Habitats & Ecosystems — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. If a forest fire burns down all the trees, what will most likely happen to the squirrels?
A) They will grow wings
B) They must find a new home or food
C) They will turn into fish
D) Nothing will change
Without trees, squirrels lose their homes and food, so they must move somewhere else or may not survive.
2. During a long drought, a pond dries up. What happens to the fish?
A) They walk to a new pond
B) They cannot live without water
C) They start breathing air
D) They dig underground
Fish breathe through gills using water, so when a pond dries up, the fish cannot survive there.
3. If the Arctic gets warmer and ice melts, what is a problem for polar bears?
A) Their fur turns blue
B) They lose the ice they hunt on
C) They learn to eat grass
D) They grow smaller
Polar bears need sea ice to catch seals. Less ice means less food and harder survival.
4. A new road is built through a forest. Which is most likely true for the animals?
A) They get free rides
B) Their home is split and smaller
C) They all become faster
D) Nothing changes for them
Roads break up habitats, making them smaller and making it harder and riskier for animals to move around.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. When a habitat changes fast, animals may need to move to a new place.
Animals often move to find new food and shelter when their home is damaged.
2. A long time with no rain is called a drought.
During a drought, plants wilt and water sources dry up, making life hard for animals.
3. Cutting down too many trees can destroy the habitat where animals live.
A habitat gives animals food, water, and shelter, so losing it puts animals in danger.
4. Polar bears depend on sea ice to hunt for seals.
Sea ice is the platform polar bears stand on while waiting to catch seals.
5. People can help by protecting habitats so that plants and animals stay safe.
Keeping habitats healthy helps plants and animals survive even when the world changes.