BIOMES: OUR EARTH’S MAJOR LIFE ZONES

PRE-TEST W/ANSWERS
True or False
Directions: Label each statement with a “T” if it is true or “F” if it is false.
__F__1. The word “biome” is a name to define an area that has a major community of
plants and animals. Biome is geographical area w/similar climate and
plant/animal life.
__F__2. Climate has nothing to do with where plants and animals live.
___F_3. All the plants and animals that live in the ocean’s coastal waters biome also live
in the deep ocean biome.
__T__4. To survive the hot day time periods in the desert, some animals burrow in the
cool ground.

Short Answer
Answer the following in the spaces provided. Use the back of the sheet if necessary.
4. What type of trees annually lose their leaves? Deciduous
5. Name two fresh water environments. Pond, lakes, swamps, streams
6. What is the dominant plant life found in the tropical rain forest and the temperate rain
forest? Broadleaf plants/trees
7. What is the name of the biome which has a geographical area that receives little
rainfall and whose terrain is often dominated by rocks, sand, and overall poor soil? desert
8. Many of the grasslands today are used for what purpose? Agriculture (wheat,corn,etc)
9. What is another name for the temperate shrublands whose plants are able to survive the
destructive forces of fire? savannas
10. The frozen subsoil of the tundra biome often prevents the existence of what type of
plant life? trees

Multiple Choice
___A__ 1. An extremely cold, dry land biome is the:
a. tundra b. coniferous forest c. deciduous forest d. neritic zone
___B__ 2. The biome that receives the least amount of rainfall is the: a. savanna b. desert
c. rain forest d. temperate grassland
___A__ 3. In North Carolina we live in the:
a. temperate forest b. temperate grassland c. tundra d. desert
__C _ 4. The following organisms are found in which biome?
Barrel Cactus, Prickly Pear, Jack Rabbit, and Coyote
a. tundra b. savanna c. desert d. coniferous forest
__A_ 5. Which of the following statements about savannas is true:
a. They are characterized by a wet season followed by a dry season..
b. Their inhabitants include wolves, bears, foxes, and caribou.
c. They are characterized by steep mountains.
d. They do not receive enough rain to support trees.

__B___ 8. All of the following biomes can be found in the United States EXCEPT:
a. temperate grassland b. tundra c. desert d. temperate forest
BIOMES: OUR EARTH’S MAJOR LIFE ZONES
VOCABULARY WORKSHEET
Directions: Match the letter of the definition with its term by putting the letter in
the blank.

___E_ 1. decomposition A. any chemical that an organism must take from its
__G__ 2. agriculture environment in order to survive
__O__ 3. alpine B. animal that preys on another organism
__P__ 4. tundra C. referring to land or living on land
___L_ 5. algae D. geographical areas that share similar climate and plants
___D_ 6. biomes E. the process by which organisms decay
__H__ 7. deciduous F. taking place in or on water
__K__ 8. temperate G. large cultivation of the land
__J__ 9. grassland H. shedding its leaves annually
___N_ 10. conifers I. condensation of water vapor, such as rain or snow
__B__ 11. predator J. wide grass -covered biome with few trees
__C__ 12. terrestrial K. Used to describe biomes without extremes of heat or cold
__F__ 13. aquatic L. marine or fresh water plants with no true stems or leaves
___I_ 14. precipitation M. loss of water by evaporation through the plant’s pores
__Q__ 15. savanna N. of cone-bearing trees, such as pines and their relatives
___T_ 16. vents O. of high mountains
__M__ 17. transpiration P. a treeless geographic area where the subsoil is frozen
__A__ 18. nutrient Q. grassy flat land in hot regions with few trees
___S_ 19. ecosystem R. those aspects of the weather, such as temperature,
__U__ 20. desert rainfall, and light that influence the life of organisms
__R__ 21. climate S. all the organisms present in a particular area, together
with their physical environment
T. openings in the earth found at the ocean’s bottom
U. Hot and dry biome