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CHAPTER 1
Earth’s Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Lesson 1 Introduction to Earth’s Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lesson 2 Photosynthesis: The Basic Process of Life . . . .10
Lesson 3 Microscopic Organisms on Earth . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Lesson 4 Earth’s Food Chains, Webs, and Pyramids . . . 24
Lesson 5 Earth’s Cycles for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Vocabulary Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
CHAPTER 2
Earth’s Land and Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Lesson 1 Earth’s Land Biomes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Lesson 2 Earth’s Water Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Lesson 3 Ecosystems in California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
CHAPTER 3
Heat Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Lesson 1 Heat Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Lesson 2 Waves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Lesson 3 Fuels: Our Major Energy Source . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Lesson 4 Heat Transfer in Solids and Fluids . . . . . . . . . . . 92
CHAPTER 4
Energy in the Earth System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Lesson 1 Electromagnetic Spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Lesson 2 Solar Radiation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Lesson 3 The Power of Convection Currents . . . . . . . . . . 112
Vocabulary Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
ii
CHAPTER 5
Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Structure . . . . . . . 122
Lesson 1 Earth’s Moving Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Lesson 2 Plate Tectonics: A Unifying Theory. . . . . . . . . 130
Lesson 3 Earthquakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Lesson 4 Volcanoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Lesson 5 How Plate Tectonics Affects California . . . . . 154
Vocabulary Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
CHAPTER 6
Shaping Earth’s Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Lesson 1 Atmospheric Pressure, Temperature,
and Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
Lesson 2 Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition . . . . . . . .170
Lesson 3 Rivers and Streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Lesson 4 Beaches and Wave Erosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Lesson 5 Changing Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
CHAPTER 7
Earth’s Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Lesson 1 Sources of Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
Lesson 2 Renewable and Nonrenewable
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Lesson 3 Uses of Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
iii
CHAPTER 1
Earth’s Ecosystems
Vocabulary
ecosystem a place producer a living

where living and thing that makes its
nonliving things interact own food
population members consumer a living

of one kind of living thing that eats plants
thing in an ecosystem or animals
community all the decomposer a living

populations in an area thing that feeds on
dead plants or animals
photosynthesis the bS`bWO`gQ]\ac[S`

SObaO\W[OZa food chain the path
way that plants and aSQ]\RO`gQ]\ac[S`
SObaO\W[OZa of the Sun’s energy
some other living things from one living thing
^`W[O`gQ]\ac[S`
SOba^ZO\ba
make food by using to another

RSQ][^]aS`
sunlight
respiration the release food web all the food

of energy from food chains in an ecosystem
iv
Chapter 1
How do organisms exchange energy
and nutrients in an ecosystem?
herbivore an animal scavenger an animal

that eats plants that eats dead animals
without hunting or
killing them
carnivore an animal energy pyramid a

that eats other animals model that shows how
energy moves through
an ecosystem
omnivore an animal ^`SQW^WbObW]\

Ac\
evaporation the
that eats plants and changing of a liquid
Q]\RS\aObW]\
Q]ZZSQbW]\
animals into a gas

`c\]TT
SdO^]ÒbW]\
predator an animal condensation the

that hunts, kills, and changing of a gas
eats other animals into a liquid
prey an animal that a precipitation water

predator hunts that falls to Earth
1
Chapter 1
Lesson 1
Introduction to Earth’s Ecosystems
An Ecosystem
Reading Diagrams
This diagram shows living and

nonliving parts of a pond ecosystem.
What is an ecosystem?
A system is a group of things ecosystem (EK•.oh•sis•tuhm). In
that work closely with each other. an ecosystem, living things and
There are systems all around you. nonliving things in an area interact
The planets are part of the solar together. The living things depend
system. Many organs in your body on the same conditions. They can
belong to various systems. all be affected by changes that
Living things are also part of a happen around them. A major
system. They belong to an change such as a forest fire can
affect the whole ecosystem.
Quick Check
1. What kind of system is an ecosystem?
2. What do living things in an ecosystem depend on?
2
Parts of an Ecosystem?
All ecosystems have a nonliving part and a living part.
The nonliving parts help make life possible. The table
shows some nonliving and living parts of an ecosystem.
Living and Nonliving Parts of an Ecosystem
Nonliving Parts Living Parts
• Sunlight • Bacteria
• Temperature • Plants
• Water • Animals
• Soil • Mushrooms
• Air
• Weather patterns
• Altitude
Quick Check
3. Name five living parts of the ecosystem shown in the picture on
page 2. , ,
, ,
4. Name five nonliving parts of an ecosystem. ,
, ,
, .
3
Chapter 1 • Lesson 1
Why are sunlight and temperature
important?
The amount of sunlight an area receives
affects the temperature of that area.
Areas near the Equator

Areas near the equator get a lot of direct
sunlight. Temperatures there are high. They may
be around 27°C (80°F) almost all the time. In
these areas, many different kinds of plants and
animals can live.
Parrots thrive in warm areas, such as

the Amazon rain forest in Brazil. C
Quick Check
5. What are temperatures like near the equator? Explain your answer.
4
Areas Away from the Equator
Areas near Earth’s poles get very little direct sunlight.
Temperatures here are in general much cooler. These
areas have fewer kinds of plants and animals.
What are temperatures like between the poles and
the equator? In these areas, the amount of sunlight is
more than at the poles—but less than at the equator. So
temperatures vary throughout the year.
In areas with cold winters, some animals
travel to a warmer place. Others become
less active or sleep. Some, like penguins,
have changed over time to fit
the conditions where they live.
equator
Antarctica
A Penguins learned to huddle to keep warm.

They have a layer of fur-like feathers.
Quick Check
6. Areas near the North and South Poles get

amounts of direct sunlight than areas near the equator.
7. Two things that some kinds of living things do to survive cold
winters are
and .
5
Why is water important?
Living things need water. Your body is
60–70% water. Water carries nutrients to
parts of your body. It helps to cool
your skin.
The amount of water in an ecosystem
affects its living things. Areas with little
water, such as deserts, have fewer kinds of
living things living there. These living things
have features that help them survive with
less water. For example, when it rains, the
barrel cactus swells and stores water.
People have also developed ways to live
in dry areas. They use irrigation to water Barrel cactus, California desert
their fields. For example, water taken from
the Colorado River helps irrigate almost
1 million acres of land in Southern California.
Central Valley irrigation
Quick Check
8. Some kinds of living things can live in places where
there is little water because .
6
Why is soil important?
Soil supplies water, air, and food that plants need to
grow. By helping plants grow, soil helps living things
survive. It is important to conserve (or save) soil. For
example, we put plants on hillsides so that wind and
water will not carry soil away.
Soil is broken-down rock and humus (HYEW•muhs).
Humus is the material in soil formed by the decay of
dead plants and animals. Humus adds food to the soil.
Soil Layers
Soil usually has four layers:

• Topsoil, the upper layer of soil, topsoil
contains humus, water, air, and
other things organisms need.
subsoil
• Subsoil is the layer below
the topsoil. It has some humus
and minerals.
• Parent rock is the rock that

made the soil. It has no humus. parent rock
• Bedrock is the lowest layer,

of solid rock. bedrock
Quick Check
9. Three things that soil supplies to plants are ,
, and .
10. Unscramble the following soil layers. List them from the top
to bottom: subsoil, topsoil, bedrock, parent rock.
, , ,
the top the bottom
7
What lives in an ecosystem?
The nonliving parts in an area influence what living
things are found there. In an ecosystem, all the members
of one kind of living things make up a population. For
example, sea lions that live along the coast of California
are a population.
The place where a population lives is a habitat.
The California coast is the sea lions’ habitat. A habitat
supplies a population with everything it needs. These
needs include food and shelter. What other needs would
a habitat supply?
California sea lions
Quick Check
11. All the members of one kind of living thing in an area make up a
12. What needs would have to be met for an aquarium to be a habitat for
tropical fish? , ,
, , and
.
8
Communities Tide-Pool Community
All the populations living in an
area make up a community. Each
community includes populations that
can survive in that area. For example,
tide-pool communities live along the
shore of an ocean. Populations there
must be able to survive the changing
tides and the motion of waves.
To survive, populations in a
community must interact in a
balanced way. For this to happen,
each kind of living thing in a
community has a role to play, a niche
(nitch). A beaver’s niche includes
building dams. The dams flood the
surrounding area. The flooded area is
a habitat for many living things.
Reading Photos
This photo shows some

populations in a tide-pool
community.
Beavers help provide habitats for other

members of a community.
Quick Check
13. What must populations do to survive in a community?
-Review Summaries and quizzes online @ www.macmillanmh.com

9
Lesson 2
Photosynthesis: The Basic Process of Life
Why is photosynthesis important?

All living things need energy to live and grow. They
get this energy from food. Some living things, like
animals, get their food by eating plants or other animals.
Plants get their food from the Sun. Photosynthesis
(foh•toh•SIN•thuh•sis) is a way that plants and some other
living things make food by using sunlight.
Poppies use sunlight to make food.
Quick Check
14. A way that plants and some other living things make food by using
sunlight is .
15. Which of the following organisms would be most likely to use

photosynthesis for its food? Circle your answer(s).
a. lion c. grass
b. tree d. snake
10
Raw Materials for Photosynthesis?
To bake a cake, basic ingredients,
or raw materials, are needed. These
raw materials are heated (given
energy) and eventually become a cake.
Raw materials are also needed for
photosynthesis. These raw materials are
carbon dioxide, water, and chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll (KLOR•uh•fil) is a green
substance in plants that absorbs energy
A This leaf is green bcause it contains
from sunlight. Plants have structures
chlorophyll. The shape allows the
that help them get the raw materials leaf to be exposed to as much
they need and turn them into food. sunlight as possible.
Cake Plant
carbon dioxide, water,

Raw Materials flour, water, sugar, yeast
chlorophyll
Source of Energy heat from oven sunlight
Where It Happens oven leaves
Quick Check
16. For photosynthesis to occur, there must be
, and
11
What are roots and stems?
Roots and stems move water and
food inside a plant.
Parts of a Root
Roots
Roots hold plants in the soil. Root Hairs
• small structures on
They also take in water and other surface of roots
substances that the plant needs. • water and minerals
enter here
Some roots called taproots
are thick and straight. They grow
deep and make it hard to pull the Xylem (ZIGH•uhm)
• water and minerals
plant from the ground. go up to the plant
Some roots called fibrous through these tubes
roots are thin and have lots of

root hairs. They grow into a Phloem
dense network, but are not deep. (FLOH•uhm)
• food moves
Roots also store some of the down the
food the plant produces. This is plant through
these tubes
why edible roots such as carrots
and sweet potatoes are so
nutritious. Epidermis
(epi•DUR•mis)
• outermost
layer of root
Root Cap
• thin covering
• protects root tip as
it grows into soil
Quick Check
17. Why are roots important?
18. I am the part of the root through which water and other substances
enter. What am I?
12
Parts of a Stem
Soft Stem (flexible) Woody Stem (stiff)
cambium
xylem
phloem
Reading Diagrams
The xylem, phloem, and cambium

are arranged differently in a
woody stem and in a soft stem.
Stems
Stems have two very important roles:
• support leaves and flowers
• transport water and other substances between root
and leaves
Inside a stem are xylem and phloem. The xylem
carries water and minerals from the roots up the plant to
the leaves. Phloem carries food from the leaves to other
parts of the plant. Between the xylem and the phloem is
a layer of cells called the cambium (KAM•bee•uhm). New
cells grow from this layer.
Like roots, some stems store food. Sugarcane and
asparagus are examples of edible stems.
Quick Check
19. Two important roles that stems perform are
and .
13
What are leaves?
When you look at a tree or shrub, the first thing you
may notice are its leaves. Leaves come in many sizes.
They also have many shapes. But they all have the same
basic parts and jobs. Leaves help keep the plant alive.
Also, leaves supply living things with food and oxygen.
Parts of a Leaf
compound leaf
simple leaf
sunlight
Cuticle (waxy
coating that
helps prevent
water loss) vein (brings
water and
Epidermis minerals
(outermost from roots)
part of leaf)
chloroplasts
(contain chlorophyll) Stoma (a pore in leaf that
opens and closes to let
epidermis gases in and out)
Air enters. Water and

