Question

section 4: soils and vegetation

1. what four things is soil made of?
2. what is a biome?
3. name two types of trees and what they are also called.
4. what are grasslands called in a tropical region and in the northern hemisphere?
5. what kinds of plants are best at surviving in the tundra?
6. how can human activities change the environment? give at least two examples from the reading.

Explanation:

1. These are the main components of soil. Minerals come from weathered rocks, organic matter from decomposed plants and animals, air fills pore spaces, and water is also present in pores.
2. Biomes are major ecological regions with specific environmental conditions and species adapted to them.
3. Deciduous trees lose their leaves seasonally, while coniferous trees typically keep their needle - like leaves year - round.
4. Savannas have a mix of grasses and scattered trees in the tropics, and prairies are large areas of grasses in the Northern Hemisphere.
5. Tundra has cold, harsh conditions, and these low - growing plants are adapted to it.
6. Deforestation removes trees which affects many aspects of the environment, and industrial pollution has wide - ranging negative impacts on ecosystems.

Answer:

1. Soil is made of minerals, organic matter, air, and water.
2. A biome is a large - scale ecosystem characterized by its distinct climate and characteristic plant and animal communities.
3. Deciduous trees are also called broad - leaf trees; coniferous trees are also called evergreen trees.
4. In a tropical region, grasslands are called savannas; in the Northern Hemisphere, they can be called prairies.
5. Mosses, lichens, and small shrubs are best at surviving in the tundra.
6. Deforestation can reduce habitats for wildlife and change local climates; industrial pollution can contaminate air, water, and soil.