Cambridge Science 7 for Queensland 2e
Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
Student name _______________
Chapter 3 Test 1
Multiple-choice questions
1. Identify what this definition describes: ‘the study of the relationship between
organisms and their environment’.
A biology
B ecology
C taxonomy
D geology
2. Recall what tropical rainforests, grasslands and deserts are all examples of.
A biome
B kingdom
C region
D community
3. Identify the role of decomposers.
A capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
B breaking down and recycling matter within an ecosystem
C photosynthesising and producing oxygen
D preventing harmful diseases
4. Recall what all food chains have at their base.
A consumer
B producer
C decomposer
D predator
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
5. Energy is ‘lost’ at each level in a food pyramid. If only 10% of energy is passed
on at each level, determine how many MJ of energy the fox would get from the
bird in this food pyramid.
A 100 MJ
B 10 MJ
C 1 MJ
D 1000 MJ
6. Identify the row that matches the terms to their definitions.
Habitat Community Population
A place where a total number of a different species of
specific organism specific species organisms living
lives together
B different species of place where a total number of a
organisms living specific organism specific species
together lives
C place where a different species of total number of a
specific organism organisms living specific species
lives together
D total number of a different species of place where a
specific species organisms living specific organism
together lives
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
Use this diagram of an ecosystem to answer questions 7–11.
7. Identify the producers in the ecosystem.
A frog, snail and mosquito
B water lily and pondweed
C snail and dragonfly
D duck and duck weed
8. Dragonflies feed on mosquitoes. Mosquitoes feed on nectar. Identify the term
that best describes a dragonfly.
A producer
B primary consumer
C secondary consumer
D tertiary consumer
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
9. Identify which organism is likely to be a detritivore in the ecosystem.
A frog
B snail
C fish
D duckling
10. Identify which of the following represents a food chain in the ecosystem.
A pond weed → snail → duck
B duck → dragonfly → frog
C frog → duck → dragonfly
D duck → snail → pond weed
11. Identify the term that could be used to describe the duck and the ducklings in
the ecosystem.
A habitat
B community
C population
D ecosystem
Use this diagram of a food web to answer questions 12–14.
12. Identify a primary consumer in the food web.
A ladybird
B bird
C cat
D shrub
13. Identify an apex predator in the food web.
A shrub
B bird
C grasshopper
D cat
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
14. Deduce what would happen to the number of ladybirds if the grasshoppers in
the food web suddenly died out. Assume that birds only consumed
grasshoppers and ladybirds.
A increase
B decrease
C stay the same
D die out
15. Orchids are plants that can grow on the branches and trunks of other trees in
tropical areas. They are able to carry out photosynthesis and obtain their own
nutrients. They don’t hurt the trees but they obtain water from them.
Identify the best description of the type of relationship between the orchid and
the tree.
A competition
B parasitism
C mutualism
D commensalism
16. Identify which of the following are abiotic factors of an ecosystem.
A oxygen, soil composition, water and temperature
B oxygen, microorganisms, water and temperature
C soil acidity, microorganisms, heat and water
D soil acidity, heat, moss and carbon dioxide
17. When an ecosystem displays a great deal of diversity, it is considered to be an
extremely healthy one. Consider which statement provides the best
explanation for this concept.
A It is important to be able to measure the biodiversity of ecosystems in order
to monitor the number of species found there.
B It is important to be able to measure the biodiversity of a habitat in order to
monitor the number of individuals found there.
C The introduction of a new species to an ecosystem always results in greater
biodiversity and improves the health of the habitat.
D The more biodiversity displayed in an ecosystem, the more likely it will be
able to recover from threats such as disease.
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
18. Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) are popular aquarium fish. The males
need to be separated into different tanks as they have been known to be
territorial and may kill the other. Even in proximity they display aggression.
Deduce the type of relationship these fish display when they fight for resources.
A mutualism
B interspecific competition
C intraspecific competition
D symbiosis
19. When planning field investigations, it is important to acknowledge First Nations
peoples of Country. Identify which of the following would not be recommended
when doing this.
A acknowledging cultural heritage sites
B collaborating with a local First Nations community
C assuming preconceived ideas will suffice in acknowledgement
D understanding that First Nations peoples may have information that will help
20. Giardia is an animal, a protozoan, that grow and reproduce in the small intestines
of a few animals such as humans. They cause a disease called giardiasis, where
people vomit, have diarrhoea and extreme abdominal pain. Some countries have
infection rates of 30% of the population with this disease. Identify which of these
Giardia would be considered.
A ectoparasite
B endoparasite
C host
D prey
/20 marks
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
Short-answer questions
1. Propose why scientists could argue that humans are solar powered.
(1 mark)
2. Contrast the teeth found in a carnivore with those of a herbivore.
(2 marks)
3. Recall two abiotic and two biotic factors found in a coral reef.
Abiotic: _____________________ and _________________________
Biotic: _____________________ and _________________________
(2 marks)
4. Define a symbiotic relationship. Provide a specific example to support your
definition.
(2 marks)
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
5. Construct a food web using the following information.
• grass
• worm (eats dead and decaying material)
• aphid (eats grass)
• spider (eats aphid)
• bird (eats aphid and spider)
• snake (eats bird)
(3 marks)
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
6. Using the terms below, identify the missing word(s) in the gaps in the
paragraph. Note: terms may be used more than once.
___________________ in an ecosystem is assisted by three classes of
organisms called ___________________, decomposers and
___________________. Dingoes and crows are types of
___________________ which start the process of recycling
___________________ and ___________________ animals. They do not use
energy to ___________________ their prey, instead, they use their
___________________ to find their food. ___________________ are a type of
___________________ that feed on dead or decaying organic matter. They
break down ___________________ into smaller pieces which are
___________________ and decayed further by other ___________________,
such as fungi and ___________________.
detritus detritivores dead bacteria
scavengers recycling excreted decomposer(s)
decay/decaying sense of smell kill
(5 marks)
/15 marks
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
Extended-response questions
7. Carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap photosynthesise but use the flies
they catch as nutrients, which other plants get from soil. Justify whether you
would classify this plant as a producer or consumer.
(2 marks)
8. When an old, tall tree in a forest falls, it makes room for other plants to grow in its
place. Discuss how a First Nations land management practice produces a
similar result.
(2 marks)
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
9. Define biodiversity and discuss the three different types of biodiversity.
Describe why biodiversity is important for the survival of an ecosystem.
(5 marks)
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Chapter 3 Interactions in ecosystems
10. Discuss the role of producers in ecosystems and two consequences of them
being reduced in abundance.
(6 marks)
/15 marks
Total /50 marks
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