A rain forest is a thick jungle which gets an unusually large amount of rain.

Rain
forests cover about 6% of the earth's surface. They hold about one-half of the
world's plant and animal types. The four layers of a rain forest are the emergent
layer, canopy layer, understory layer and forest floor.
The emergent layer is made up of very tall trees up to 200 feet high. They are
usually evergreens. There is good sunlight there. The canopy layer forms a roof
over the 2 remaining layers. Animals like snakes, toucans, and tree frogs live in this
layer. Not much sun reaches the next layer, the understory layer. Plants then have
to grow larger leaves to try to reach the sun. Jaguars, leopards and many insects
live here. The final layer, the forest floor, has almost no plants. Many leaves decay
quickly there due to the darkness. Giant anteaters live in this layer.
Rainforests are found in five major areas of the world. Central America is famous
for its brightly colored birds. The Amazon jungle in South America is the world's
largest rainforest. It has the greatest variety of plants and animals of any other
place on earth. Central Africa contains the world's second largest rainforest. The
rainforests of Asia stretch from India in the west to the islands of Java and Borneo in
the Pacific Ocean in the east. Australia's rainforests are very dense and lush.
Fifty million tribal peoples live in the rainforests of the world. Much of their living
space is being destroyed by logging, mining, and slash and burn farmers. These
people are losing their food and shelter. Three of the larger tribes are the Pygmies,
the Huli, and the Yanomani. Pygmies live in Central Africa. The Huli live in Papua
New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. The Yanomani live in South America.
The plants that live in the rainforests provide shelter and food for the animals.
They also participate in gas exchanges, and provide much of the world's oxygen
supply. Plants compete for sunlight on the ground so some plants live on the
branches of other plants. Aerial plants can get food from the air itself using air roots.
Some interesting animals live in the rainforest. Spider monkeys are very large,
almost two feet tall. They like to hang upside down from a tree with four limbs and a
tail. They look like a spider and travel at a very high speed through the trees. These
monkeys have only four fingers and no thumb. Spider monkeys eat fruits and seeds
from high up in the canopy. Unfortunately, hunters are killing many of these
monkeys so they may become extinct.
Toucans are colorful birds with short and thick necks. The bright colors on their
bill help attract a mate. Their bills are sharp and can tear off pieces of big fruit. They
eat lizards and small birds and live in holes in trees. Toucans live in the canopy layer
in South and Central America. They are important because they help to scatter the
seed from the fruit they eat.
A poison-arrow frog is found in Central and South America too. Its poison is
very powerful and can cause paralysis or death. One of these frogs has enough
poison to kill one hundred people. Native hunters put the poison on the tips of their
arrows.
In summary, rain forests cover about one-sixth of the earth. They receive
abundant rainfall each year and the foliage is thick. The rain forests contain many of
the plant and animal species of the world. They have four layers. Each layer has its
own characteristics, plants, and animals.

1) Which of these is true?

A: There is no sunlight in the emergent layer of the rain forest.

B: The understory layer has almost no plants.

C: Very tall trees form the emergent layer.

D: The forest floor has a lot of sun.

2) Where can rain forests be found?

A: Europe and Asia

B: Central Africa and Australia

C: The Nile River

D: The Mississippi River basin

3) Which of these is not true?

A: Aerial plants get water from rainfall.

B: Plants in the rainforest provide oxygen.

C: Some plants live on the branches of other plants.

D: Many tribal peoples live in the world's rainforests.

4) Where do the Pygmies live?

A: North America

B: Central America

C: Asia

D: Australia

5) Which animal does not live in a rainforest?

A: Toucan

B: Wolf

C: Spider monkey

D: Poison-arrow monkey

6) Why are toucans important to the environment?

A: They scatter seeds from fruits and berries.

B: They are pets for people.

C: They are food for lions.

D: They eat dangerous insects

CBABBA
 Natural resources are the things that exist freely in nature human beings use
for survival. These things include the water, land, forests, animals, rocks, fossil
fuels, and minerals inside the Earth. Human beings did not create natural resources.
They have always been a part of the Earth before humans appeared.

Most of the natural resources are connected to each other in some way. For
example, water is a natural resource, and there was a limited supply, then other
resources such as animal and plants would be affected. Natural resources are
consumed directly or indirectly. For example, when animals eat plants they are
consuming a natural resource directly. However, the many trees of rain forest act as
climate control, flood control, and storm protection. The trees of a forest can also be
used as raw materials for making houses, furniture, paper, or other items.

