Question
Read the following passage and answer the questions below.
To preserve the delicate balance in an ecosystem, many organisms play a crucial role. For example, insects and flowering plants are intricately united. On a smaller scale, lichens are organisms made of algae and fungi. Algae produce nutrients through photosynthesis, which are used by fungi, and the fungi supply algae with the water they need to survive. Lichens are hardy organisms that can live and reproduce attached to rocks, trees and soil. They can slowly break down rocks contributing in this way to the formation of the soil. Lichens grow in a variety of environments such as deserts, the Polar Regions and forests. They are food for big animals such as musk ox and caribou. If lichens ceased to exist, the negative impact on the environment of the world would be dramatic.10. What is the reasoning behind the last statement in the passage?
a.
11. Popular images of biodiversity often focus on large endangered animals, such as pandas and tigers. Why do you think it is equally important to consider the producer level of the food chain as endangered?
a.
To preserve the delicate balance in an ecosystem, many organisms play a crucial role. For example, insects and flowering plants are intricately united. On a smaller scale, lichens are organisms made of algae and fungi. Algae produce nutrients through photosynthesis, which are used by fungi, and the fungi supply algae with the water they need to survive. Lichens are hardy organisms that can live and reproduce attached to rocks, trees and soil. They can slowly break down rocks contributing in this way to the formation of the soil. Lichens grow in a variety of environments such as deserts, the Polar Regions and forests. They are food for big animals such as musk ox and caribou. If lichens ceased to exist, the negative impact on the environment of the world would be dramatic.10. What is the reasoning behind the last statement in the passage?
a.
11. Popular images of biodiversity often focus on large endangered animals, such as pandas and tigers. Why do you think it is equally important to consider the producer level of the food chain as endangered?
a.
Answers
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10. The reasoning behind the last statement in the passage is that lichens play a critical role in their ecosystem by breaking down rocks to contribute to soil formation, providing nutrients for fungi, and serving as food for larger animals such as musk ox and caribou. Their absence would disrupt these ecological functions and the balance of the ecosystem, leading to dramatic negative impacts on the environment and the species that rely on them.
11. It is equally important to consider the producer level of the food chain as endangered because producers, such as lichens and plants, form the foundation of the ecosystem. They are essential for energy production through photosynthesis, which supports all other life forms in the food chain. Without healthy producers, entire ecosystems can collapse, leading to the loss of biodiversity and the extinction of not only key species but also many organisms that rely on them for survival. Therefore, protecting these vital components is crucial for maintaining overall ecological balance.
11. It is equally important to consider the producer level of the food chain as endangered because producers, such as lichens and plants, form the foundation of the ecosystem. They are essential for energy production through photosynthesis, which supports all other life forms in the food chain. Without healthy producers, entire ecosystems can collapse, leading to the loss of biodiversity and the extinction of not only key species but also many organisms that rely on them for survival. Therefore, protecting these vital components is crucial for maintaining overall ecological balance.