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Secondary 3 Biology Ecology Quiz
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Questions
Secondary 3 Biology Quiz - Ecology
Name: __________________________
Class: __________________________
Date: __________________________
Score: _______ / 40
Duration: 45 minutes
Total Marks: 40
Instructions:
- Answer all questions.
- Write your answers in the spaces provided.
- The number of marks for each question or part question is given in brackets [ ].
- Diagrams are not drawn to scale unless stated.
Section A: Multiple Choice (Questions 1–5)
Choose the correct answer and write the letter in the box provided.
1. Which of the following correctly describes the flow of energy in an ecosystem?
A) Energy flows from decomposers to producers.
B) Energy flows from consumers to producers.
C) Energy flows from the sun to producers, then to consumers.
D) Energy is recycled between producers and consumers.
Answer: [ ] [1]
2. In a food chain, why is the biomass of the secondary consumers usually less than the biomass of the primary consumers?
A) Secondary consumers are larger in size.
B) Energy is lost as heat during respiration at each trophic level.
C) Primary consumers reproduce faster than secondary consumers.
D) Secondary consumers eat only plants.
Answer: [ ] [1]
3. Which process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?
A) Respiration
B) Combustion
C) Photosynthesis
D) Decomposition
Answer: [ ] [1]
4. A farmer uses a pesticide to kill aphids on his crops. The pesticide accumulates in the bodies of the organisms. Which organism in the following food chain would have the highest concentration of the pesticide?
Crop → Aphid → Ladybird → Spider
A) Crop
B) Aphid
C) Ladybird
D) Spider
Answer: [ ] [1]
5. Which of the following is a biotic factor in an ecosystem?
A) Soil pH
B) Temperature
C) Competition for food
D) Rainfall
Answer: [ ] [1]
Section B: Structured Questions (Questions 6–15)
6. Fig. 6.1 shows a simple food web in a forest ecosystem.
(Imagine a diagram: Grass → Rabbit → Fox; Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk; Dead leaves → Earthworm → Bird)
(a) Identify one producer in the food web.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) State the trophic level of the snake.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(c) Explain why there are no arrows pointing from the Fox to the Grass.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
7. Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient.
(a) State approximately what percentage of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) Give two reasons why energy is lost between trophic levels.
-
- _______________________________________________________________________ [2]
8. Decomposers play a vital role in the carbon cycle.
(a) Name two groups of organisms that act as decomposers.
-
- _______________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) Explain how decomposers release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
_________________________________________________________________________ [2]
9. Fig. 9.1 shows the population growth curve of bacteria in a closed culture.
(Imagine a graph with Lag phase, Log phase, Stationary phase, and Death phase)
(a) Name the phase where the population size remains constant.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) Suggest two factors that cause the population to enter the death phase.
-
- _______________________________________________________________________ [2]
10. Global warming is linked to increased levels of greenhouse gases.
(a) Name one greenhouse gas other than carbon dioxide.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) Describe one human activity that increases the amount of this gas in the atmosphere.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
11. A student investigated the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis using pondweed.
(a) Name the gas produced by the pondweed during photosynthesis.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) If the light intensity is increased beyond a certain point, the rate of photosynthesis stops increasing. Name the factor that is likely limiting the rate at this point.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
12. Deforestation has significant effects on the environment.
(a) Explain how deforestation contributes to soil erosion.
_________________________________________________________________________ [2]
(b) State one effect of deforestation on the biodiversity of the area.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
13. In a pyramid of numbers for a parasitic food chain (Oak tree → Aphids → Parasitic wasps), the shape is inverted.
(a) Explain why the base of this pyramid (Oak tree) is narrow.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) Explain why the second level (Aphids) is wider than the base.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
14. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth.
(a) Name the process by which nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is converted into nitrates in the soil by bacteria.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) Why can plants not use atmospheric nitrogen directly?
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
15. Conservation efforts are important for maintaining ecosystems.
(a) Define the term conservation.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
(b) Give one reason why it is important to conserve rare plant species.
_________________________________________________________________________ [1]
Section C: Free Response Questions (Questions 16–20)
16. Describe the role of producers in an ecosystem.
_________________________________________________________________________ [2]
17. Explain the difference between a food chain and a food web.
_________________________________________________________________________ [2]
18. Describe how the carbon cycle maintains the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Include the roles of photosynthesis, respiration, and combustion in your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________ [3]
19. A lake became polluted with sewage containing organic waste. Explain why this led to the death of fish in the lake.
_________________________________________________________________________ [3]
20. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using biological control instead of pesticides to control pest populations.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
_________________________________________________________________________ [4]
*** End of Quiz ***
Answers
Secondary 3 Biology Quiz - Ecology (Answer Key)
Total Marks: 40
Section A: Multiple Choice
1. C
Explanation: Energy originates from the sun, is captured by producers via photosynthesis, and flows to consumers. Energy is not recycled; it flows linearly and is lost as heat.
