Life Boot Camp

1. Life Boot Camp 5.9C Predict the effects of changes in ecosystems caused by living organisms including humans such as the overpopulation of grazers or the building of highways.

2. STAAR 2013 #36; RC 4; Supporting, F1. The picture below shows a type of plant called kudzu. Kudzu is a fast-growing Asian vine that was introduced into the United States. Kudzu quickly uses available resources and can completely cover the plants in an area. What effect does the rapid growth of kudzu most likely have on an ecosystem?F. The variety of native plants decreases.G. The water supply in the area increases.H. Weather patterns in the area change.J. The number of other plants increases

3. STAAR 2013 #36; RC 4; Supporting1. The picture below shows a type of plant called kudzu. Kudzu is a fast-growing Asian vine that was introduced into the United States. Kudzu quickly uses available resources and can completely cover the plants in an area. What effect does the rapid growth of kudzu most likely have on an ecosystem?F. The variety of native plants decreases.G. The water supply in the area increases.H. Weather patterns in the area change.J. The number of other plants increases

4. TAKS Study Guide, #13 2. According to the chart, what would most likely happen in an ecosystem if there were a sudden decrease in the number of bacteria and fungi? A The number of plants would increase. B The number of bees would increase. C The amount of nutrients in the soil would decrease. D The amount of water in the air would decrease.

5. TAKS Study Guide, #13 2. According to the chart, what would most likely happen in an ecosystem if there were a sudden decrease in the number of bacteria and fungi? A The number of plants would increase. B The number of bees would increase. C The amount of nutrients in the soil would decrease. D The amount of water in the air would decrease.

6. 2004—#1 (88%) 3. Clearing a forest to build a shopping mall will most likely result in woodpeckers — A nesting on roofs B losing habitat C laying more eggs D flying slower

7. 2004—#1 (88%) 3. Clearing a forest to build a shopping mall will most likely result in woodpeckers — A nesting on roofs B losing habitat C laying more eggs D flying slower

8. 2011—STAAR™ Released Test Questions, #10 The picture below shows a frog in a pond containing duckweed. 4. Which of these human activities would most likely cause an overgrowth of duckweed in a pond environment? A Gradually introducing geese into the pond B Fishing in the pond as recreation C Planting trees in nearby forests D Heavily fertilizing nearby farm fields

9. 2011—STAAR™ Released Test Questions, #10 The picture below shows a frog in a pond containing duckweed. 4. Which of these human activities would most likely cause an overgrowth of duckweed in a pond environment? A Gradually introducing geese into the pond B Fishing in the pond as recreation C Planting trees in nearby forests D Heavily fertilizing nearby farm fields

10. 5. Mountain lions do not live near humans. As the human population increases, the mountain lion— A loses habitat B increases in population C adapts to city life D has more cubs

11. 5. Mountain lions do not live near humans. As the human population increases, the mountain lion— A loses habitat B increases in population C adapts to city life D has more cubs

12. 6. When trees develop leaves in the spring, changes occur on the forest floor. Why does the development of leaves cause changes on the forest floor? A Rainfall increases. B Sunlight is reduced. C Wind speed increases. D Animal migration is stopped.

13. 6. When trees develop leaves in the spring, changes occur on the forest floor. Why does the development of leaves cause changes on the forest floor? A Rainfall increases. B Sunlight is reduced. (leaves provide shade) C Wind speed increases. D Animal migration is stopped.

14. 7. What is a likely consequence of cutting down rainforests? A A decrease in the amount of air pollution on Earth B An increase in the number of plants living on Earth C A decrease in the variety of organisms living on Earth D An increase in the number of arctic ecosystems on Earth

15. 7. What is a likely consequence of cutting down rainforests? A A decrease in the amount of air pollution on Earth B An increase in the number of plants living on Earth C A decrease in the variety of organisms living on Earth D An increase in the number of arctic ecosystems on Earth

16. 8. The diagram below shows an area before and after a housing development was built there. Tall pine trees grow very well in East Texas. However, these trees do not do well in parts of West Texas. Which of the following is MOST important in determining where a plant can grow and survive? A Wind B Climate C Tides D Sunshine

17. 8. The diagram below shows an area before and after a housing development was built there. Tall pine trees grow very well in East Texas. However, these trees do not do well in parts of West Texas. Which of the following is MOST important in determining where a plant can grow and survive? A Wind B Climate C Tides D Sunshine

18. 9. A science teacher bought some tomatoes that were still green and not yet ripened. He placed half of them in the refrigerator and half on a kitchen table at room temperature. After 4 days, the tomatoes in the refrigerator were still green, while those on the table were red and ripe. Which of the following is the BEST reason for the difference in ripening? A Tomatoes need sunlight to ripen. B There was not enough air in the refrigerator. C The tomatoes placed in the refrigerator were just bad. D Tomatoes do not ripen well at cold temperatures.