Natural resources can be a solid, liquid, or gas. They can also be organic, coming
from living things, or inorganic, coming from a non-living source. They can also be
made out of metal or be non-metallic. All natural resources are also either
renewable or non-renewable.

Renewable resources are always available and can be easily replaced or

recovered. The examples of renewable resources include water, plants, animals, the
sun, wind, and a few others. Most renewable resources may be replaced in a short
period of time. For example, animals are renewable because they can reproduce
young offspring replacing adult animals in a short period of time. If it takes too
many years to replace a resource it is not considered to be renewable.

Organic renewable resources come from living things such as animals and
trees. Inorganic renewableresources come from non-living things such as the
water, sun, and wind.

Non-renewable resources cannot be easily replaced once they are destroyed.

Examples of these resources include fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, oil, and
natural gas. Non-renewable resources may take thousands or millions of years to be
replaced. Minerals, though form naturally, are also non-renewable because the rock
cycle used in replacing the minerals will take thousands of years. There are also
some animals that can be non-renewable if they are in danger of becoming extinct.

Non-renewable resources can also come from organic or inorganic sources.

Finally, there are metallic and non-metallic resources which are

inorganic. Metallic minerals are those containing metal, are hard, shiny, and can
be melted to form other products. Examples include copper, tin, and iron. Non-
metallic minerals are softer and do not shine, which can include clay and coal.
 Natural resources in the world are used for food and drink such as water, farm
products, medicines, packaging, and much more. They are used for transportation
including cars, trains, boats, airplanes, and others; as well as the fuel used to power
them. Another large use of the Earth's natural resources is for housing, buildings,
roads, and other construction. This use also includes the energy for the heating and
cooling of homes and businesses.

In summary, natural resources are things existing freely in nature, and include
renewable and non-renewable things. Some of the resources are organic, meaning
they come from living things, such as animals and plants. Other resources are
inorganic, coming from non-living things, such as wind, rocks, and fossil fuels.
Natural resources can also contain metal or be non-metallic such as coal and clay.
The uses for the Earth's natural resources are many, from the food a person eats to
the energy used to remain comfortable in a home.

00 : 00 : 39

1) Which of the following resource is inorganic and renewable?

A: Sun

B: Trees

C: Animals

D: Plants

2) Which of the following best describes natural gas?

A: Organic renewable

B: Inorganic renewable

C: Inorganic non-renewable

D: Organic non-renewable

3) All of the following are fossil fuels EXCEPT:

A: Coal

B: Petroleum
C: Oil

D: Wind

4) How long may it take for a non-renewable resource to be replaced?

A: They cannot be replaced.

B: Thousands of years or longer

C: A short period of time.

D: Fifty years

5) Which of the following best defines non-renewable resources?

A: Cannot be easily replaced once they are destroyed.

B: Always available and easily replaced.

C: Are only living things.

D: Are only non-living things.

6) Which of the following are uses for the Earth's natural resources?

A: Transportation

B: Food and drink

C: Homes and buildings

D: All of the above

ACDBAD

A tree is a wooden stick trying hard to reach the sky. It wants to reach the
sunlight which it needs for life. The stick is called a trunk. Raising itself tall also
keeps the leaves farther away from insects and animals. There are two main types
of trees: conifers and broad-leaved.

Broad-leaved trees are usually rounded. Conifers grow into a triangular shape.
To be called a tree the plant must be over twenty feet tall. It can have only one
trunk. Anything else is a shrub. A tree below twenty feet is called a sapling.
Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. They can grow to more than three
hundred-sixty feet in height.
 All the parts of a tree work together to make it grow. Leaves make food by using
sunlight and gases in the air. The roots take water and minerals from the soil. The
leaves need water, and the roots need food. The trunk carries water and sap up and
down the tree. Sap is the name for the tree's food. The water and sap channels are
just under the outer layer of bark. The bark protects them. As a tree grows, the bark
cracks open on the outside. New bark grows on the inside.

The leaves of broad-leaved trees are thin, flat, and often wide. In northern
climates, broad-leaved trees are usually deciduous. They lose their leaves in the
fall. The veins in a leaf carry food and water around the leaf. A leaf's shape can
identify the type of tree. Young leaves are especially tasty to deer and other
animals. Some trees have thorns to keep the eaters away.

Conifers are trees which produce cones. Some conifers have hard, spiky needles.
Leaf-eating animals cannot eat these spikes or needles. Others have bad-tasting
leathery leaves or scales. Each needle of a conifer stays on the tree for three to four
years. They save their energy by not having to make new needles each year.

Twigs stick out from trees and are the growing ends of the tree. Each twig has
some buds. These contain new shoots. The shoots open and become new twigs.
Sticky scales protect the buds from insects.

