Habitats and Ecosystems — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
A monkey swings through trees in the tundra habitat.
Corrected: A monkey swings through trees in the forest habitat.
Monkeys need tall trees to swing from branch to branch and find fruit, so a forest with lots of leafy trees is the right habitat for them, not the cold and treeless tundra.
2. Fix the sentence:
Sea turtles lay their eggs on the ocean floor.
Corrected: Sea turtles lay their eggs on sandy beaches.
Sea turtles come up onto sandy beaches to dig nests and lay their eggs in the warm sand. Eggs would not survive deep underwater on the ocean floor.
3. Fix the sentence:
Cactus plants grow in the forest where it rains a lot.
Corrected: Cactus plants grow in the desert where it is dry.
Cactus plants are made for hot, dry places. They store water in their thick stems and have spines instead of leaves, so the desert is where they grow best.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. All the living and nonliving things in a habitat make up an ecosystem.
When you put together all the living things, like animals and plants, with the nonliving things, like water, soil, and air, you get an ecosystem.
2. The tundra is a very cold habitat with snow and ice.
Snow and ice only stay frozen in places where the temperature is freezing, so cold is the word that fits this description of the tundra.
3. Fish, whales, and dolphins live in the ocean habitat.
Fish, whales, and dolphins all need lots of saltwater to swim and breathe, which makes the ocean their habitat.
4. Animals need food, water, shelter, and space to survive.
Animals need room to roam, find mates, and raise their young. Along with food, water, and shelter, space is the fourth basic need that keeps animals alive.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. An ecosystem includes both living and nonliving things.
True False
True. An ecosystem is more than just the animals and plants. It also includes nonliving things like rocks, sunlight, water, and air that everything depends on.
2. All animals can live in any habitat.
True False
False. Each animal is adapted to a certain habitat. A polar bear could not survive in the desert and a camel could not survive on the tundra.
3. A cactus stores water inside its thick stem.
True False
True. A cactus has a thick, waxy stem that holds water inside, helping the plant survive long stretches without rain in the desert.