra? a. Rodents burrow underground for winter protection. b. Deer and foxes use seasonal camouflage. c. Geese and caribou migrate to avoid predators. d. All of the above

Rodents burrow underground for winter protection.

Which of the following is an adaptation of coniferous trees in the taiga? a. They have a shallow root system, due to the acidic soil. b. They have leaves that retain water, due to their shape and waxy coating. c. They have a unique overall shape in order to accumulate snow, which acts as a heavy insulating layer. d. All of the above

They have a unique overall shape in order to accumulate snow, which acts as a heavy insulating layer.

Which of the following is not true about temperate deciduous forests? a. Trees grow lush green leaves in the spring, but lose their leaves in late summer. b. The soil is rich, and plants cover much of the forest floor. c. Animals such as squirrels, bears, and deer find food in the form of nuts, berries, and leaves. d. Both (a) and (b)

Trees grow lush green leaves in the spring, but lose their leaves in late summer.

Which of the following statements is not correct? a. Grasslands have rich soil that supports abundant plant life. b. The tundra is a fragile biome because conditions are severe, and the ecosystem is easily disrupted. c. Chaparral fires are beneficial because they destroy trees that compete for light and space. d. Tropical rain forests are resistant to change because the plants contain so many nutrients.

Tropical rain forests are resistant to change because the plants contain so many nutrients.

Taiga is a. a cold, treeless, desert-like biome found near the North and South Poles. b. found mostly in Africa. c. a forest biome dominated by coniferous trees, such as pine, fir, and spruce. d. a dry, rocky biome found in the central part of South America.

a forest biome dominated by coniferous trees, such as pine, fir, and spruce.

Adaptations demonstrated by plants in tropical rain forests include a. trees with aboveground roots called buttresses, which increase stability. b. orchids and vines that use tall tree trunks for support. c. herbs with large flat leaves located in the understory. d. All of the above

a. trees with aboveground roots called buttresses, which increase stability. b. orchids and vines that use tall tree trunks for support. c. herbs with large flat leaves located in the understory. (All of them)

Grasslands, such as the prairies of North America, a. are suitable for corn and wheat, but not suitable for soybeans. b. are threatened by soil erosion because native grasses have been damaged or destroyed by plowing and overgrazing. c. support almost no animal life now that the millions of buffalo that once roamed there are gone. d. support a rich layer of dense grasses because they receive at least 250 cm (100 in.) of rain per year.

are threatened by soil erosion because native grasses have been damaged or destroyed by plowing and overgrazing

Which of the following is located primarily in coastal areas that have Mediterranean-style climates with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters?` a. tallgrass prairie c. tundra b. savanna d. chaparral

chaparral

Tropical rain forests are threatened by a. deforestation and the trade of rain forest plants and animals. b. a decrease in the average temperature at the equator. c. a decrease in rainfall at the equator. d. a thinning of the soil.

deforestation and the trade of rain forest plants and animals

Which of the following would you expect to see in the emergent layer of a tropical rain forest? a. grasses, insects, and small succulents b. eagles, bats, and snakes c. lichens, mosses, and dwarf woody plants d. epiphytes, small burrowing mammals, and burrowing toads

eagles, bats, snakes

The tundra a. has a layer of soil that is permanently frozen beneath the top soil. b. is too cold to support insect life. c. is resistant to environmental damage because it is usually frozen. d. All of the above

has a layer of soil that is permanently frozen beneath the top soil.

If you visited a savanna, you would likely see... a. large herds of grazing animals, such as rhinos, gazelles, and giraffes. b. a dense forest. c. snow and ice. d. a coastal ecosystem

large herds of grazing animals, such as rhinos, gazelles, and giraffes.

All of the following are characteristics of temperate rain forests except a. high humidity and moderate temperatures. b. abundant mosses, ferns, and lichens. c. low rainfall in summer but abundant snow in winter. d. large evergreen trees, such as Sitka spruce and Douglas fir.

low rainfall in summer but abundant snow in winter.

Deserts are a. covered with sand and contain no plant life. b. found only in North America. c. often formed on the dry side of mountain ranges. d. never located in cooler climates.

often formed on the dry side of mountain ranges

Adaptations of desert animals that help them survive in the hot, dry desert often include a. searching for water at midday. b. thin skin that readily absorbs water. c. large, bulky size to retain body heat on cold nights. d. searching for food at night.

searching for food at night

Biomes with higher temperatures and less precipitation tend to have a. shorter and less dense vegetation. c. taller and less dense vegetation. b. taller and denser vegetation. d. shorter and denser vegetation.

shorter and less dense vegetation.

Which of the following best describes a tropical rain forest? a. dense, thick soil that supports a dense layer of plants on the forest floor b. species of animals with specialized ways of surviving in order to avoid competition c. very few species of trees, due to poor soil quality d. plants and animals that are very similar due to year-round warmth and moisture

species of animals with specialized ways of surviving in order to avoid competition

The main factor that determines what type of plants grow in a biome is a. temperature. c. altitude. b. precipitation. d. Both (a) and (b)

temperature precipitation.