Instructions
Read the questions in each section carefully and write your answers in the spaces provided. Use the word banks when available.
Part 1: Match the Biome
Match the description on the left with the correct biome from the word bank on the right. Write the name of the biome in the blank space.
| 1. Extremely cold and vast treeless region with a layer of permanently frozen soil called permafrost. _________________________ |
Word Bank:
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| 2. This biome experiences four distinct seasons. The trees here lose their leaves in the fall. _________________________ | |
| 3. An extremely dry biome that receives very little rainfall. Plants and animals here are adapted to conserve water. _________________________ | |
| 4. Located near the equator, this biome is hot and humid all year and is home to the highest biodiversity on Earth. _________________________ | |
| 5. Characterized by vast open areas of grasses and very few trees. It is home to large grazing mammals. _________________________ | |
| 6. A forest of coniferous trees (cone-bearing) with long, cold winters and short, mild summers. _________________________ |
Part 2: What Biome Am I?
Read each description below and identify the correct biome.
1. I am known for my "big five" animals in Africa: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. My landscape is dominated by grasses, and I have a warm climate with a distinct rainy season and dry season. My fertile soil is often used for farming and ranching.
Biome: ___________________________________2. I am found in the far northern regions of the globe. The ground here is frozen for most of the year, which means very few trees can grow. You might find polar bears, arctic foxes, and caribou roaming here. In the summer, the top layer of soil thaws, creating marshy pools.
Biome: ___________________________________3. My trees, like pine, spruce, and fir, have needles instead of broad leaves. This adaptation helps them conserve water and survive my long, snowy winters. Moose, lynx, and bears are common animals found in my forests, which are the largest land biome on Earth.
Biome: ___________________________________4. I am defined by my lack of precipitation, not by my temperature; I can be hot or cold. Many of my animals are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night to avoid the heat of the day. Plants like cacti have thick, waxy skin to prevent water loss.
Biome: ___________________________________Part 3: Think About It
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Many trees in the Temperate Deciduous Forest are "deciduous," meaning they lose their leaves in the winter. Why is this a useful adaptation for survival?
2. The Tropical Rainforest has the highest biodiversity of all biomes. What two climate factors are the main reasons for this great variety of life?
Answer Key
Part 1: Match the Biome
- Tundra
- Temperate Deciduous Forest
- Desert
- Tropical Rainforest
- Grassland
- Taiga (Boreal Forest)
Part 2: What Biome Am I?
- Biome: Grassland (or Savanna)
- Biome: Tundra
- Biome: Taiga (Boreal Forest)
- Biome: Desert
Part 3: Think About It
(Note: Student answers may vary slightly but should contain the key ideas below.)
- Losing leaves helps the trees conserve water and energy during the cold, dark winter when there is less sunlight for photosynthesis. The bare branches also are less likely to break under the weight of snow and ice.
- The two main climate factors are high, consistent temperatures and high amounts of rainfall throughout the year. These stable, warm, and wet conditions provide abundant resources (food, water, shelter) to support a vast number of different species.