Habitats & Ecosystems — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Could a polar bear survive in a hot desert?
A) Yes, it loves sand
B) No, its thick fur makes it too hot
C) Yes, it flies away
D) No, it is scared of the sun
Polar bears have very thick fur for cold. In a hot desert, they would overheat and have no seals to eat.
2. Could a fish survive in a forest with no pond?
A) Yes, it breathes air
B) Yes, it walks well
C) No, it needs water to use its gills
D) No, it hates trees
Fish use gills that only work in water. Without a pond or river, a fish cannot breathe or move.
3. A camel is moved to the Arctic. What will happen?
A) It will love the ice
B) It will be too cold with no desert plants
C) It will grow fur fast
D) It will swim with whales
Camels have short fur and store fat for desert heat. The Arctic is too cold and has no desert plants.
4. Which animal could survive best in a rainforest?
A) polar bear
B) parrot
C) camel
D) seal
Parrots are adapted for warm, wet rainforests with lots of trees, seeds, and fruit to eat.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A cactus moved to the rainforest would get too much water and rot.
A cactus is built for dry deserts. Too much rainforest water would make its roots rot.
2. A frog cannot live in a desert because its skin needs to stay wet.
Frogs breathe partly through moist skin. In a dry desert, their skin would dry out.
3. When a habitat changes too much, animals may have to move or die.
If a habitat loses food, water, or shelter, animals must move away or they will not survive.
4. A penguin could not live in a hot jungle because it is built for the cold.
Penguins have thick feathers and fat for cold. A hot jungle would make them too warm.
5. To predict if an animal can survive, we look at its adaptations and the habitat.
Adaptations show if an animal's body fits a habitat, which helps us predict survival.