Topic 1: Arid and Semi-Arid Biomes

A seasonal color change helps animals in the taiga to __________. A) evade predators B) find shelter C) find food D) stay warm in winter

a

Chaparral biomes are generally __________. A) found near coasts B) found in mountainous regions C) nutrient rich D) cool during the summer months

a

Which of the following is not true about the Sahara desert? A) it is almost as large as the United States B) occupies central and southern Africa C) has sand dunes almost 600 feet high D) has a 3 million year history

b

Which of the following is not true of the tundra bumblebee? A) Its body is covered in dense hairs that help it conserve heat. B) It is active only under warm conditions. C) It can "shiver" to generate heat. D) It is able to keep its body temperature approximately 75ºF above ambient temperature.

b

Which of the following would you least likely find living in the chaparral biome? A) ground birds B) pine trees C) olive trees D) aromatic plants

b

Birds in the chaparral biome have adapted to living __________. A) in trees B) in burrows C) on the ground D) through cool summers

c

Boreal forests are characterized by __________ trees. A) creosote B) eucalyptus C) coniferous D) deciduous

c

Marmots are a type of __________. A) canine B) feline C) squirrel D) nocturnal predator

c

The dominant plant life in desert scrub regions is __________. A) coniferous trees B) moss and lichens C) shrubs D) flowering weeds

c

What adaptations of the wild yak enable it to survive in the alpine biome? A) waterproof undercoat; slow metabolism; migrate during winter; horns to dig for food B) slow metabolism; narrow hooves; hibernate during winter; waterproof undercoat C) dense, wooly coats; horns to dig for food; specially adapted feet; migrate during winter D) dense, wooly coats; hibernate during winter; specially adapted feet; broad, flat snouts

c

When the Barrel and Saguaro cacti absorb moisture they store it __________. A) in their roots B) in their spines C) in the flesh of their barrels D) in underground root nodules

c

Which factor is not used to define biomes? A) plant structures B) leaf type C) historical similarities D) climate

c

Which of the following adaptations is characteristic of plants in the taiga biome? A) low growing B) perennial C) waxy needles D) survive on limited nutrients

c

Which of the following deserts is characterized by moderately warm to cool temperatures? A) arid B) semi-arid C) coastal D) cold

c

Which of the following is not a way humans have impacted coral reefs? A) overfishing B) tourism C) oil drilling D) agriculture

c

Which of these developments did not occur from the Jurassic period through the Cretaceous period? A) Dinosaurs became extinct. B) Angiosperms had developed. C) Trilobites had appeared. D) Pangaea had fully split.

c

During which period did mammals first appear? A) Pleistocene B) Carboniferous C) Cretaceous D) Jurassic

d

How does agriculture affect coral reefs? A) fertilizer runoff entering the ecosystem B) increase of nutrients due to use of fertilizers C) increase in algal growth D) all of the above

d

In which kind of desert would you most likely expect to find a winter population of large herbivores? A) arid B) semi-arid C) coastal D) cold

d

Summers that are hot, humid, and rainy, winters that are below freezing with a lot of snow, 50-100 frost free days/year, and precipitation ranges from 12-33 inches/year are all abiotic characteristics of the __________ biome. A) chaparral B) tundra C) arctic D) taiga

d

The aromatic oils of chaparral shrubs __________. A) promote wildfires B) make many plants flavorful cooking herbs C) help shrubs eliminate their competitors D) all of the above

d

The leaves of chaparral shrubs are typically __________. A) small and waxy B) evergreen leaves C) able to store water D) all of the above

d

What type of vegetation is not frequently found in the tundra? A) mosses B) shrubs C) lichens D) trees

d

Which human activity has impacted rainforests? A) mining B) agriculture C) construction D) all of the above

d

Which of the following adaptations is characteristic of animals in the alpine biome? A) seasonal color change B) insulating feathers C) large paws D) large lungs

d

Which of the following best describes daily temperatures in deserts? A) hot during the day and cold at night B) hot during the day and warm at night C) cool during the day and very cold at night D) they depend upon the type of desert and its location

d

Which of the following statements about the tundra is not true? A) The tundra has limited vegetation. B) There are two main categories of the tundra biome. C) Temperatures in the tundra can get below -20° F. D) The tundra biome does not support animal life.

