Habitats & Ecosystems — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A forest habitat has many trees that give shelter to birds and squirrels.
Trees are the main shelter in forests, giving nests, food, and shade to many animals.
2. The Arctic is the coldest habitat, covered in ice and snow.
The Arctic is the frozen habitat at the North Pole, home to polar bears and seals.
3. A cactus stores water in its thick stem and has sharp spines.
A cactus is a desert plant adapted to store water and to defend against thirsty animals.
4. A polar bear has thick white fur to keep warm on icy land.
Thick fur traps warmth and the white color helps the bear blend into snow.
5. A dolphin lives in the salty ocean and swims with a group called a pod.
Dolphins are ocean mammals that live in pods and breathe air through a blowhole.
6. Every habitat must give food, water, and shelter to its living things.
Water is one of the three basic needs every habitat must supply to support life.
7. A pine tree has needle leaves that stay green all year in cold forests.
Pine needles are tough leaves that survive winter and keep pine trees green year-round.
8. An animal's special body part that helps it live in a habitat is called an adaptation.
An adaptation is a feature like fur, gills, or a hump that helps an animal survive.
9. A seal uses thick layer of fat called blubber to stay warm in cold water.
Blubber is a layer of fat that keeps Arctic animals warm in freezing ocean water.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
forest
→ squirrel
squirrel
desert
→ camel
camel
ocean
→ dolphin
dolphin
Arctic
→ polar bear
polar bear
Squirrels climb forest trees, camels cross deserts, dolphins swim oceans, and polar bears roam the Arctic.