guard cells (control
oxygen leave.
when the stoma
opens and closes)
Quick Check
20. Leaves get water from the roots through their .
21. Chlorophyll is found in the .
14
How Leaves Work
Recall that photosynthesis is the way plants make
food. It occurs in the leaves. Water travels through
the stem to the leaves. Carbon dioxide enters through
the stoma (STOH•muh). Sunlight is absorbed by the
chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is found in a part of a cell called
the chloroplast (KLOR•uh•plast).
When all these ingredients are in place, the leaf
can produce food. In the presence of sunlight, carbon
dioxide and water produce sugar (food) and oxygen.
You can show this as a formula.
The food is then carried to other parts of the leaf,
the stem, or the roots.
Photosynthesis
Light
Water + Carbon dioxide Sugar + Oxygen
coleus plant
chloroplast
seen through
a microscope C
Quick Check
22. During photosynthesis, and water

combine and produce food and oxygen.
23. Photosynthesis mostly occurs in the .
15
How does a plant get energy?
A plant takes in energy from the Sun. It stores that
energy in the food it makes. To make food, the leaves
need to take in carbon dioxide Also, water has to get to
the leaves. See the diagram on page 17. With water and
carbon dioxide, the leaves make food (sugar). The food
has the Sun’s energy stored inside.
Respiration
Plants then get energy from
the food they make—much
the way animals get energy
from the food they eat. The
energy is released from the
food. The release of energy
from food is called respiration
(res•puh•RAY•shuhn). In respiration,
sugars and oxygen combine. The
process releases water, carbon
dioxide, and energy. Apples contain energy stored when leaves of
apple trees made food during photosynthesis.
So in photosynthesis, energy
is stored in food. In respiration,
energy is released from food.
Quick Check
24. Put the steps of how water moves through a plant in the correct
order. Number the steps from 1 to 4.
Transpiration helps pull the water toward the top of the plant.
Water travels from the roots to the stem.
Water moves into the leaves from the stem, replacing lost water.
Water in the soil enters the root hairs.
16
How Water Moves Through a Plant
5. Almost 99% of the water that

vein
enters the roots is given off
into the air by transpiration
through the leaves’ stomata
(plural of stoma).
petiole
4. Water moves up
the stem into the
leaves, replacing
the water lost.
3. Loss of water from plant
leaves, or transpiration
(trans•puh•RAY•shuhn),
helps pull the water upward
toward the top of the plant.
2. Water and other

substances travel from
the roots to the stem.
Reading Diagrams
1. Water and other
What causes water to travel from a plant’s substances in the
roots to its stem? soil enter root hairs.
Watch how plants

transport water @ www.macmillanmh.com

17
Lesson 3
Microscopic Organisms on Earth
What are microscopic organisms?

Beyond the world you see is another
one you cannot see. It is the world
of microscopic organisms. These
living things are too small for you to
see. However, they are part of every
ecosystem, and they have a niche,
which they occupy. Their niche is the
role they play in an ecosystem.
Some microscopic organisms

break down dead organisms.
Some microscopic organisms

make their own food.
Some microscopic
organisms eat food.
Quick Check
25. Microscopic organisms can make their food, eat food, or
18
Studying Microscopic Organisms
To study microscopic organisms, scientists use a
microscope. The object to be studied is placed on the
stage. Two lenses are used to produce a magnified
image of the object.
Compound Microscope
ocular lens (magnifies
image a second time)
coarse adjustment knob

(makes image sharp)
fine adjustment knob

(sharpens image at
higher magnifications)
objective lens (determines
amount of magnification)
arm
stage clips (hold
object on stage)
stage (holds object

to be studied)
diaphragm (controls
amount of light
entering microscope)
light source
Reading Diagrams
base
The labels point out the
parts of a microscope.
Quick Check
26. The controls the amount of

light entering the microscope.
19
Which microorganisms
make their own food?
Scientists group microscopic
organisms by how simple they are and
by how they get food. For example,
some microscopic organisms are
simple cells without a nucleus. Some
are cells with a nucleus.
Some microscopic organisms eat
other organisms. Others make their
own food. Remember, plants make
their own food. They use sunlight to
carry on photosynthesis. As a result
oxygen is released into the air.
Many microscopic organisms
also make their own food by
photosynthesis. They also give off
oxygen as a result. In fact, microscopic
organisms may produce about half of
Earth’s oxygen supply!
The chain of blue-green dots are very

simple organisms. Most organisms are
much more complicated than these. C
Quick Check
27. How are plants and microscopic organisms that make their own
food alike?
28. Microscopic organisms produce about

of Earth’s oxygen supply.
20
diatoms dinoflagellate
Some protists make their own food by Some protists have properties of both
photosynthesis. They live in salt or fresh plants and animals. Some of these protists
water and can have many shapes. can light up like fireflies.
Protists
Another kind of microscopic organism is a protist.
Protists are hard to classify. Some protists produce
their own food, as do plants. Others eat microscopic
organisms, like animals.
However, they are all single-celled organisms and
each cell has a nucleus. Most live in water. Some live in
ocean water. Others live in fresh water (lakes, ponds,
and rivers).
For example, one kind of protist that makes its own
food is a diatom. Diatoms are an important source of
oxygen for living things. They are also a source of food.
Dinoflagellates (dighn•uh•FLAJ•uh•luhtz) are another
kind of protist that produces oxygen. They are an
important source of food for other living things.
Quick Check
29. Why are protists important for life on Earth?
21
Which microscopic organisms eat food?
Some microscopic organisms cannot make their own
food. They must get food from the place they live. To
help them get their food, some have developed special
structures.
Getting Food
Paramecium Amoeba
A This paramecium has tiny surface hairs. A An amoeba moves by pushing out part of
It uses them to move. Moving enables it its body like a foot. The rest of the amoeba
to find food. flows with it. The amoeba also uses this
“foot” to wrap around its food.
Reading Photos
Euglena
These photos show three
different kinds of microscopic
organisms that eat food.
A The euglena can make its own food or

eat other organisms.
Quick Check
30. Name three microscopic organisms that eat food.
, , and
.
22
Roles for Microscopic Organisms
Some microscopic organisms have three basic roles
when it comes to food:
• some make their own food.
• some eat other microscopic organisms.
• some microscopic organisms feed on dead organisms.
Microscopic organisms that make their own food or
eat other organisms are the main food source for larger
animals.
Those that feed on dead organisms feed on the remains
of all both large and small organisms. They help to return to
the community the raw materials its members need to live.
lake ecosystem
Quick Check
31. What is the value of having microscopic organisms that feed on dead
organisms?