d

Which of the following statements is true about the taiga biome, but not the alpine? A) Temperatures are below freezing during the winter. B) Precipitation can average 12 inches annually. C) It has two distinct seasons. D) It is characterized by coniferous trees.

d

During the summer, the taiga warms up and there are growing trees and millions of insects, therefore, every year, insect eating birds migrate to the taiga to nest and feed. However, these birds cannot live in the taiga year round because they cannot tolerate the winter weather, and in the winter there are not enough insects to provide an adequate food supply. Which statement best summarizes the information above? A) The taiga is important to birds from other biomes. B) Insects exist in the millions in the taiga during the summer because of the growth of trees. C) Birds cannot exist in the taiga during the winter. D) During the summer, many animals migrate to the taiga because of the large food sources.

a

In winter the leaves of chaparral shrubs __________. A) remain green B) turn red and orange C) fall off D) expand and soften

a

The defining characteristic of deserts is __________. A) low rainfall B) high temperatures C) lizards D) cacti

a

The large size of the musk ox __________. A) helps minimize heat loss B) is offset by its long legs C) helps the animal graze less often D) helps maximize heat loss

a

The slowing of a body's metabolism and core temperature during hibernation is best called __________. A) torpor B) sleep C) hyperactivity D) none of the above

a

The tundra is located __________. A) north of the equator B) south of the equator C) along the equator D) both north and south of the equator

a

Transpiration is best described as __________. A) water evaporation through pores in leaves B) water evaporation through roots C) water absorption through pores in leaves D) water absorption through roots

a

What characteristic about the tundra biome listed below does not contribute to a reduction of carbon dioxide on Earth? A) nutrient-poor soil B) permafrost C) plants and their trapped carbon dioxide are frozen in the earth D) carbon dioxide sink

a

What factor does not contribute to the limited vegetation in the tundra? A) limited carbon dioxide supply B) nutrient poor soil C) frozen soil D) minimal rainfall

a

Which of the following is not true about the alpine biome? A) The alpine biome is the largest biome in the world. B) It is found on five of seven continents. C) The alpine biome has two distinct seasons. D) The temperature in the alpine can fall below freezing.

a

Why is there limited vegetation in the tundra? A) The soil is frozen and devoid of nutrients. B) There is frequent flooding and the soil is nutrient-poor. C) There is frequent flooding and the soil is nutrient-rich. D) The soil is frozen and contains pockets rich in nutrients.

a

Desert predators are most likely to be successful in finding their quarry __________. A) during the day B) at night C) before noon D) after it rains

b

Hibernation is an adaptation that helps animals to __________. A) survive high elevations B) survive cold winters C) survive droughts D) evade predators

b

Rainfall in arid deserts __________. A) creates seasonal rivers and lakes B) often evaporates before it hits the ground C) penetrates down to shrubs' deep root structures D) falls mostly as snow in winter

b

The chaparral biome is best characterized by __________. A) heavy snowfall B) woody scrub plants C) flat terrain D) mountainside terrain

b

The plants in the chaparral biome are __________. A) widely spaced to maximize water collection B) closely spaced to form dense ground cover C) generally deciduous D) adapted to heavy snowfall

b

What is the main difference between the alpine tundra and the arctic tundra? A) The alpine tundra includes trees. B) The alpine tundra occurs on mountaintops. C) The alpine tundra has no animal life. D) The alpine tundra has lower temperatures.

b

What is the purpose of the dense hairs around the flowers of the woolly lousewort? A) The dense hairs keep moisture off the flower. B) The dense hairs trap heat from the sun. C) The dense hairs protect the flower from caribou. D) The dense hairs keep the flower's seeds from blowing away.

b

Which human action has not lead to significant changes in Earth's biomes? A) agriculture B) burial practices C) pollution D) large-scale fishing

b

Which human activity have had an impact on both the tundra and the rainforest? A) overgrazing B) oil drilling C) construction D) radioactive pollution

b

Which of the following is considered an arid biome? A) grassland B) desert C) savanna D) rainforest

b

Which of the following is not a way humans have impacted the tundra? A) oil drilling B) logging C) overgrazing D) mining

b