Unit A Review
Completion requirements
Unit A Review
Review
On the next page, you will take a 35-question unit test. Are you confident you know the Unit A material well?
It's always a good idea to make sure you are prepared for a test by studying. You can do this by returning to the Table of Contents and reviewing any Unit A lessons you are not sure about.
Also, you can review unit A material by trying three review exercises.
- Create a mind map of the unit material. A mind map is a visual representation of how all the ideas and concepts of the unit connect with each other. Try building a mind map by clicking the first tab below.
- Do a puzzle! A puzzle can be a fun way to review unit concepts or terms. Try the puzzle we have prepared for you by clicking the second tab below.
- Practice answering some questions. We have prepared some questions that will really get you thinking about the unit material. Try the practice questions by clicking the third tab below.
Remember, these are just suggestions for review! In addition to doing these three review exercises, you might also:
- Contact your teacher for assistance if you are not sure about any concepts.
- Check the course glossary and read all the unit A terms.
- Make your own study cards and test yourself.
Whatever you choose to do, good luck with your unit review!
Create a Mind Map
A mind map is a visual representation of how all the ideas
and concepts of the unit connect with each other. There are several
ways you can create a mind map:
- You can create a mind map simply with just a pen and a sheet of paper.
- You might try to build one using a free drawing program such as gimp.
- You can use a web-based free mind map generator such as mindmup. Mindmup is pretty easy to figure out just by playing with it, but click here if you want to view a short tutorial.
Unit A Example Mind Map
Do a Puzzle!
A puzzle can be a fun way to review unit concepts or
terms. We have prepared a Unit A review puzzle for you:
- You can print out the puzzle and try doing it with a pen or pencil. Click here to download the puzzle.
- After you have done the puzzle, you probably should check your answers. Click here to download the puzzle with answers.
Try Some Practice Questions
The following 5 questions are meant to get you thinking
about the Unit A material. Answers are provided below each question, but
before you look at the answer, you should really try hard at answering
the question yourself. If you have to, review the Unit B lessons.
Question 1
2 marks
A coral reef is a diverse collection of species capable of interacting. Explain why a coral reef is an ecosystem.
2 marks
A coral reef is a diverse collection of species capable of interacting. Explain why a coral reef is an ecosystem.
2 marks total
A coral reef is a community of organisms that interact with each other and with non-living components of the environment such as water, sunlight, and the sea floor. These interactions between living and non-living components define it as an ecosystem.
A coral reef is a community of organisms that interact with each other and with non-living components of the environment such as water, sunlight, and the sea floor. These interactions between living and non-living components define it as an ecosystem.
Question 2
3 marks
Explain how water moves throughout an ecosystem.
3 marks
Explain how water moves throughout an ecosystem.
3 marks total (one for stating it cycles, one each for abiotic cycle and biotic cycle)
Unlike energy, water does not flow through an ecosystem. It cycles instead. It is reused over and over. Water has an abiotic cycle in which it evaporates into the air and then falls as rain, flowing into rivers and oceans. In addition, water cycles through living organisms. Every organism must drink or absorb water to live.
Unlike energy, water does not flow through an ecosystem. It cycles instead. It is reused over and over. Water has an abiotic cycle in which it evaporates into the air and then falls as rain, flowing into rivers and oceans. In addition, water cycles through living organisms. Every organism must drink or absorb water to live.
Question 3
7 marks
List the following species at risk categories in order from least serious to most serious:
Explain briefly the meaning of each category.
7 marks
List the following species at risk categories in order from least serious to most serious:
extirpated, threatened, of special concern, endangered, extinct, of least concern
Explain briefly the meaning of each category.
7 marks (one for correct order, one for each definition)
of least concern, of special concern, threatened, endangered, extirpated, extinct
of least concern, of special concern, threatened, endangered, extirpated, extinct
- A species of least concern is abundant or common and likely to survive in the wild.
- A species of special concern is one that ecologists think might face difficulties in the future.
- A threatened species is likely to become endangered in the future in most or all of its range.
- An endangered species is likely to become extirpated in the future in most or all its current range.
- An extirpated species has disappeared from its local range but still exists somewhere in the world.
- An extinct species no longer lives anywhere on Earth.
Question 4
3 marks
What is an ecological footprint?
3 marks
What is an ecological footprint?
3 marks
Ecological footprint takes into account all goods and services that one uses in one day. Then, the effect of obtaining, processing, transporting, purchasing, using, and disposing of these goods and services is calculated. One’s ecological footprint is the sum of all values of these effects.
Ecological footprint takes into account all goods and services that one uses in one day. Then, the effect of obtaining, processing, transporting, purchasing, using, and disposing of these goods and services is calculated. One’s ecological footprint is the sum of all values of these effects.
Question 5
2 marks
What is the meaning of a sustainable ecosystem?
2 marks
What is the meaning of a sustainable ecosystem?
2 marks
Sustainable ecosystems are those that have processes and systems that continue despite times of hardship. The key to keeping an ecosystem sustainable is to ensure that the stresses on it do not overwhelm its ability to continue to function.
Sustainable ecosystems are those that have processes and systems that continue despite times of hardship. The key to keeping an ecosystem sustainable is to ensure that the stresses on it do not overwhelm its ability to continue to function.