Unit 3: Major Terrestrial Ecosystems of the World - Practice Quiz

1 Which feature is most characteristic of the tundra region?

2 Which type of vegetation is common in the tundra?

3 The tundra is mainly found near which part of Earth?

4 What is another common name for the taiga region?

5 Which trees are most common in the taiga?

6 Which climate best describes the taiga region?

7 What happens to many trees in a deciduous forest during winter?

8 Which climate is commonly associated with deciduous forests?

9 Which of the following is a deciduous tree?

10 What is the main type of vegetation in grasslands?

11 Why are there usually few trees in grasslands?

12 Which animal is commonly associated with tropical grasslands?

13 Where are tropical rainforests mainly located?

14 Which condition is typical of tropical rainforests?

15 Tropical rainforests usually have which type of plant life?

16 Which layer of a tropical rainforest receives the most direct sunlight?

17 What is the main characteristic of a desert climate?

18 Which plant is specially adapted to live in many deserts?

19 What is an oasis?

20 Which desert animal is known for storing fat in its hump?

21 A road-building project in the tundra repeatedly damages the ground surface, causing nearby soil to remain warmer and collapse. Which process best explains this result?

22 Why are trees generally absent from most tundra landscapes even during the short summer?

23 If average Arctic temperatures rise significantly, which initial ecological change is most likely in the tundra?

24 A taiga forest has long, cold winters and soils that are often acidic and nutrient-poor. Which vegetation is best adapted to these conditions?

25 Why can wildfires spread rapidly across some taiga regions despite their generally cold climate?

26 Large-scale removal of taiga forests is likely to increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere mainly because it

27 A deciduous tree sheds its leaves before winter primarily to

28 Which seasonal change most directly explains the high rate of nutrient cycling in many temperate deciduous forests?

29 If a deciduous forest is cleared and replaced with buildings, which local environmental effect is most likely?

30 Why can grasses remain productive in regions where frequent fires limit the growth of many trees?

31 A farmer repeatedly grazes livestock beyond the carrying capacity of a semi-arid grassland. Which outcome is most likely?

32 Compared with forests, grasslands are often more suitable for large-scale grain cultivation because they commonly have

33 Why can tropical rainforest soils become nutrient-poor after continuous deforestation and heavy rainfall?

34 The multilayered structure of a tropical rainforest allows many species to coexist mainly because it

35 Which land-use practice would best reduce soil degradation after clearing a small area of tropical rainforest?

36 Many desert plants have waxy surfaces and reduced leaves primarily because these features

37 A desert city experiences flash flooding after a short, intense storm. Which condition most contributes to this hazard?

38 Irrigation in an arid region increases crop production at first, but poor drainage later causes salts to accumulate near the surface. This process is called

39 Which adaptation would most likely help a desert animal survive large daily temperature changes?

40 A region receives moderate seasonal rainfall, but prolonged dry periods prevent dense forests from developing. Which ecosystem is most likely?

41 A tundra ecosystem experiences a sustained rise in summer temperatures, but precipitation remains nearly unchanged. Which change is most likely to occur first?

42 Why can tundra soils contain substantial organic carbon despite having low annual plant productivity?

43 A proposed road across continuous permafrost is raised on gravel embankments rather than laid directly on the ground. What is the primary ecological and engineering rationale?

44 Which combination best explains why coniferous forests dominate much of the taiga rather than broadleaf deciduous forests?

45 If a large taiga area experiences more frequent, severe wildfires, which immediate ecological consequence is most likely?

46 A taiga watershed is clear-cut on slopes underlain by seasonally frozen ground. Which downstream change is most probable during spring thaw?

47 Why is autumn leaf fall an adaptive advantage for many trees in temperate deciduous forests?

48 A mature deciduous forest is selectively thinned, creating several large canopy gaps. Which short-term change is most likely in the understory?

49 Compared with a similarly sized monoculture plantation, a species-rich deciduous forest is generally more resistant to a single pest outbreak because it has:

50 Why can moderate grazing maintain grassland biodiversity, whereas prolonged heavy grazing may cause desertification?

51 A grassland receives the same annual rainfall as before, but rainfall arrives in fewer, more intense storms. Which outcome is most likely?

52 The removal of periodic fire from a fire-adapted grassland is most likely to produce which sequence?

53 Why can tropical rainforest soils remain nutrient-poor despite high biological productivity?

54 A rainforest is cleared and replaced by annual crops on steep slopes. Which feedback most directly increases long-term soil degradation?

55 A road divides a continuous rainforest into small fragments. Which ecological effect is most likely near the new edges?

56 Two deserts receive similar annual precipitation, but one has brief intense storms while the other receives gentle seasonal rain. Which generally has greater flash-flood risk?

57 Why do many desert plants use CAM photosynthesis rather than relying only on conventional daytime gas exchange?

58 Irrigation in an arid basin raises the water table while evaporation remains high. Which process most threatens long-term agricultural productivity?

59 A desert crust formed by cyanobacteria is heavily disturbed by vehicles. Which consequence is most likely?

60 A mountain range lies across the path of prevailing moist winds. The leeward side becomes arid primarily because descending air there: