Section A-Multiple Choice (10 Marks) 1 A B C D 2 A B C D 3 A B C D 4 A B C D

Pearson Science New South Wales 9
Chapter 8 Test
Name: _______________________ Class: __________ Date: _______
Instructions: Write answers in the right-hand column. Score: ___________ / 49 marks
Section A—Multiple choice (10 marks)
1 Where organisms live together and both benefit from the relationship, the
interaction is classified as
A mutualism.
1
B commensalism.
C competition.
D parasitism.
2 Producers are vital in ecosystems because
A they can make the food materials they need.
B animals can consume them. 1
C they can use sunlight to use up carbon dioxide .
D they are the only organisms that can make food materials.
3 Which reaction introduces chemical energy into most ecosystems and therefore
supports almost all life on Earth?
A sunlight
1
B photosynthesis
C breathing
D decomposition
4 Some materials can be harmful to organisms in a food web. Which of the
following explains why DDT is particularly dangerous in food webs?
A DDT kills insects when it is sprayed on them.
1
B DDT accumulates and concentrates while passing along a food chain.
C DDT becomes more poisonous when it passes through a living thing.
D DDT is a toxic chemical, and any toxic chemical is dangerous to use.
Copyright © Pearson Australia 2014 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 6566 1
Page 1
Chapter 8 Test
5 Look at the food chain shown here.

clover  caterpillar  lizard  kookaburra
Using the information in the food chain, determine which statement is NOT a
correct inference.
1
A There would be more caterpillars than lizards.
B The clover is the producer.
C The kookaburra is dependent on the clover.
D There would be a greater mass of kookaburras than lizards.
6 When green plants capture light energy, they make glucose. Most of this glucose
is then used in
A respiration.
1
B making new cells.
C growing.
D photosynthesis.
7 From the following lists, choose the one that only contains physical (abiotic)
factors.
A rainfall, sunlight, competition, soil nutrients
1
B temperature, wind speed, predation, humidity
C soil moisture, sunlight, air temperature, soil texture
D pollination, parasitism, humidity, soil humus content
8 Which of the following changes would lead to a decrease in population size of
frogs in a swamp?
A increased birth rate
1
B decreased death rate
C decreased immigration
D decreased emigration
9 The chemical reactions of photosynthesis involve
A oxygen and water combining to form sugar and carbon dioxide.
B carbon dioxide and water combining to form sugar and oxygen. 1
C oxygen and carbon dioxide combining to form sugar and water.
D carbon dioxide and sugar combining to form oxygen and water.
Page 2
Chapter 8 Test
1 A community consists of
0 A the organisms in an ecosystem and their physical surroundings.
B the habitat and environment of all the different populations in an
1
ecosystem.
C all the organisms in an ecosystem.
D the habitat and abiotic factors in an environment.
Section B—Short answer (30 marks)
1 National parks, such as the Wollemi National Park,

and other protected areas are commonly used in
New South Wales to protect ecosystems from human
3
damage. Explain at least two different ways in
which these parks and protected areas protect the
ecosystems from damage by human activities.
2 a Define biodiversity.
b Specify one reason why biodiversity is 2
important in a sustainable natural ecosystem.
3 Demonstrate how frogs would be affected by both
the biotic and abiotic environments. 2
4 Consider the food chain shown below.

leaves  caterpillar  honeyeater  brown hawk
The total energy in the leaves is much greater than 3
the energy received by the hawk. Describe the main
reason why energy in the cells of the leaves may not
reach the hawks.
5 Describe four major ways in which humans damage
ecosystems. 4
6 Compare how matter and energy flow through an

ecosystem. 2
7 Clarify two reasons why natural ecosystems should

be protected. 4
Page 3
Chapter 8 Test
8 The following diagram shows oxygen changes in a

