Question 1: Define the term 'ecosystem' and explain its main components.

Answer: An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their non-living environment in a specific area. Its main components include producers (plants), consumers (animals), decomposers (fungi and bacteria), and the physical environment (soil, water, climate).

Question 2: Describe the main differences between a forest ecosystem and a desert ecosystem.

Answer: A forest ecosystem has dense vegetation, high rainfall, and a wide variety of plants and animals, whereas a desert ecosystem has sparse vegetation, low rainfall, and fewer species adapted to dry conditions.

Question 3: Explain how temperature and rainfall influence the type of ecosystem that develops in an area.

Answer: Temperature and rainfall determine the climate of an area, which affects the types of plants and animals that can survive there. High rainfall and moderate temperatures support forests, while low rainfall and extreme temperatures lead to deserts or tundra.

Question 4: Identify and describe two ways humans can impact ecosystems.

Answer: Humans can impact ecosystems through deforestation, which destroys habitats, and pollution, which contaminates air, water, and soil, harming plants and animals.

Question 5: Imagine a grassland ecosystem. List three types of animals and three types of plants that might be found there.

Answer: Animals: zebras, lions, and rabbits. Plants: grasses, small shrubs, and wildflowers.

Question 6: Sketch a simple diagram of the water cycle, labeling four key processes involved.

Answer: A correct sketch should include the processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection (or runoff). The sketch should show water vapor rising, forming clouds, falling as rain, and collecting in bodies of water.

Question 7: Explain what a food chain is in an ecosystem, and give an example involving three organisms.

Answer: A food chain shows how energy is transferred from one organism to another. Example: grass (producer) is eaten by a rabbit (primary consumer), which is then eaten by a fox (secondary consumer).

Question 8: Draw a simple diagram of a tropical rainforest floor, showing the main layers and some organisms typical of each layer.

Answer: A correct diagram should depict the emergent layer, canopy, understory, and forest floor, with examples such as tall trees in the canopy, monkeys in the understory, and insects on the forest floor.

Question 9: Describe how climate change might affect a coral reef ecosystem.

Answer: Climate change can lead to rising sea temperatures, which cause coral bleaching. Increased carbon dioxide levels also result in ocean acidification, harming marine organisms and reducing biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems.