5th Grade Science : Life Science
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for 5th Grade Science
All 5th Grade Science Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #41 : Life Science
Producers make their food. They use a process called photosynthesis to make their food. Photosynthesis uses which of the following ingredients
water, sunlight, carbon dioxide
water, air, sunlight
water, sunlight, soil
water, soil, air
water, sunlight, carbon dioxide
Plants (producers) are at the beginning of every food chain that involves the Sun. All energy comes from the Sun, and plants are the ones who make food with that energy through photosynthesis. Plants get their energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide, and water. Without water transporting nutrients to the plants, they would not grow and survive. Water also helps cool plants as they evaporate water through transpiration.
Example Question #42 : Life Science
Which statement best describes how energy is transformed during photosynthesis?
plants take in chemical energy and change it to thermal energy
plants take in light energy and change it to chemical energy in the form of food
plants take in chemical energy and change it to light energy
plants take in thermal energy and change it to light energy
plants take in light energy and change it to chemical energy in the form of food
Plants are called producers because they produce their food. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide with their leaves, water, and nutrients from the soil with their roots, and sunlight to create glucose. This energy-rich sugar gives plants what they need to grow and survive. Plants are the only organism that can use sunlight to make their food.
Example Question #43 : Life Science
Plants make up most of the Earth's biomass or organic material. What would happen to consumers if there were no more plants?
They would eventually adapt to only eating other consumers.
They would use photosynthesis to make their own food.
They would die because they would have no source of energy.
They would get their energy from other sources, like oxygen.
They would die because they would have no source of energy.
Plants (producers) indirectly provide energy to all members of the food chain. When something consumes a plant and is later eaten, that energy is passed down the line. Decomposers and herbivorous consumers are the only two members that directly receive energy from plants (producers). If plants were removed from the food chain, consumers would die because they would have no source of energy.
Example Question #44 : Life Science
Which statement about the flow of energy in an ecosystem is correct?
Energy flows from the Sun to decomposers. Producers get energy by eating decomposers.
Energy flows from the Sun to consumers. Producers get energy by eating consumers.
Energy flows from the Sun to producers. Consumers get energy by eating producers.
Energy flows from the Sun to decomposers. Consumers get energy by eating decomposers.
Energy flows from the Sun to producers. Consumers get energy by eating producers.
Plants (producers) indirectly provide energy to all members of the food chain. When something consumes a plant and is later eaten, that energy is passed down the line. Decomposers and herbivorous consumers are the only two members that directly receive energy from plants (producers). Energy flows from the Sun to producers. Consumers get energy by eating producers. The flow of energy starts with the Sun, flows to producers, and then to consumers. The decomposers break down the organisms that are no longer living and return that energy to the Earth.
Example Question #45 : Life Science
Plants and animals need energy to survive. Which of the following statements are correct?
Energy flows from producers to consumers.
Animals can make the energy they need.
Energy in animals is passed to plants.
Some food chains have only consumers.
Energy flows from producers to consumers.
Energy flows from producers to consumers. Plants (producers) indirectly provide energy to all members of the food chain. When something consumes a plant and is later eaten, that energy is passed down the line. Decomposers and herbivorous consumers are the only two members that directly receive energy from plants (producers). The food chain relies on each member to pass energy on to the next. If one link in the chain is broken, the food chain will collapse.
Example Question #42 : Life Science
How is energy transformed and transferred as it flows through the food chain? (A graphic of a food chain is provided below.)
The Sun provides energy for producers who transfer that energy when eaten, the trend continues through the chain.
Energy is not transferred or transformed as it flows through a food chain.
The Sun provides energy for consumers who transfer that energy when eaten, the trend continues through the chain.
The Sun provides energy for decomposers who transfer that energy when eaten, the trend continues through the chain.
The Sun provides energy for producers who transfer that energy when eaten, the trend continues through the chain.
The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transformed and transferred through the food chain in a very clear way, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."
Example Question #1 : Model The Movement Of Matter Among Environments
How does energy flow within an ecosystem? (A graphic of a food chain is provided below.)
Energy starts with consumers and is passed to others through family groups and friendships.
Energy is recycled in a food chain and flows between producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Energy is accumulated at the top of the chain, and the final consumer gets all of it.
Energy begins with plants and is passed to decomposers; from there, it moves to consumers and ends with the Sun and water.
Energy is recycled in a food chain and flows between producers, consumers, and decomposers.
The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through the food chain in an ecosystem, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."
Energy is recycled in a food chain and flows between producers, consumers, and decomposers. There is no accumulation of energy; a final consumer does not end up with all the energy; it is recycled and transferred through prey/predator relationships.
Example Question #2 : Model The Movement Of Matter Among Environments
Which list shows a possible order in which energy moves through an ecosystem if building a model?
Sun, producer, predator, consumer, and decomposer
Sun, producer, herbivore, carnivore, and decomposer
Herbivore, carnivore, Sun, producer, and decomposer
Producer, Sun, carnivore, herbivore, and decomposer
Sun, producer, herbivore, carnivore, and decomposer
The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through an ecosystem, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."
An example of a food chain is presented in the graphic below. It starts with the Sun providing the energy needed for the producer's photosynthesis. The plant is eaten by an herbivore, which is consumed by a carnivore (and there may be a few carnivores in the chain), and finally, the waste and remains for dead organisms are broken down by decomposers to be put back into the ecosystem.
Example Question #1 : Model The Movement Of Matter Among Environments
What is the original source of almost all the energy in most ecosystems?
Protein
Soil
Sunlight
Heat
Sunlight
The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through the food chain when all the necessary organisms are present, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the Sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants." Plants (producers) rely on sunlight to carry out photosynthesis. Though herbivores and carnivores do not get their energy directly from the Sun, they still rely on the plants (producers) who do and that energy is passed through the food chain.
Example Question #2 : Model The Movement Of Matter Among Environments
In the model below, why are all of the arrows pointing to the mushrooms?
The mushrooms are producers and break down consumers and producers. They receive energy from all parts of the food chain.
The mushrooms are carnivores and break down herbivores and omnivores. They receive energy from all parts of the food chain.
The mushrooms are consumers and break down decomposers and producers. They receive energy from all parts of the food chain.
The mushrooms are decomposers and break down consumers and producers. They receive energy from all parts of the food chain.
The mushrooms are decomposers and break down consumers and producers. They receive energy from all parts of the food chain.
Each arrow represents the direction energy is flowing. Energy moves to the mushrooms because they are decomposers, and they break down the remains of dead organisms. They distribute waste and nutrients back into the food chain through soil absorption.
All 5th Grade Science Resources
