Skills Worksheet
Active Reading
Section: Freshwater Ecosystems
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Aquatic ecosystems contain several types of organisms that are grouped by their location and by their adaptations. Three groups of aquatic organisms include plankton, nekton, and benthos. Plankton are the organisms that float near the surface of the water. Two types of plankton are microscopic plants called phytoplankton, and micro- scopic animals called zooplankton. Phytoplankton produce most of the food for an aquatic ecosystem. Nekton are free-swimming organ- isms, such as fish, turtles, and whales. Benthos are bottom-dwelling organisms, such as mussels, worms, and barnacles. Many benthic organisms live attached to hard surfaces. Decomposers, organisms that break down dead organisms, are also a type of aquatic organism.
IDENTIFYING MAIN IDEAS
One reading skill is the ability to identify the main idea of a passage. The main idea is the main focus or key idea. Frequently, a main idea is accompanied by supporting information that offers detailed facts about main ideas.
In the space provided, write the letter of the term or phrase that best completes each statement or best answers each question.
1. How are organisms in an aquatic ecosystem grouped?
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by size and shape
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by the food they eat
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by how they reproduce
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by location and adaptations
2. Where do many benthic organisms live?
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attached to hard surfaces
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in open water
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near the surface of the water
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attached to benthos
3. How many groups of aquatic organisms are discussed in this passage?
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2 c. 5
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3 d. 4
4. Which groups of aquatic organisms are discussed?
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phytoplankton and zooplankton
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plankton, nekton, and benthos
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plankton, nekton, benthos, and decomposers
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plankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, nekton, and benthos
Active Reading continued
5. Most of the food for an aquatic ecosystem is produced by
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worms.
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phytoplankton.
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zooplankton.
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fish.
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
In the space provided, write the letter of the term that best matches the description.
6. aquatic organisms that float near the surface of the water
7. aquatic organisms that
break down dead organisms
8. microscopic plants
9. microscopic animals
10. aquatic organisms that dwell at the bottom of the water
11. aquatic organisms that are free-swimming
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phytoplankton
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plankton
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nekton
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benthos
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decomposers
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zooplankton
Write “P” on the line in front of each example of plankton, “N” on the line in front of each example of nekton, and “B” on the line in front of each example of benthos.
12. turtles 16. mussels
13. worms 17. barnacles
14. zooplankton
15. fish
18. phytoplankton
19. whales
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Holt Environmental Science
Aquatic Ecosystems
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