19. 9. A science teacher bought some tomatoes that were still green and not yet ripened. He placed half of them in the refrigerator and half on a kitchen table at room temperature. After 4 days, the tomatoes in the refrigerator were still green, while those on the table were red and ripe. Which of the following is the BEST reason for the difference in ripening? A Tomatoes need sunlight to ripen. B There was not enough air in the refrigerator. C The tomatoes placed in the refrigerator were just bad. D Tomatoes do not ripen well at cold temperatures.

20. 10. If a fire destroyed the grasses on a grassy plain, which animal would most likely be affected first? A Coyotes B Alligators C Rabbits D Red-tail hawks

21. 10. If a fire destroyed the grasses on a grassy plain, which animal would most likely be affectedfirst? A Coyotes B Alligators C Rabbits D Red-tail hawks

22. 11. Female seals usually return to the same beaches year after year to give birth. If they are repeatedly disturbed by humans at those beaches, how will the seals most likely respond? A They will change color. B They will give birth to more pups. C They will hunt for food more often. D They will give birth at different beaches.

23. 11. Female seals usually return to the same beaches year after year to give birth. If they are repeatedly disturbed by humans at those beaches, how will the seals most likely respond? A They will change color. B They will give birth to more pups. C They will hunt for food more often. D They will give birth at different beaches.

24. 12. Why would fewer bees come to a plant if the petals of its flowers were removed? A There would not be any nectar in the flowers. B The bees would not be attracted to the flowers. C The bees would not have a spot to land while sipping nectar. D The bees would not be able to leave their scent on the flowers.

25. 12. Why would fewer bees come to a plant if the petals of its flowers were removed? A There would not be any nectar in the flowers. B The bees would not be attracted to the flowers. C The bees would not have a spot to land while sipping nectar. D The bees would not be able to leave their scent on the flowers.

26. 13. Snakes feed on mice. The mice eat grain crops. When the crops are plentiful, what will MOST LIKELY happen? A The mouse population will decrease. B The snake population will increase. C The snake population will decrease. D The mouse population will not change.

27. 13. Snakes feed on mice. The mice eat grain crops. When the crops are plentiful, what will MOST LIKELY happen? A The mouse population will decrease. B The snake population will increase. C The snake population will decrease. D The mouse population will not change.

28. 15. A wetland was drained to build a mall. Two years later, there were no more toads in that area. Why did the toads disappear? A The toads were destroyed by the construction equipment. B The toads died because toads cannot breathe out of water. C The toads were frightened and went into the woods. D The toads got their food from the wetland ecosystem.

29. 15. A wetland was drained to build a mall. Two years later, there were no more toads in that area. Why did the toads disappear? A The toads were destroyed by the construction equipment. B The toads died because toads cannot breathe out of water. C The toads were frightened and went into the woods. D The toads got their food from the wetland ecosystem.

30. 16. Which of these might cause a forest habitat to become a desert? A No rain B Flooded rivers C High winds D Hot summers

31. 16. Which of these might cause a forest habitat to become a desert? A No rain B Flooded rivers C High winds D Hot summers

32. 17. In one study, scientists found that the number of raccoons increased where people built homes in the raccoons’ habitats. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY reason why the number of raccoons increased? A Raccoons no longer lived in wild areas. B Raccoons found more food living near humans. C More predators of raccoons live near people’s homes. D People destroyed raccoon habitats when they built homes.

33. 17. In one study, scientists found that the number of raccoons increased where people built homes in the raccoons’ habitats. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY reason why the number of raccoons increased? A Raccoons no longer lived in wild areas. B Raccoons found more food living near humans. C More predators of raccoons live near people’s homes. D People destroyed raccoon habitats when they built homes.

34. 18. If disease removed a species of plant from a food web, how would that ecosystem MOST LIKELY be affected? A All of the plants in the ecosystem would become extinct. B The organisms that eat the plant would become extinct. C Consumers of the plant would have a smaller food source. D Producers in the ecosystem would have a smaller energy supply.

35. 18. If disease removed a species of plant from a food web, how would that ecosystem MOST LIKELY be affected? A All of the plants in the ecosystem would become extinct. B The organisms that eat the plant would become extinct. C Consumers of the plant would have a smaller food source. D Producers in the ecosystem would have a smaller energy supply.

