Question

The table shows four organisms that live in the same environment and what they eat.

Plant or Animal What It Eats
owl (animal) small mammals, birds, and insects
ladybug (animal) leafy plants and grass
finch (animal) small seeds and insects
grass (plant) makes its own food

Select three statements that are correct about the energy passed between the organisms in the table.
A.
Energy is first passed from the grass to the ladybug.

B.
The finch provides energy to the ladybug and the owl.

C.
The Sun provides the starting point for all of the organisms.

D.
The ladybug is a source of energy for the finch and the grass.

E.
The owl receives more energy than the ladybug, finch, or grass.

F.
Some of the energy passed between the organisms things is lost as heat

Answer 1

Correct answers: A, C, F.

Brief reasons:
- A: True — grass is a producer and passes energy to herbivores like the ladybug (the grass → ladybug link exists).
- C: True — the Sun is the ultimate energy source for the producer (grass), so it’s the starting point.
- F: True — with each transfer between trophic levels some energy is lost as heat.

(B and D are false because the finch does not provide energy to the ladybug and the grass does not get energy from animals; E is false because top predators (owl) get less, not more, energy than lower levels.)