23
Lesson 4
Earth’s Food Chains, Webs, and Pyramids
What are producers, consumers,

and decomposers?
Some living things are producers. Producers
make their own food. Plants are producers. So are
many microscopic organisms. Any living thing that
uses the energy of the Sun to make its own food is
a producer.
Most producers on Earth live near the surface
of the oceans. Here microscopic producers carry
out more than 70% of the photosynthesis that
takes place on Earth. Green plants are among
Earth’s land producers.
These living things make their own

food. They are producers.
Quick Check
32. Circle the producers in this list of living things:
coleus, frog, cow, euglena, grass, fish, paramecium
24
A consumer is a organism that eats living
plants or animals. All animals are consumers
because they do not make their own food. Many
microscopic organism are consumers too.
An organism that feeds on dead organisms is
a decomposer. Decomposers break down dead
organisms into simpler substances. Most of
these substances are returned to the ecosystem.
Decomposers include worms, bacteria, fungi Yellow decomposers
(such as mushrooms), and many insects. breaking down dead tree.
Mushrooms break down

the maple tree stump into
simpler substances. They
Cattle eat grass to get their are decomposers.
food. They are consumers.
Producers Consumers Decomposers
maple tree sea lion worms
rose bush condor bacteria
California poppy humans mushrooms
Quick Check
33. What is the difference between a consumer and a decomposer?
25
What is a food chain?
In an ecosystem, producers absorb the Sun’s
energy when they make food by using photosynthesis.
This energy is then passed on to consumers and
decomposers when they feed on the producers. This
path from producer to consumer to decomposer can
get complicated. A food chain is the path of the Sun’s
energy from one living thing to another
Overall, here is the path in which energy from the
Sun travels.
The Sun producers consumers decomposers
A The zebra and the lion are part of a food chain.
Quick Check
34. With what do all food chains start? With what do they end?
start
end
26
Forest Food Chain
tertiary consumer
(eats animals)
Reading Diagrams
The arrows show the path of

energy in this forest food chain.
secondary consumer
(eats animals)
decomposer
primary consumer
(eats plants)
Consumers and Decomposers

Consumers are classified by Tertiary Consumers
what they eat. • eat secondary consumers
Primary Consumers • usually top hunter in food
chain
• eat producers
• include snakes, lions, orcas
• include some insects, rabbits,
horses Last in the food chain are the
decomposers. They break down
Secondary Consumers
remains of dead organisms into
• eat primary consumers
substances producers use. And the
• include many birds, foxes,
food chain continues.
some whales
Quick Check
35. At a Scout campfire, Balek said a T-rex was a secondary consumer.

Do you agree or disagree with Balek’s statement? Why?
27
What is a food web?
Most consumers eat more than just one kind of food.
A food web shows all the food chains in an ecosystem.
Food webs also show the roles each of its members play.
Food webs have three main kinds of members:
Type of Consumer Examples
Herbivores plant eaters (primary deer, zebra, cows

consumers)
Carnivores animal eaters (secondary and coyotes, cats, snakes

tertiary consumers)
Omnivores eat plants and animals raccoons, bears, humans

(highest level of consumer)
Land Food Web
A food web is a series of

overlapping food chains.
Quick Check
36. List two possible paths in the food web starting with the grass and
ending with the large bird.
28
Other Roles in a Food Web
In addition to whether animals eat plants
or other animals, animals in a food web
have different ways of getting food.
Predators hunt, kill and eat other
animals. Lions, polar bears, and preying
mantises are predators. Prey are the
animals predators hunt. A rabbit may be
the prey of a hawk.
Scavengers eat dead animals without
hunting or killing them. Jackals and vultures
are scavengers. Fungi, such as mushrooms,
are also scavengers. They get their food
from decaying plants and animals.
A The California condor is

a large scavenger.
Reading Diagrams
The arrows show the levels

of a food web.
Quick Check
37. Use the diagram to give an example of an animal that can be both a
predator and a prey. Explain your answer.
29
What is a marine food web?
The oceans have food webs, too. Here, the webs
depend on how deep into the water the sunlight
reaches. Each food web has its own set of organisms.
There are food webs at the shore where the tides come
in or go out.
Other food webs exist in the
shallow waters near the ocean’s
edge away from the shore.
Here the waters are calmer. The
underwater kelp forests off the
coast of California provide food
and shelter for hundreds of kinds
of living things.
Finally, in the open ocean are
webs that occur near the surface.
Sunlight reaches down to about
200 meters (656 feet). Also, food
webs can be found between
200 meters (656 feet) and 1,000
meters (3,280 feet), where there
is little light. They are in a
dark zone with no light.
Sea otters find

shelter and food
in a kelp forest.
red knots
30
tertiary consumers
secondary consumers
primary consumers
producers
A ocean energy pyramid
How are populations connected?

Populations are connected by an energy pyramid.
Energy pyramids are models that show how energy
moves through a food chain.
The base of the pyramid is the producers. Each level
is a higher level of consumer. At each level, less energy
is available. So, fewer animals live at each higher level.
Very few animals are at the top of a food chain.
Small changes in an ecosystem can upset the energy
balance. As long as populations get food, they survive.
If they do not, competition may occur. In that case, a
population may decrease or die out.
Quick Check
38. In the ocean energy pyramid shown, which organism would have the
fewest number of members? Why?

31
Lesson 5
Earth’s Cycles for Life
What is the water cycle?

Have you ever heard someone talk about the “cycle of
the seasons?” A cycle is a set of events that follow each
other over and over: spring, summer, autumn, winter,
spring, summer, autumn, and so on.
The water cycle is the nonstop movement of water
between Earth’s surface and the air. The water cycle
happens because water can exist in solid, liquid, or gas
forms. The Sun’s energy makes the water cycle happen.
The Water Cycle

Sun
precipitation
condensation
collection runoff
evaporation
Quick Check
39. Where does water move in the water cycle?
32
Parts of the Cycle
There are four main parts in the 3. Precipitation Water falling
water cycle. to Earth.
1. Evaporation Liquid changes Cause: Cloud droplets
to a gas. become too heavy. They fall.
Cause: Sun heats up bodies Effect: Precipitation (rain,
of water. snow, sleet, hail)
Effect: Liquid water becomes 4. Collection and Runoff: Water
water vapor (gas). soaks into the ground.
2. Condensation Gas becomes Cause: Water collects on
a liquid. Earth’s surface. Sometimes it
runs off before collecting.
Cause: Vapor rises into air,
and cools. Effect: Lakes, ponds, oceans,
rivers, streams
Effect: Water vapor (gas)
changes into liquid
water (clouds).
condensation precipitation
Quick Check
40. What part of the water cycle is occurring in each of the following?
• A puddle disappears in the sunlight .
• Snow falls in the Cascade Mountains .
• Thunderclouds build off the island of Catalina .