Some trees have beautiful blossoms. These attract bees or other insects. They
then carry pollen from male flowers to female flowers. Female flowers make seeds
from the pollen. These may grow into trees. On conifers the cones serve as
blossoms. Male cones produce pollen. This is blown to the female cones. Seeds
begin to grow. The cone scales harden and protect the seeds. Seeds fall from cones
to grow into new trees. They have light wing-type propellers on them to blow them
away from the parent tree. They could not get sunlight under the tree.

Some trees use their fruit as a means of spreading seeds. They may rely on the
animals who eat the fruit and then leave the seeds in their droppings. These may
contain seeds which will grow into new trees. Other trees have a tasty seed or nut.
Many of these are eaten by animals. The ones which are not may grow into trees.

In summary, a stick with leaves or needles on it is called a tree. The tree has to
continually stretch to the sky to find the life-giving sun it needs to grow. Its height
also keeps animals and insects away from the leaves. Conifers and broad-leaved are
the two main types of trees.

00 : 01 : 35
1) Which of the following are the two main types of trees?

A: Conifers and apple

B: Broad-leaved and pine

C: Conifers and Cone-bearing

D: Broad-leaved and Conifers

2) Which of the following heights must a tree reach to be officially called a tree?

A: Sixty feet

B: Twenty-five feet

C: Thirty-five feet

D: Twenty feet

3) Which of the following is the food of the tree called?

A: Sap

B: Bark

C: Pollen

D: None of the above

4) Which of the following best defines deciduous?

A: Feathery

B: Having cones

C: Losing leaves in the fall

D: Having blossoms

5) Which of the following statements is true?

A: Bees carry pollen from male to female flowers.

B: Male flowers produce seeds.

C: Bees carry pollen between the male and female cones.

D: All of the above

6) Which of the following tells how conifers save their energy?

A: They don't grow as tall as broad-leaved trees.

B: The cones last for three to four years.

C: They don't produce blossoms.

D: They have sharp spiky needles.

DDACAA

The oceans of the world are filled with thousands and thousands of different living
things. Scientists believe there may be a million different species living in the
oceans, some of which have yet to be discovered. And just like on land, there are
many different plants and animals.

Many of the ocean plants either float on the surface of the water, or grow in
shallow water. Plants in the ocean need sunlight to grow just like those on land. The
deepest parts of the ocean may not contain plant life because the energy from the
Sun cannot reach deep into the ocean.

An ocean plant called seaweed is a type of algaecalled

phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are very tiny, but it is the plant that gives off more
oxygen than any other plant on Earth. Seaweed is a type of algae that floats on the
surface of the water and has been used by people for food, and material for housing,
ropes, and baskets.

Kelp is an ocean plant that can reach sizes up to 250 feet. It the largest ocean
plant in the world and is usually brown. Kelp grows and lives on the surface of the
water, but some kelp can also be very colorful. Kelp is another kind of seaweed. It
grows very quickly and also needs the energy from the Sun to survive.

A final type of plant is called seagrass. Seagrassalso grows in shallow water

living on the floor of the ocean. In addition, they have roots and flowers. There are
many other plants in the ocean that are similar to algae and seaweed.

The ocean is the largest habitat for animals in the world. There is animal life
throughout the ocean. The oceans are so large, there may be animals that have yet
to be discovered. The animals of the ocean live in the deep open sea, or they live on
the land and in the water.

Coral is an animal of the ocean, even though many people believe it is a plant.
Coral relies on algae in the ocean to keep it alive. The coral also helps the algae to
survive. The algae attached to the coral gives coral its beautiful colors. Coral has
tentacles to capture small fish.

Finally, there are many different types of fish living in the world's oceans. Some
of the fish include: tuna, sharks, eels, stingrays, angelfish, clownfish, salmon,
sardines, cod, and many others.

In addition to fish species, there are mammals that live in the ocean including:
dolphins, whales, seals, sea lions, sea otters, manatee and several others.

Many other animals living in the ocean include the octopus, lobster, crabs, jelly
fish, squid, clams, sea dollars, and many more. Some animals live on land and in the
ocean, relying on the ocean for their food. These animals include sea turtles,
saltwater crocodile, marine iguana, and several others, including the polar bear.
Furthermore, there are many seabirds that rely on the ocean for survival including
penguins, pelicans, tern, albatross, puffins, gulls, and a few others.

In summary, the ocean is filled with a variety of plant and animal life, from tiny
plankton to the largest mammal in the world, the whale. Some people think coral is
a plant, but it is actually an animal which relies on the algae to keep it alive. The
ocean is a giant habitat where many of the living organisms rely on each other to
stay alive.

