Name:________________
Chapter 7: Exploring the Pond
Comprehension Check 7A (p. 102-106)
What is a community? A group of plants and animals that depend on each other to live
What kind of community is a pond? freshwater community
Why do plants grow easily around a pond? The mud is rich in minerals.
What plants grow in the pond and in the ocean? algae
What does it mean to make comparisons? to observe similarities and differences
Comprehension Check 7B (p. 107-108)
1. What is dissolved in the water that fish need to breathe? oxygen
2. What gas do plants need? carbon dioxide
3. How do fish and the plants of the pond help each other? Fish exhale carbon dioxide which is
used by plants. Plants give off oxygen which is used by the fish.
Comprehension Check 7C (p. 109-111)
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What is the first stage of growth for an amphibian? egg
Where is the egg laid? in the water, attached to a water plant
What is the second stage of growth, after the egg hatches? tadpole
Where does the tadpole live? in the water
How is the tadpole able to get the oxygen it needs to survive? It has gills.
When can the tadpole live on land? when its lungs have formed
What is the salamander tadpole called? larva
When is the frog tadpole considered an adult frog? when it loses its tail
What can the salamander do if it loses its tail or leg? It can grow a new one.
Why must the salamander live in a moist, shady place? It receives the water it needs to live
through its skin.
Comprehension Check 7D (p. 112-114)
1. How are most snakes born? They hatch from eggs.
2. How are water snakes born? They are born alive.
3. Why is the water moccasin often called “cottonmouth”? Its mouth is white like cotton.
4. Will most water snakes bite? yes
5. Are all water snakes dangerous? no
6. In what three ways are a pond and an ocean different?
a. The ocean is always moving and the pond is usually still.
b. The pond is freshwater while the ocean is saltwater.
c. Pondweed grows in a pond, while seaweed grows in the ocean.
7. What is camouflage? The ability to blend in with its surroundings for protection.
8. All amphibians are cold-blooded. What does this mean? Their bodies become the same temperature
as their surroundings.
9. Why is it good that turtles eat many young frogs and fish? If the turtle did not eat them, there would
be too many frogs and fish. It keeps the numbers in balance.
Comprehension Check 7E (p. 115-118)
1. What are animals without backbones called? __c____
a. vertebrates
c. invertebrates
b. spores
d. surface film
2. What are animals with backbones called? ____a__
a. vertebrates
c. invertebrates
b. surface film
d. spores
3. What holds a water strider on top of the water? __c__
a. dead leaves
c. surface film
b. protozoans
d. spores
Match the pond animal to its class:
salamander
mammal
minnows
bird
muskrat
reptile
water moccasin
amphibian
bittern
fish
TERMS TO KNOW:
Write the definition of the following terms;
community : a group of plants and animals that depend on each other to live
protozoans: tiny microscopic water animals
comparison: an observation of similarities and differences
gill: the part of an animal’s body used to take oxygen from water
larva: the early form of an animal which looks very different from the adult form
hibernate: to spend the winter in sleep
surface film: the very top or surface of the water