33
The Carbon Cycle
Carbon enters the air when

• living things die and decay.
• plants and animals breathe out.
• fuels such as coal and oil are burned.
During photosynthesis, plants use

carbon from the carbon dioxide
they breathe in. They return carbon
to the air during respiration.
When living things die,

their decay returns carbon
to the soil and the air.
What is the carbon cycle?

Carbon is one of the elements that living things are
made of. Living things need carbon to live and grow.
They get it from the air. However, air does not have
much carbon. So, the carbon that living things take
from the air has to be replaced, or recycled. Carbon is
recycled between the air and living things by the
carbon cycle.
Quick Check
41. Carbon enters the air when ,
and .
34
Animals use carbon to make their
own body chemicals. They release
carbon when they breathe out.
Some carbon is stored as coal, oil,

and natural gas. When they burn,
carbon is released to the air.
Reading Diagrams
Read the text boxes to see

how the carbon cycle works.
Carbon and Life

Carbon and living things are connected. Carbon is
stored in living things. It is also found in soil, in the air,
and in some fuels.
Producers use carbon when they make food. But,
they give off oxygen in the process. Animals use
oxygen to get energy from food. They release carbon
to the air as a result. Thus the carbon is recycled by
living things. When they die, decomposers return
carbon to the ecosystem.
Quick Check
42. What members in the food chain help recycle carbon when living
things die?
35
The Nitrogen Cycle
As plants and animals
decay, bacteria break
down the nitrogen in their
remains into nitrogen gas.
The cycle starts over.
Bacteria change this

substance into a form
of nitrogen that can
be used by plants.
Plants absorb this

new form of nitrogen
through their roots.
What is the nitrogen cycle?

All living things need nitrogen to develop and grow.
Like carbon, nitrogen is cycled through the environment.
And also like carbon, nitrogen can not be used in its pure
form. It has to be changed into a form that living things
can use. The nitrogen cycle is the way that nitrogen gas
is made into compounds and put into the soil. It is also
the way nitrogen gas is put back into the air.
Quick Check
43. How do decomposers contribute to the nitrogen cycle?
36
Recycling Plants
Lightning changes When plants die, their remains may
nitrogen in the air into
a substance that can be become a home for other living things. After
absorbed by the soil. a while decomposers break down dead
organisms into useful substances. Thus, each
member of an ecosystem has a job that
helps the community survive.
People can help an ecosystem, too. They
can mix vegetable food scraps with dry
leaves and grass clippings. This mixture is
then broken down by decomposers. The mix
can then be used as a natural fertilizer for
gardens and farms.
Reading Diagrams
Follow the arrows to see how

the nitrogen cycle works.
Adding vegetable scraps to garden

material to make natural fertilizer. C
Quick Check
44. What might happen first when a large tree in a forest dies and falls?

37
Vocabulary
Review
Match the description in the second column with the word in
the first column.
1. ecosystem a. the changing of a gas into a liquid
2. population b. a living thing that makes its own food

c. the food-making process in plants
3. herbivores
d. where living and nonliving things
4. energy pyramid interact
5. photosynthesis e. animals that hunt, kill, and eat other

animals
6. omnivores f. water that falls to Earth
7. predators g. members of one kind of living thing
8. producer h. animals that eat plants and other

animals
9. condensation i. how energy moves through an
10. precipitation ecosystem
j. animals that eat plants
Use the words from 1 to 10 above in your answer to 11.
11. Give an example of one word that contains another word.
For example, a food chain contains a producer.
38
Chapter 1 • Lessons 1–5 • Vocabulary Review
Fill in one letter for each blank. Some blanks are boxed.
1. All the populations in an area make up a(n)
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
2. All the food chains in an ecosystem are the __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
3. An animal that a predator hunts is its __ __ __ __ .
4. An animal that eats dead animals without hunting and killing them is
a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
5. The release of energy from food is called
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
6. Any living thing that eats other living things is a(n)
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
7. A living thing that feeds on dead plants and animals is a(n)
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
8. The path of energy from the Sun from one living thing to another is
a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
9. An animal that eats other animals is a(n) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
10. The changing of a liquid to a gas is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
Use the boxed letters above to complete the answer to this riddle.
This process makes life possible on Earth.
__ h __ __ __ __ __ __ t __ __ __ __ __
39
CHAPTER 2
Earth’s Land and Water

Vocabulary
biome a large area taiga a forest of

of land that has certain evergreen trees
kinds of plants and
animals
climate the weather tundra a very cold,

conditions of an area dry biome
deciduous trees
that change colors
during autumn
40
Chapter 2
How do organisms survive in land
and water ecosystems?
intertidal zone an area estuary an area where

affected by tides fresh water meets
the sea
wetlands areas where chaparral a dry region

water is almost always with thick brush and
near the surface small trees
41
Chapter 2
Lesson 1
Earth’s Land Biomes
California redwood forest Biomes