00 : 01 : 43

1) Which of the following gives off more oxygen than any other plant in the world?

A: Seaweed

B: Seagrass

C: Algae

D: Phytoplankton
2) Which of the following is algae that floats on the water and is used for food,
housing, ropes, and baskets?

A: Seaweed

B: Seagrass

C: Algae

D: Phytoplankton

3) Which of the following is the largest ocean plant in the world?

A: Algae

B: Seaweed

C: Kelp

D: Phytoplankton

4) Which of the following plant of the ocean has roots and flowers?

A: Seaweed

B: Seagrass

C: Algae

D: Phytoplankton

5) Which of the following do some people think as a plant but it is actually an

animal?

A: Algae

B: Coral

C: Kelp

D: Seaweed

6) Which of the following are dolphins and whales?

A: Mammals

B: Fish

C: Mammals and fish

D: Seabirds

DACBBA

Forest fires are wildfires which take place in a forest. They can be large because
of the huge amount of fuel in a forest. Other types of wildfires are grass, brush and
hill fires. Man causes much of the forest fires by not putting out campfires or leaving
burning cigarettes. Fires can have natural causes, like lightning, volcanic eruptions
and sparks from falling rocks. Humans can set a fire on purpose. This is
called arson.

In the United States, about eighty percent of forest fires are caused by man. Each
year between four and nine million acres of land are destroyed in the United States
by forest fires. Billions of dollars must be spent to try to extinguish these fires. Lives
are also lost. Although forest fires occur around the world, most occur in the western
part of the United States.

Several factors cause a wildfire to spread. Weather plays a big part in

determining how far and how fast a forest fire will spread. In periods of drought,
more forest fires occur because the grass and plants are dry. The wind also can be a
big factor in the spread of a forest fire. The outdoor temperature and amount of
humidity in the air also play a part in controlling a forest fire.

Fuel, oxygen and a heat source must be present for a fire to burn. The amount of
fuel determines how long and fast a forest fire can burn. Many large trees, bushes,
pine needles and grass abound in a forest for fuel. Flash fires occur in dried grass,
bushes and small branches. They can catch fire quickly and then ignite the much
heavier fuels in large trees. Green vegetation is not usually considered flammable,
but intense heat can dry these out quickly and provide fuel for the fire.

The topography, shape of the land, plays a role in the spread of a forest fire. A
forest fire races faster uphill. The slopes and sides of a mountain will burn quickly.
A crown fire is one which races across treetops. In California, winds called Santa
Ana spread fires very quickly.

Forest fires are very difficult to control. They can quickly become huge and can
move up to six miles per hour. They can jump over roads and rivers. They can
change direction due to wind changes. Sometimes a tornado can be formed when
winds around a forest fire begin a twirling motion.
 Firefighters used two main plans to control a forest fire. The first is called
a firebreak. This involves getting rid of any fuel that is in the path of a forest fire.
The firefighters will clear trees, bushes, and other fuel in a path ahead of the fire so
that it will have no more fuel and will stop. Controlled burning can help with a
firebreak. Firefighters purposely set fires to clear out any underbrush which would
feed the fire.

The second technique is called an airdrop. Firefighters can call upon airplanes
and helicopters to bring in special chemicals or water to the area. These will drop
thousands of gallons over areas of the land which may be hard for the firefighters to
reach.

Campers should be very careful to put out any campfire they have used before
leaving the area. They should also build the fire in a safe location and make a good
campfire pit to keep the fire isolated.

Forest fires which occur naturally can benefit nature. The dead or decaying
matter is burned, and nutrients are returned to the soil. The fires can remove
diseased plants from an area. They can burn out some of the thick trees and allow
sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor. This will allow new seedlings to grow.

00 : 00 : 23

1) In which of the following areas will a forest fire move the most swiftly?

A: Up a hill

B: Across a lake

C: Through a low grove of trees

D: Along a riverbank

2) Which of the following is a true statement?

A: Forest fires can usually be put out by water.

B: Firefighters sometimes start fires themselves.

C: Forest fires can sometimes benefit nature.

D: Forest fires cannot jump over roads.

3) In what area of the world do most forest fires occur?

A: Southern Asia

B: South America

C: Western United States

D: Eastern Europe

4) Which of the following is the name for a forest fire which jumps across treetops?

A: High level

B: Topper

C: Runner

D: Crown

5) Which of the following is a definition of the word topography?

A: Shape of the land

B: Making maps

C: Planning landscaping

D: Study of the land

6) Which of the following is not a factor in causing a forest fire to spread?