lake over a day.
Propose why the amount of oxygen changes in the

lake over the day, mentioning both photosynthesis
and respiration in your answer.
9 Aboriginal people in many areas of Australia have
long used a cultural practice called ‘firestick
farming’. This involves regularly burning the bush in
small areas of low intensity (‘cool’) fires.
Research on this method has shown that it can:
1 increase plant diversity 4
2 increase productivity of the ecosystem –
increase the biomass (amount of living
matter).
Explain how this increases the sustainability of such
areas as a human habitat.
1 Explain why decomposers are vitally important in a
0 sustainable ecosystem.
3
Page 4
Chapter 8 Test
Section C—Thinking scientifically (9 marks)
1 A soil sample was analysed and four species of animal were found. The
approximate numbers of each animal in the soil sample are shown below.
species W: 2 000 000
species X: 2
species Y: 2000
species Z: 20 000 1
Deduce which species is likely to be the highest-order consumer.
A W
B X
C Y
D Z
2 Consider the food chain shown below.
wheat  mouse  snake  kookaburra
If the wheat eaten by the mouse contains 1000 units of energy, calculate
approximately how many units of energy the kookaburra will receive.
1
A 1
B 10
C 100
D 1000
3 One strategy used to protect the Wollemi Pine has been to propagate large
numbers of the trees and release these for sale to plant nurseries throughout
Australia. The most likely reason for the success of this strategy is that
A it stops people wanting to go and see the Pines in the National Park.
1
B it creates a great deal of interest in the Wollemi Pine overseas.
C it removes people’s desire to take seeds and cuttings from the wild
population.
D it ensures that miners will not want to mine in the area.
Page 5
Chapter 8 Test
4 A large bushfire could increase cycling of nitrogen in Australian forests. This

would most likely occur because the fire will
A heat all the nitrogen in the air and break it down.
B kill all the plants and destroy all the seeds in the soil that recycle
1
nitrogen.
C kill all the bacteria that recycle nitrogen in animal droppings.
D increase the proportion of legumes in the forest by increasing the
germination of their seeds.
5 The following table compares the physical factors in a rainforest with those in a
beach sand dune environment.
Physical factor Rainforest Beach sand dunes
Soil movement Soil fairly stable – plants do Soil moves around rapidly,
not become buried burying plants
Salt content Low salt content in soil High salt content in soil
Soil water Lots of moisture Very little moisture
Soil fertility Moderate to low in nutrients Low in nutrients
Wind Low wind speed Strong winds 1
Identify which type of plant would grow best in a beach environment.

A a fern that requires a lot of moisture and dries out easily in the wind
B a plant with very fast-growing underground stems that can tolerate drying
out and being buried
C a fast-growing tree that requires moderate soil moisture, can tolerate salt
but does not survive being battered by wind-blown particles
D a climbing vine that grows in the shade and needs very high humidity in
the air
6 In the table below are some strategies that help solve some environmental
problems. Identify which strategy is correctly matched to the problem it solves.
Answer Strategy Environmental problem solved
A Organic farming Introduced species 1
B National parks and reserves Habitat destruction
C Fishing and hunting controls Chemical pesticides
D Biological control Overcropping
7 Two species of water animal were placed in a tank and the numbers of each were 1
recorded over two weeks. The population sizes are shown in the graph below.
Page 6
Chapter 8 Test
Propose which of the following seems a reasonable deduction.

A Species 1 ate species 2.
B Species 2 ate species 1.
C Both species 1 and 2 were eaten by a predator.
D Species 1 and 2 were in competition.
Page 7
Chapter 8 Test
8 The graph below shows the changes in population size of two different
organisms that live in water.
Propose which of the following seems a reasonable deduction.

A Species X ate species Y.
B Species Y ate species X.
C Both species X and Y were eaten by a predator.
D Species X and Y were in competition.
Page 8
Chapter 8 Test
9 Consider the following food web.
If a disease killed most of the leaf-blister caterpillar population, choose which of

the following would be the most likely effect on the food web.
A The number of bees would increase.
B The biomass of eucalypts would decrease.
C Wasp numbers would decline.
D More leaf miners would survive.
Page 9

Section A-Multiple Choice (10 Marks) 1 A B C D 2 A B C D 3 A B C D 4 A B C D

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Section A-Multiple Choice (10 Marks) 1 A B C D 2 A B C D 3 A B C D 4 A B C D

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Pearson Science New South Wales 9

Name: _______________ Class: Date: _

Instructions: Write answers in the right-hand column. Score: ___________ / 49 marks

Section A—Multiple choice (10 marks)

5 Look at the food chain shown here.

Section B—Short answer (30 marks)

1 National parks, such as the Wollemi National Park,

4 Consider the food chain shown below.

6 Compare how matter and energy flow through an

7 Clarify two reasons why natural ecosystems should

8 The following diagram shows oxygen changes in a

Propose why the amount of oxygen changes in the

Section C—Thinking scientifically (9 marks)

4 A large bushfire could increase cycling of nitrogen in Australian forests. This

Identify which type of plant would grow best in a beach environment.

Propose which of the following seems a reasonable deduction.

Propose which of the following seems a reasonable deduction.

9 Consider the following food web.

If a disease killed most of the leaf-blister caterpillar population, choose which of

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