A biome is a large area of land that
has certain kinds of plants and animals.
Earth is grouped into six biomes. Each
biome has a type of climate. Climate
describes the weather conditions of an
area, such as tropical.
Many things affect the climate of
an area. One is the amount of direct
sunlight. Areas that are closer to the
equator receive more direct sunlight.
Areas far from the equator receive less.
Sea level also affects climate.
Places that are high above sea level
have cooler climates. Places near sea
level generally have warmer climates.
Wind patterns, ocean currents, and
mountains also affect climate.
This is one of the six kinds of biomes.
Quick Check
Fill in the blanks.
1. Three things that affect the climate in an area
are ,
, and
.
42
Earth’s Biomes
ARCTIC OCEAN
ATLANTIC
OCEAN Tropic of
Cancer
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Equator
INDIAN
Ice OCEAN
Tropic of
Capricorn
BIOMES
Tundra
Taiga
Deciduous forest
Tropical rain forest
Grassland
Desert
Reading Maps
This map shows Earth’s six

biomes and the polar regions.
Quick Check
Use the map to answer the questions.
2. Name the six biomes.
3. What biome is found near the Arctic Ocean?
43
Tropical Rain Forests
Tropical rain forests are biomes near the equator.
The Sun’s rays shine more directly here. The climate in
tropical rain forests is hot and humid. There is a lot of
rain, 80–180 inches per year. More kinds of plants and
animals live in tropical rain forests than in all the other
biomes combined.
Rain forests are found in Central America, South
America, India, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and
tropical islands.
Quick Check
4. What kind of climate do you find in a
tropical rain forest?
44
Tropical Rain Forest
Plant life in the rain forest grows
in four levels. The top level is the
emergent layer. This layer includes emergent layer
the tops of the tallest trees. Many

birds make their homes here.
The next level is the canopy. Its

thick layer of leaves prevents much canopy
sunlight from passing through. Birds,

monkeys, snakes, owls, and many
insects live in the canopy.
Beneath the canopy is the

understory. This level is made up
of the trunks of the canopy trees. understory
Shrubs, vines, and small plants
also grow here. Very little sunlight
reaches the understory. It is home to
frogs, insects, snakes, and jaguars.
The bottom layer of the rainforest

is the forest floor. Most plants that
grow here have very large leaves.
forest floor
This helps them to take in the limited
amount of sunlight. Insects, snakes,
and frogs live here.
Reading Diagrams
This diagram shows the four

levels of the rain forest.
Quick Check
5. Why does only a small amount of light reach the understory
and forest floor?
45
deciduous forest
Deciduous Forests
The trees of deciduous (di•SIHJ•uh•wuhs) forests
change colors during autumn. They turn from green
to red, orange, yellow, and brown. Deciduous trees
lose their leaves as the temperature gets cooler.
When the leaves fall to the ground, they decay, or
break apart. This helps make the soil very rich so
many things can grow. Deciduous forests are found
in parts of North America, Asia, and Europe.
Evergreen trees also live in deciduous forests.
Instead of losing their leaves, evergreens keep most
of their leaves all year.
46
Animals in a Deciduous Forest
Birds such as cardinals, robins, crows, and hawks live
in deciduous forests. Chipmunks, squirrels, mice, and
deer are herbivores, or plant eating animals, that move
through the forest looking for nuts, berries, and leaves.
Carnivorous, or meat eating animals, such as cougars,
coyotes, bears, owls are found there too.
deer
Deer often live in forests. These animals will

eat almost any plant.
Quick Check
6. What happens to trees in the deciduous forest in cool
weather?
7. How does this affect the forest’s soil?
47
Deserts
A desert is a biome that receives less than 25 cm
(about 10 in.) of rainfall per year. There are four types of
deserts: hot and dry deserts, semideserts, coastal deserts,
and cold deserts.
Hot and Dry Deserts

Arches National
Park, Utah The weather in these deserts is hot
and dry year-round. At night, the air
becomes very cool.
Hot and dry deserts receive little
rain. When rain falls, the water often
evaporates before it reaches the ground.
The Mojave Desert in California
has plants and animals that live in dry
conditions. Plants like the yucca store
water to help it survive. Some animals
rest during the hot day and come out
at night when it is cooler. These include
insects, spiders, reptiles, and birds.
California’s other desert is the
Colorado Desert, the warmest desert in
the United States. A common plant here
is the creosote bush. The waxy leaves of
this bush help prevent water loss, even
in driest seasons.
Quick Check
8. What do some plants and animals do to help them
survive in a desert climate?
48
Semideserts
Semideserts are often located
between hot, dry deserts and
grasslands or woodlands. Like other
deserts, temperatures in semideserts
are hot during the day and cooler at
night. Insects stay in shaded areas
collared lizard
during the day. Many animals go
underground to stay cool.
Coastal Deserts and Cold Deserts

Coastal deserts are usually on the western
edges of continents. They have cool winters and
warm summers. The Atacama Desert in Chile is a
coastal desert. It is Earth’s driest desert. Several
years may go by before any rain falls there.
Cold deserts are found near the North and
South Poles. Antarctica, central Asia, and
Greenland have cold deserts. These deserts have
long, cold winters and short summers.
Quick Check
9. Compare the daytime and nightime temperatures
in the desert.
49
wolves in a taiga
Taigas
Taigas (TIGH•guhs) are biomes found in far northern
regions. They have very cold winters. Taigas have fewer
kinds of plants and animals than other biomes.
Taiga is the Russian word for “forest.” A taiga is a
forest of evergreen trees. The taiga of the Northern
Hemisphere stretches across Eurasia and North
America. It is the world’s largest biome.
Taiga winters are very cold. Its summers are warm,
rainy, and humid. Taiga plant life includes trees such
as pine, spruce, and hemlock. Lynxes, wolverines, and
bobcats are predators that live in taigas.
50
Tundras
Tundras are also biomes found in
the far north. A tundra is a very cold,
dry biome. The ground has a layer of
soil that is always frozen. This layer
is called permafrost. Tundras cover
about 20% of Earth’s surface. They
are located near the North Pole and
spread south to the taigas.
The cold, dry tundra climate
makes it hard for plants and animals
to live there. The permafrost
prevents trees and large plants from
caribou in a tundra
growing deep roots. But mosses,
grasses, lichens, flowers, and low
shrubs are able to survive the cold.
Snowshoe hares, caribou, musk
oxen, hawks, wolves, arctic foxes,
and polar bears make their homes in
the tundra.
Quick Check
10. How are the tundra and taiga alike? How are the different?
Use the diagram below to help you.
taiga (different) alike tundra (different)
51
Grasslands
Grasslands are biomes in which
grasses are the main plant life.
Winters are cool and summers are
bison in grasslands warm. Rainfall is not plentiful, that is
why there are no tall plants. The soil
is often fertile and used for farming.
The roots of grass and plants hold
the soil in place, and keep it from
blowing away. Gophers, prairie
dogs, and coyotes are some of the
animals that live in North America’s
grasslands.
Savannas
Savannas are a type of grassland
that is warm all year round. The soil
is not as fertile as other grasslands.
Summers are long and dry, but
winters are wet. Africa’s savannas are
the homes of lions, giraffes, zebras,
▲ A bison grazes in a grassland and antelopes.
biome.
Quick Check
11. In grasslands, why are the roots of grass and plants important?
52
Earth’s Coldest Places
Freezing temperatures and cold
winds mark Earth’s North and South
Poles. Snow or ice lasts all year long. polar bear in the arctic
In arctic regions near the North