2. B
Explanation: At each trophic level, a significant amount of energy is lost as heat through respiration, movement, and excretion. Only about 10% is passed to the next level, resulting in lower biomass at higher levels.
3. C
Explanation: Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose and oxygen, thereby removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Respiration, combustion, and decomposition release CO2.
4. D
Explanation: This is biomagnification. Toxins that are not easily excreted accumulate in higher concentrations as they move up the food chain. The spider (tertiary/quaternary consumer) has the highest concentration.
5. C
Explanation: Biotic factors are living components or interactions between living organisms (e.g., competition, predation). Soil pH, temperature, and rainfall are abiotic (non-living) factors.
Section B: Structured Questions
6.
(a) Grass [1]
(b) Secondary Consumer [1]
(c) Foxes are consumers and do not produce food for grass; energy flows from producers to consumers, not vice versa. / Foxes do not photosynthesize. [1]
7.
(a) 10% [1]
(b) Any two of: [2]
- Energy lost as heat during respiration.
- Energy used for movement/metabolic processes.
- Parts of the organism are not eaten (e.g., bones, roots).
- Parts of the organism are not digested/absorbed (excreted as faeces).
8.
(a) Bacteria and Fungi [1]
(b) Decomposers secrete enzymes to break down dead organic matter [1]. They respire aerobically/anaerobically during this process, releasing carbon dioxide as a waste product [1].
9.
(a) Stationary phase [1]
(b) Any two of: [2]
- Accumulation of toxic waste products.
- Depletion of nutrients/food.
- Lack of space.
- Change in pH.
10.
(a) Methane / Nitrous oxide / Water vapour / CFCs [1]
(b) Example for Methane: Cattle farming / Rice paddies / Landfills.
Example for CFCs: Use of aerosols/refrigerants (historical).
Example for Nitrous oxide: Use of fertilizers. [1]
11.
(a) Oxygen [1]
(b) Carbon dioxide concentration / Temperature [1]
12.
(a) Tree roots hold the soil together [1]. Without trees, rain washes the topsoil away more easily / wind blows soil away [1].
(b) Loss of habitat leads to a decrease in the number of species / extinction of species [1].
13.
(a) The oak tree is a single large organism (producer) supporting many consumers [1].
(b) Many aphids can feed on a single tree, so the number of individuals is higher than the number of trees [1].
14.
(a) Nitrogen fixation [1]
(b) Nitrogen gas (N2) has a strong triple bond that is inert/unreactive [1]. Plants can only absorb nitrogen in the form of nitrates or ammonium ions.
15.
(a) The protection and management of natural resources and ecosystems to prevent destruction or depletion [1].
(b) To maintain biodiversity / Potential medical uses / Ethical reasons / Maintaining ecosystem stability [1].
Section C: Free Response Questions
16.
- Producers (plants/algae) convert light energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis [1].
- They provide the initial source of food/energy for all other organisms (consumers) in the ecosystem [1].
17.
- A food chain shows a single, linear pathway of energy flow from one organism to another [1].
- A food web shows multiple interconnected food chains, illustrating that most organisms eat and are eaten by more than one species [1].
18.
- Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere as plants use it to make glucose [1].
- Respiration by plants, animals, and decomposers releases CO2 back into the atmosphere [1].
- Combustion of fossil fuels and biomass releases stored carbon as CO2 [1].
- These processes balance each other to maintain relatively constant atmospheric CO2 levels (though human activity is currently disrupting this).
19.
- Sewage contains organic matter which is broken down by aerobic bacteria/decomposers [1].
- These bacteria respire aerobically, using up large amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water [1].
- The decrease in dissolved oxygen leads to suffocation/death of fish and other aquatic organisms [1].
20.
Advantages:
- Specific to the pest, so does not harm other beneficial organisms/non-target species [1].
- Does not leave harmful chemical residues in the environment/food chain [1].
- Pests do not develop resistance as easily as they do to pesticides.
Disadvantages:
- Slower acting than chemical pesticides; may not control a sudden outbreak quickly [1].
- The biological control agent may become a pest itself if it has no natural predators in the new environment [1].
- May not completely eradicate the pest, only reduce population to manageable levels.
(Award marks for any valid points up to the maximum of 4)