The Food Chain. In order to understand the food chain, there are some vocabulary words you should learn. Look at the words and definitions below.

Transcription

1 Non-friction: The Food Chain The Food Chain In order to understand the food chain, there are some vocabulary words you should learn. Look at the words and definitions below. Producer Plants or tiny animals that are eaten by other animals. For example: grass Consumer Animals that eat the producer. For example: mice Herbivore Animals that eat only plants, no meat. For example: mice Carnivore Animals that eat only meat. For example: cats Decomposer An organism that breaks down deceased animals into tiny pieces. For example: worms All food chains begin with a producer. A producer is usually a type of plant. That producer is then eaten by a consumer. There are usually two types of consumers, primary 1 and secondary 2. Herbivores are primary consumers. They eat plants. Carnivores, secondary consumers, eat primary consumers. For example: a mouse (a primary consumer) eats grass (a producer). A cat (a secondary consumer) eats mice. When an animal dies, decomposers break apart the animal, returning nutrients back into the environment. These nutrients then feed plants (the producers), which completes the cycle. 1 primary: first 2 secondary: second 1

2 Questions: The Food Chain Name: Date: 1. The author lists vocabulary words a. to give the reader more work. b. to help the reader understand the passage. c. to confuse the reader. d. from the most important word to the least important word. 2. What is the difference between the two types of consumers? a. Primary consumers eat other consumers. b. Secondary consumers eat producers. c. Producers eat both types of consumers. d. Secondary consumers eat other consumers. 3. is an example of a carnivore. a. A rabbit b. A goat c. A cat d. A mouse 4. is an example of an herbivore. a. A tiger b. A dog c. A guinea pig d. A frog 5. Which element of the chain is responsible for breaking down dead animals into tiny pieces? a. Carnivores b. Herbivores c. Ants d. Decomposers 2

3 Questions: The Food Chain 6. In a typical food chain, what would happen after a primary consumer eats a producer? 7. What is an effect of decomposers breaking down animals after they die? 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Nutrients from deceased animals feed plants (the producers), completes the cycle of nature. a. after b. which c. because d. despite 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. In the savanna, when lions become hungry, they hunt for primary consumers such as zebras in order to satiate their hunger. What? (do) What? hunt for primary consumers such as zebras Where? When (they become)? Why? 10. Vocabulary Word: environment: The physical and biological parts that constitute the world that we live in. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: 3

4 Answers: The Food Chain Passage Reading Level: Lexile 620 Teacher Guide and Answers Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: The author describes the components of a food chain. 1. The author lists vocabulary words a. to give the reader more work. b. to help the reader understand the passage. c. to confuse the reader. d. from the most important word to the least important word. 2. What is the difference between the two types of consumers? a. Primary consumers eat other consumers. b. Secondary consumers eat producers. c. Producers eat both types of consumers. d. Secondary consumers eat other consumers. 3. is an example of a carnivore. a. A rabbit b. A goat c. A cat d. A mouse 4. is an example of an herbivore. a. A tiger b. A dog c. A guinea pig d. A frog 5. Which element of the chain is responsible for breaking down dead animals into tiny pieces? a. Carnivores b. Herbivores c. Ants d. Decomposers 4

5 Answers: The Food Chain 6. In a typical food chain, what would happen after a primary consumer eats a producer? Suggested answer: After a primary consumer eats a producer, that primary consumer will be eaten by a secondary consumer. 7. What is an effect of decomposers breaking down animals after they die? Suggested answer: Decomposers break down animals after they die, and it has the effect of returning vital nutrients back into to the environment. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Nutrients from deceased animals feed plants (the producers), completes the cycle of nature. a. after b. which c. because d. despite 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. In the savanna, when lions become hungry, they hunt for primary consumers such as zebras in order to satiate their hunger. What? lions (do) What? hunt for primary consumers such as zebras Where? in the savanna When (they become)? hungry Why? in order to satiate their hunger 10. Vocabulary Word: environment: The physical and biological parts that constitute the world that we live in. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary. 5