Pole, what looks like land is actually
water covered with snow and ice.
In summers the ice can break into
pieces and float as icebergs. The
North Pole is the home of Earth’s
largest carnivore, polar bears. They
eat seals, walruses, and fish. In winter
they move south to land areas.
The snow and ice near the
South Pole cover the continent of
Antarctica, even in the summer. It is
the home of penguins. These birds
feed in the ocean, far from their
inland nests. Penguins are hunted by
sharks and leopard seals.
Plants cannot grow on land in the
polar regions. All life in these regions
depends upon the sea.
Quick Check
12. Why is the sea important to animals that live
in the polar regions?

53
Lesson 2
Earth’s Water Ecosystems
What are ocean

ecosystems?
Oceans cover about 75% 4 (3 )
of Earth’s surface. They are an
important part of the water cycle.
The oceans are a major source of
evaporation.
The oceans are divided into
regions similar to biomes. Each
region has factors that affect the
life in them. These factors include:
• temperature
• amount of salt in the water
• amount of sunlight
• depth of water
• nearness to shore
These fish live in a shallow-water ecosystem.
Quick Check
13. Some of the conditions that affect ocean organisms are
, ,
, , and
54
Zones of Ocean Life
Intertidal zone — area affected by the tides.

• shallowest part of ocean
• between high– and low–tide lines
• high tide: zone covered by water
• low tide: zone exposed to air and sunlight
• crabs, seaweed found here
Shallow-water zone — area from low-tide line to

where ocean floor drops off.
• sunlight reaches here
• much food found here
• rich in plant and animal life
Deep-water zone — from the edge of the

shallow-water zone to the ocean floor.
• divided into two areas
— close to surface: has sunlight, much life, warm
temperatures
— at great depths: has no sunlight, fewer
lifeforms, cold temperatures
Reading Photos
These photos show examples of

organisms that live in the zones of
ocean life.
55
What are ocean food chains like?
The oceans have many food chains. They have
producers, consumers, and decomposers. The producers
are the plantlike plankton. They use the Sun to make
food. The consumers eat the plankton and other animals.
Ocean food chains may be short or long.
Ocean Food Chain
plankton
small fish
large fish
shark
Reading Diagrams
What role do plankton play in an

ocean food chain?
Watch an ocean
food chain@ www.macmillanmh.com
Quick Check
14. In the Ocean Food Chain diagram, identify the producers and
consumers, including the level of consumer.
56
Ocean Organisms
Ocean organisms are grouped • Bottom dwellers
according to where they live. - live on or near ocean floor
• Plankton - some seaweed and kelp
- float near surface of ocean - some, such as tube worms,
• Swimmers use a chemical process to get
- swim through the water energy from their surroundings
- most fish
- can be predators or prey
Ocean Food Web

algae
penguin
orca
squid
krill
fish
seal
baleen whale
Quick Check
15. Give one example of a food chain within the food web shown.
57
What are freshwater ecosystems?
Freshwater ecosystems occur in or near bodies of
water with little salt. These bodies of water include:
• Still waters: lakes, ponds
- may be covered by algae
- contains water plants (cattails, reeds) and
many insects
• Running water: streams, rivers
- no algae on surface
- plants and animals have structures to avoid being
swept away (roots, streamlined bodies)
• Wetlands: areas where water is almost always near
the surface.
- rest stop for traveling birds
- nursery for many birds and fish
young river otter in

a freshwater ecosystem
Quick Check
16. The three basic types of freshwater ecosystems are
, , and
.
58
Wetlands and Estuaries
In California, most wetlands are salt marshes.
They help keep the shore from washing away.
Wetlands help remove harmful substances from the
water. They also protect against floods. As people
learn how important wetlands are, they are trying
harder to protect them.
An estuary is found where the fresh
water of a river or a bay meets the sea.
An estuary is affected by the tides. The
water is not as salty as the ocean, but
saltier than fresh water of a river. Many
plants and animals live there due to the
food carried in by rivers.
tricolored heron
in a wetland
estuary, Russian River, California
Quick Check
17. How is an estuary like a wetland?

59
Lesson 3
Ecosystems in California
OREGON
What Is a Mediterranean
KLAMATH
climate?
Eureka
MODOC SACRAMENTO
California has many different
VALLEY ecosystems. They are home to many
NEVADA native plants and animals.
BAY- SIERRA SAN JOAQUIN

The climate along the coast of
DELTA San Francisco VALLEY North America around Central and
South California has a special name.
CENTRAL
COAST It is a Mediterranean climate. It is
MOJAVE named after the area around the
Mediterranean Sea between Europe
Los Angeles
COLORADO and Africa. Mediterranean climates
SOUTH DESERT
COAST are found about halfway between the
San Diego
equator and the poles.
MEXICO
Mediterranean Climate Zones
Central/So. California Mediterranean Sea
/B:/<B71
=13/< B`]^WQ]T
1O\QS`
3_cOb]`
>/17471
=13/< South Africa 7<27/<
=13/< Australia B`]^WQ]T
1O^`WQ]`\
Chile
Reading Maps
/`SOaeWbV;SRWbS`Ò\SO\QZW[ObSa The shaded areas are regions that

have a Mediterranean climate.
60
A Mediterranean climate makes
Catalina Island in California a
favorite place for boaters.
Features of Mediterranean Climates