A: Wind

B: Humidity

C: Size of land

D: Temperature

ACCDAC

The weather is a common conversation for many people each day. The weather
can change day-to-day or even from hour-to-hour. On the other hand,
the climate in an area usually takes a long time to change. It is the average
temperature and conditions in a specific place over a long period of time, in years.
Climate does not change day-to-day or even month-to-month, but usually takes
hundreds, thousands, or millions of years to change.

The climate in one place on Earth is different than another place. For example,
the climate in a desert may be hot and dry, but in a rainforest, it is usually warm
and humid, and in some mountain areas and other places it will be cold all year
long. In the world today, the words climate change is often heard, and it usually
refers to the process of the Earth heating up, which is often called global warming.
Most people can agree on the weather, but sometimes climate change or global
warming leads to disagreement.

The Earth is about 4.5 billion years old, and during its life, the climate has
changed quite often and has experienced an Ice Age, warming, and everything in
between. All scientists agree that the climate changed often during the first 4.5
billion years. However, it is also a proven fact that the Earth's average temperature
has increased about 1.33°F over the past 100 years between the 1900s and 2000s.
Reviewing the past 200 years it has increased about 1.8°F. It may not sound like a
big change, but it will influence the Earth.

The Earth is covered like a greenhouse, which is used by some farmers, florists,
and others to grow plants, it is a 'glass-covered' building that absorbs the heat from
the Sun. Greenhouses are very hot. Of course, the Earth is not covered with glass,
but the greenhouse effect refers to the retention of the Sun's warmth in the
Earth's lower atmosphere by greenhouse gases.

The greenhouse gases include mostly carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide. These gases (instead of glass) act as a blanket for the Earth, helping to keep
the Earth warm enough to support life, an average of about 59°F. An increase in the
greenhouse gases causes the Earth to become warmer. Think of it as a heavier
blanket.

There may be some causes of climate change that cannot be prevented and have
very little to do with people, but there are things related to climate change, which
are most likely caused by human behaviors. Fossil fuels are natural fuels found in
and on the Earth, such as oil, coal, and natural gas. When they are burned, the
gases released into the atmosphere are added to the 'blanket' that is covering the
Earth.

Farming also contributes to the greenhouse effect. Methane gas is released into
the atmosphere when a cow releases its gas - or farts. There are over 1.5 billion
cows in the world releasing methane gas daily, further adding to the 'blanket'
covering the Earth.
 One of the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, is absorbed by the trees and
forests throughout the world, and then released as oxygen.
Unfortunately, deforestation, the cutting down of trees and forests to make way
for farms, roads, oil mines, and dams further leads to the greenhouse effect and a
thicker 'blanket'.

A warmer climate can affect the planet negatively. It could lead to heavier
precipitation, unusual season changes, heat waves, etc. Polar animals' natural
habitats are melting because of warmer temperatures, affecting polar bears, and
seals. Orangutans in the rainforests are losing their homes, and sea turtles are
losing nesting beaches because of rising sea levels. Farming in developing countries
face increased rain, floods, and droughts; plus, certain kinds of food items may
become scarce, unavailable, or more expensive for people to purchase.

In summary, there has been climate change before humans began living on
Earth, but the average temperature has increased over the past 200 years. Many
scientists believe it is a result of human behavior, and changing some of those
behaviors will have a positive effect on climate change and global warming.

00 : 00 : 27

1) Which of the following best explains the difference between climate and weather
as it relates to the temperature, precipitation, etc. in an area of the world?

A: Climate is daily change and weather is change over a long-time period

B: Climate and weather is basically the same

C: Climate cannot be measured daily but weather can

D: Climate does not change day-to-day, weather can change day-to-day

2) Which of the following does climate change usually refer to?

A: The process of the Earth getting colder

B: The process of the Earth getting warmer

C: The process of the changing climate of the Earth, whether cooler or warmer

D: None of the above

3) Approximately, how much warmer has the Earth become over the past 200
years?

A: Plus 1.8°F

B: Plus 1.3°F

C: Plus 4.5°F

D: Plus 1.5°F

4) Which of the following refers to the retention of the Sun's warmth in the Earth's
lower atmosphere by greenhouse gases?

A: Deforestation

B: Global warming

C: Greenhouse effect

D: Methane release

5) Which of the following is released into the air when a cow farts?

A: Oxygen

B: Carbon

C: Methane gas

D: Nitrogen

6) Which of the following may be an effect of global warming and climate change?

A: Heavier precipitation

B: Unusual seasonal changes

C: Heat waves

D: All the above

DBACCD