Habitats & Ecosystems — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A habitat with lots of sand and very little rain is called a desert.
Deserts are dry places with sand and very little rainfall each year.
2. A forest is full of tall trees where birds and squirrels live.
Forests have many tall trees that give shade, food, and homes to animals.
3. The ocean is filled with salt water that tastes different from pond water.
Ocean water has a lot of salt dissolved in it, which is why it is called salt water.
4. The Arctic is a cold habitat covered in ice and snow all year.
The Arctic stays below freezing, so water turns to ice that covers the land and sea.
5. A pond has fresh water that does not taste salty.
Ponds and lakes hold fresh water, which most land animals need to drink.
6. Rainforests get a lot of rain almost every day of the year.
Rainforests are named for how much rain they get, which helps plants grow thick and tall.
7. A desert feels very hot during the day and cold at night.
With no clouds or trees to hold heat, desert nights get very cold even after hot days.
8. The floor of a forest is covered with fallen leaves in autumn.
Many forest trees drop their leaves in fall, covering the ground and feeding the soil.
9. Grasslands are wide open spaces covered mostly in grass.
Grasslands get some rain but not enough for many trees, so grass grows across wide fields.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Lots of sand, little rain
→ Desert
Desert
Tall trees and shade
→ Forest
Forest
Salt water and waves
→ Ocean
Ocean
Ice and snow all year
→ Arctic
Arctic
Each habitat has a main feature, like sand, trees, salt water, or ice, that tells us what it is.