Grade 7 Science Unit 1 SAMPLE TEST Section A: Multiple choice (30 Marks) 1. Which term defines a group of interacting living and non-living things? A. community B. ecosystem C. habitat D. niche 2. Which is a Newfoundland and Labrador ecosystem? A. Desert B. Grassland C. Tropical rainforest D. Tundra 3. Which groups of animals live in the Newfoundland and Labrador forest ecosystem? A. Moose, lynx, black bear B. Moose, caribou, raccoon C. Moose, raccoon, white-tailed deer D. Red fox, lynx, white-tailed deer 4. Which best describes habitat? A. Interactions with abiotic factors B. Interactions with biotic factors C. The place an organism lives D. The role an organism plays in an ecosystem
5. Puffins interact with many biotic and abiotic factors. For which factor does the puffin have a range of tolerance? A. Amount of available food B. Availability of nesting sites C. Populations of other birds D. Temperature of the environment 6. Why are there no plants growing in deep water? A. No air B. No light C. No soil D. No water 7. Moose and caribou are unable to mate with each other. Why is this always true? A. Their biotic factors are difference B. They are different species C. They have different adaptations D. They live in different communities 8. Which term describes all the black bears in Terra Nova National Park? A. Community B. Ecosystem C. Individual D. Population
9. Lemmings are small rodents that live on the tundra. They eat seeds, grasses, green plants and lichens. Lemmings are eaten by foxes, artic wolves, and rough-legged hawks. What is being described in the quote? A. The lemming s community B. The lemming s ecosystem C. The lemming s habitat D. the lemming s niche 10. Which is the best example of commensalism? A. Barnacle on a whale B. Brain worm in a caribou C. Lichen on a rock D. Lynx and snowshoe hare 11. Which term describes organisms that only eat other animals? A. Carnivore B. Consumers C. Herbivores D. Omnivores 12. Phytoplankton is a microscopic plant that lives in freshwater. What role does phytoplankton fill in the ecosystem? A. Consumer B. Herbivore C. Omnivore D. Producer
13. Which process allows plants to make their own food? A. Cellular respiration B. Chemical synthesis C. Growth D. Photosynthesis 14. Composting is an effective way to reduce kitchen waste. Why are earthworms often added to speed up the composting process? A. Earthworms allow air and water to enter the waste B. Earthworms are decomposers C. Earthworms secrete chemicals that soften the waste D. Earthworm movement generates heat 15. Which is the least effective food preservation technique? A. Canning B. Drying C. Pickling D. Refrigeration 16. Which best explains how salting prevents decomposer microorganisms from growing on cod? A. Salt draws moisture from cod B. Salt ferments the cod C. Salt kills micro-organisms directly D. Salt produces an acidic environment
17. Yeasts are micro-organisms that feed on sugars. As they break sugar down, alcohol and carbon dioxide are produced. What is this process called? A. Composting B. Decomposition C. Fermentation D. Pickling 18. What is a fir tree s source of energy? A. Carbon dioxide B. Minerals C. Sunlight D. Water 19. What advantage does a food web have over a food chain? A. Food webs can show organisms playing several roles B. Only food webs can show predators C. Food chains do not show how energy flows D. Only food webs can represent simple ecosystems 20. Grouse are large birds that live in spruce/fir forests. They eat berries and insects and are the main prey of foxes. Which is most likely to cause a reduction in the grouse population? A. Increase in the population of blueberries B. Increase in the population of foxes C. Increase in the population of insects D. Increase in the population of spruce trees
21. Wasps eat wild raspberries. Warblers are birds that eat both raspberries and wasps. Pine martens eat raspberries, wasps and warblers. Which model can best illustrate these statements? A. Energy pyramid B. Food chain C. Food web D. Nutrient cycle 22. Which statement is true for energy pyramids? A. Decomposers are an essential part of energy pyramids B. Pyramids are wider at the top than the bottom C. Pyramids show how energy is lost in a food chain D. There is more energy at the top of the pyramid 23. Which is a nutrient? A. Bacteria B. Energy C. Nitrogen D. Soil 24. Over a period of 30 years, a cabin owner notices that the population on birch is decreasing on his property while the populations of spruce and fir are increasing. What is the best explanation for this observation? A. Birch trees are not a native species, and are going extinct B. Birch trees do not provide good habitat for animals C. Spruce and fir are stealing nutrients from the birch D. Spruce and fir are the climax community
25. A beaver dam has been abandoned. As it dries out the shallow beaver pond may form a bog. Then as new shrubs and trees take root a forest grows. What are these natural changes in plant and animal communities called? A. Ecosystem recovery B. Habitat restoration C. Primary succession D. Secondary succession 26. Which is a pioneer species? A. Beetle B. Birch C. Lichen D. Maple 27. Pine martens live in old growth forests and they are an endangered species. Which action would best protect the pine marten? A. Capture and remove competitors like black bears B. Conserve old growth forests C. Capture martens and move them to other locations D. Plant trees to create new forests 28. Which is an example of a positive human impact on the environment? A. ATV use B. Habitat conservation C. Harvesting resources D. Pollution
29. European Green Crabs are thought to have been brought to and released in Newfoundland through bilge water from ships. The Green Crab is disrupting the ocean food web in Placentia Bay and has caused a rapid decline in the population of local Rock Crab. Which term best describes the Green Crab? A. Climax species B. Introduced species C. Native species D. Pioneer species 30. Which term means that resources are harvested only as fast as they can be renewed or replaced? A. Conservation B. Sustainability C. Symbiosis D. Waste reduction
Section B: Short Answer (10 Marks) 1. Describe an aquarium (fish tank) ecosystem. (2 marks) 2. Every year, Mr. Gardener plants orange seeds in his garden in Lab City. However, he has never seen and orange tree grow. What could have prevented his tree from growing? (2 marks) 3. Draw and label a nutrient cycle (2 marks)
4. You have two choices for lunch: roast beef sandwich and a glass of milk; or tossed salad with a whole wheat roll and apple juice. Which meal is more efficient in terms of energy use in a food chain? Explain (2 marks) 5. A developer decides to build houses on a plot of land. To plan involves changing the direction of a stream from flowing into a wetland. Over time, what impact will this have on the biological communities in the wetland? Explain. (2 marks)