3.1.2 Section B: The living world

Question 1

Abiotic

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 1

Relating to non-living parts of an ecosystem.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 2

Consumer

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 2

An animal that eats animals and/or plant matter.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 3

Decomposer

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 3

An organism such as a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue, which is then recycled to the environment.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 4

Ecosystem

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 4

A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 5

Food chain

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 5

The connections between different organisms (plants and animals) that rely on one another as their source of food.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 6

Food web

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 6

A complex interconnection of all the food chains in an ecosystem.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 7

Nutrient cycling

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 7

A set of processes whereby organisms extract minerals necessary for growth from soil or water, before passing them on through the food chain - and ultimately back to the soil and water.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 8

Global ecosystem

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 8

A very large ecological area on the earth’s surface, with fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their environment. Examples include tropical rainforest and hot desert.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 9

Producer

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Answer 9

An organism that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis.

3.1.2.1 Ecosystems

Question 10

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 10

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 11

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 11

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 12

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 12

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 13

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 13

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 14

Appropriate technology (or Intermediate technology)

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 14

Technology that is suited to the needs, skills, resources, knowledge and wealth of local people in the environment in which they live.

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 15

Biodiversity

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 15

The variety of life in the world or a particular habitat.

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 16

Desertification

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 16

The process by which land becomes drier and degraded, as a result of climate change or human activities, or both.

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 17

Hot desert

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 17

An ecosystem that is characterised by high average temperatures and very low precipitation.

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 18

Over-cultivation

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 18

Exhausting the soil by over-cropping the land.

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 19

Overgrazing

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Answer 19

Grazing too many livestock for too long on the land, so vegetation cover is depleted and is unable to recover.

3.1.2.2 Tropical rainforests

Question 20

Fragile environment

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Answer 20

An environment that is both easily disturbed and difficult to restore if disturbed. Plant communities in fragile areas have evolved in highly specialised ways to deal with challenging conditions. As a result, they cannot tolerate environmental changes.

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Question 21

Infrastructure

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Answer 21

The basic equipment and structures (such as roads, utilities, water supply and sewage) that are needed for a country or region to function.

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Question 22

Mineral extraction

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Answer 22

The removal of solid mineral resources from the earth. These resources include ores, which contain commercially valuable amounts of metals (eg iron and aluminium), precious stones (eg diamonds), building stones (eg granite), and solid fuels (eg coal and oil shale).

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Question 23

Permafrost

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Answer 23

Permanently frozen ground, found in polar and tundra regions.

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Question 24

Polar

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Answer 24

The regions of Earth surrounding the North and South Poles. These regions are dominated by Earth’s polar ice caps, the northern resting on the Arctic Ocean and the southern on the continent of Antarctica.

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Question 25

Tundra

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Answer 25

The flat, treeless Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America, where the ground is permanently frozen. Lichen, moss, grasses and dwarf shrubs can grow here.

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Question 26

Wilderness area

3.1.2.4 Cold environments

Answer 26

A natural environment that has not been significantly modified by human activity. Wilderness areas are the most intact, undisturbed areas left on Earth – places that humans do not control and have not developed.

3.1.2.4 Cold environments