36. 19. A gardener watered each of these pots with equal amounts of water. Only one pot was given fertilizer that increases the number of flowers on each plant. Which plant was PROBABLY given the fertilizer? A W B X C Y D Z

37. 19. A gardener watered each of these pots with equal amounts of water. Only one pot was given fertilizer that increases the number of flowers on each plant. Which plant was PROBABLY given the fertilizer? A W B X C Y D Z

38. 20. What might happen if the habitat of white-tailed deer decreases in size? A White-tailed deer will have more food. B The number of white-tailed deer the habitat can support will decrease. C The number of white-tailed deer will increase. D Weaker white-tailed deer will survive longer.

39. 20. What might happen if the habitat of white-tailed deer decreases in size? A White-tailed deer will have more food. B The number of white-tailed deer the habitat can support will decrease. C The number of white-tailed deer will increase. D Weaker white-tailed deer will survive longer.

40. 21. A certain type of wildflower grew in a sunny meadow. Over several years, nearby trees formed a shade canopy over the entire meadow. Many years later, the wildflowers no longer grew in the meadow. Which factor directly led to the extinction of this population of wildflowers? A The building of large cities B Pollution from nearby homes C Overpopulation of plant-eating organisms D A change in the wildflower’s habitat

41. 21. A certain type of wildflower grew in a sunny meadow. Over several years, nearby trees formed a shade canopy over the entire meadow. Many years later, the wildflowers no longer grew in the meadow. Which factor directly led to the extinction of this population of wildflowers? A The building of large cities B Pollution from nearby homes C Overpopulation of plant-eating organisms D A change in the wildflower’s habitat

42. 22. Bison are grazing animals. They travel across a prairie, eating grass. If there were too many bison in an area, there would probably be— A fewer predators of bison B many other large grazing animals C tall shrubs and many trees D less grass and more bare soil

43. 22. Bison are grazing animals. They travel across a prairie, eating grass. If there were too many bison in an area, there would probablybe— A fewer predators of bison B many other large grazing animals C tall shrubs and many trees D less grass and more bare soil

44. 23. A woodland is cut down so a shopping center and many new houses can be built over the next two years. What will MOST LIKELY occur in the local ecosystem in the next five years? A Wildlife will compete less for food. B More species of birds will live there. C Water levels will be lower when it rains. D Rain will wash more pollution into creeks.

45. 23. A woodland is cut down so a shopping center and many new houses can be built over the next two years. What will MOST LIKELY occur in the local ecosystem in the next five years? A Wildlife will compete less for food. B More species of birds will live there. C Water levels will be lower when it rains. D Rain will wash more pollution into creeks.

46. 24. Highways allow people to travel between towns and cities. These highways also divide ecosystems into smaller pieces. Animals can become separated from lakes they use for breeding. For example, tiger salamanders travel long distances to breed at certain lakes. How could highway systems affect animals such as the tiger salamander? A Tiger salamander habitats may be exposed to less pollution. B Tiger salamanders may be cut off from important resources. C Tiger salamanders could improve their ability to remember roads. D Tiger salamander habitats within ecosystems could become larger.

47. 24. Highways allow people to travel between towns and cities. These highways also divide ecosystems into smaller pieces. Animals can become separated from lakes they use for breeding. For example, tiger salamanders travel long distances to breed at certain lakes. How could highway systems affect animals such as the tiger salamander? A Tiger salamander habitats may be exposed to less pollution. B Tiger salamanders may be cut off from important resources. C Tiger salamanders could improve their ability to remember roads. D Tiger salamander habitats within ecosystems could become larger.

48. 25. The Great Barrier Reef has a number of endangered species which live only in that ecosystem. What would MOST LIKELY happen if pollution killed most of the coral that made up the reef? A The endangered species might become extinct. B The animals on the reef would find a new habitat. C The population size of the endangered species would increase. D The endangered species would take the niche of the dead coral.

49. 25. The Great Barrier Reef has a number of endangered species which live only in that ecosystem. What would MOST LIKELY happen if pollution killed most of the coral that made up the reef? A The endangered species might become extinct. B The animals on the reef would find a new habitat. C The population size of the endangered species would increase. D The endangered species would take the niche of the dead coral.

50. 26. A species of giant pandas lives only in central China. Bamboo, a tall, green tropical plant, is the main food source for these animals. Large areas of bamboo are being cut down in central China to make room for growing other crops. What will MOST LIKELY happen to these giant pandas? A They will become endangered or extinct. B They will migrate to warmer areas of China. C They will become carnivores. D They will begin to live in caves.