Mediterranean climates are often found along the
west coasts of continents. Land near a coast heats up.
The air above it warms and rises. Cool ocean air flows
in, replacing the warm air. As a result, the temperature
does not change much.
Areas with Mediterranean climates grow crops
such as grapes and citrus fruits. California is famous
for these crops.
To live in these areas, plants have changed, or
adapted. Plants have thick bark to protect from fire,
deep roots, or rest during summer.
Wildfires often occur. But the fires remove old
growth and help new plants to grow.
Quick Check
18. What are the characteristics of a Mediterranean climate?
61
What is a chaparral?
Along California’s southern mountains
and the California coast is the chaparral
(shap•uh•RAL), a dry region with thick brush
and small trees.
The plants in a chaparral have large thick
or needlelike leaves. Roots spread out just
below the soil surface. Animals such as
jackrabbits and quail live here. Mountain
lions and hawks are predators.
At summer’s end, hot Santa Ana
winds blow across the chaparral. The dry
conditions can result in wildfires. Wildfires
can burn large areas in a short time.
mountain lion
A food chain in a chaparral may begin with native grasses and end
with a mountain lion.
Quick Check
19. Plants have adapted to the chaparral by having
, and .
62
Where are California’s forests found?
Along the northern California coast are redwoods,
giant evergreens that tower overhead. Away from the
sea live giant sequoias. They are not as tall as the coast
redwoods. But their trunks are much larger.
Some forests have grown undisturbed for centuries.
These are old-growth forests. Here, trees can get wider
than a person’s reach. In these forests live the northern
spotted owl. It has adapted to these forests and cannot
live elsewhere.
Redwood National Park, California
Quick Check
20. List two types of California evergreens and indicate where they grow.
63
OREGON
What are California’s
deserts like?
KLAMATH California has two deserts. The Mojave
Eureka
MODOC SACRAMENTO Desert is in the southeastern part of the
VALLEY
state. The Colorado Desert is south of the
NEVADA Mojave Desert.
BAY- SIERRA SAN JOAQUIN The Mojave Desert has very hot dry
DELTA San Francisco VALLEY
days and cool nights during the summer.
In winter, temperatures can be freezing
CENTRAL
COAST and rain or snow can fall. Death Valley, the
MOJAVE lowest point in the U.S., is in the Mojave.
Los Angeles The Colorado Desert is the warmest
COLORADO
SOUTH
COAST
DESERT desert in the U.S. Summers are hot and
San Diego dry. Winters are cool and moist. Much of
the Colorado Desert is used in farming,
MEXICO especially cotton.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, part of the

Colorado Desert, in California
Quick Check
21. Indicate which California desert is being referred to in each case:
a. warmest desert in U.S.
b. Death Valley
c. used in farming
64
How Lifeforms Adapt
The dry conditions of each desert
has made desert plants adapt in special
ways. The creosote bush in the Colorado
Desert has small, waxy leaves. They
reduce water loss to transpiration. In the
Mojave Desert, the Joshua tree lives. This
tree has raised branches and bunches of
needlelike leaves.
When it rains in the spring, both
deserts bloom with thousands of
beautiful flowers.
Animals also thrive in both deserts.
Bighorn sheep, coyotes, hawks,
roadrunners, and tortoises are just a few A black-throated sparrow perches
of the many animals that live there. on a cardon cactus.
▲ When desert tortoises leave their burrows, other animals

use them. Desert tortoises are keystone animals because
other animals depend on them.
Quick Check
22. Why do you think the desert tortoise lives in a burrow?
65
Deer eat the leaves of poison oak, and birds
spread its seeds, but you should not touch it.
What are California’s producers?

California has more than 5000 different
kinds of plants. They have adapted to the
various climates that California has. California’s
producers include:
• redwoods
• sequoias
• Joshua trees
• reed grass
• California poppy
Some areas of California have the rock known
as serpentine in the soil. When this rock breaks
down, it releases substances harmful to many
plants. Only plants that can tolerate serpentine
can live here.
66
What are California’s consumers?
California has a great number of animals. Kangaroo
rats, foxes, and snakes are just a few.
California also has over 9000 types of insects. Some
are found only in California, such as the Kelso Dunes
Jerusalem cricket. The Thorne’s hairstreak butterfly and
the Hermes copper butterfly are found only in San Diego
County and in Baja California.
The bighorn sheep is found in the Sierra

Nevada. They can run along ledges and
steep slopes. This ability helps protect
then from predators like mountain lions.
Quick Check
23. How is the bighorn sheep able to protect itself against predators?
67
What are California’s most
endangered animals?
The California condor is one of
California’s endangered animals. It
is a scavenger. At one time it was
on the brink of extinction. However,
humans have been able to increase
the number of condors born.
The San Joaquin’s Kit Fox is found
only in California. However, people ▲ The San Joaquin kit fox hunts mostly at
moving into its habitat have reduced night. Its large ears enable it to listen
for its prey.
the number of these foxes.
▲ The eggs of the California condor are collected and placed in incubators.
Then the condor chicks are fed by people who use a condor “puppet.”
Scientists never let the chicks see the people who feed them. In time the
young condors will find their own food.
Quick Check
24. How have humans been able to increase the number of California
condors?
68
Why are nonnative plants and
animals a problem?
Nonnative plants and animals are a major
concern. Most of these organisms were brought
here by accident. As a result, many of these
organisms have nothing to stop their spread. They
have no predators. They can also outcompete
native plants and animals for food. Scientists need
to study how these nonnative plants and animals
can affect the native population.
▲ The yellow starthistle covers about 12 A These wild pigs were released into
million acres in California. The plant the wild in California. Because these
is poisonous to horses. Most grazing animals will eat almost anything, they
animals, however, will not eat it
outcompete animals that eat a more
because of its spines.
limited diet.
Quick Check
25. Two reasons why nonnative plants and animals are dangerous are
, and .
69
Vocabulary
Review

Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. A large area of land with certain 5. Intertidal zones are affected by

kinds of living things is a(n)
a. deciduous trees
a. biome b. deep ocean water
b. intertidal zone c. the tides
c. wetland d. fresh water
d. estuary
6. Evergreen trees are found in the
2. Fresh water meets the sea
in a(n) a. tundra
b. taiga
a. taiga
c. intertidal zone
b. chaparral
d. chaparral
c. intertidal zone
d. estuary 7. The weather conditions of an
area are called its
3. Areas where water is almost
always near the surface are a. biome
b. climate
a. deciduous c. tundras
c. temperature
b. wetlands d. estuaries
d. food chain
4. A very cold, dry biome is a(n)
8. Trees that change colors during
a. taiga autumn are called
b. tundra a. taigas c. deciduous
c. estuary b. tundras d. chaparral
d. chaparral
70
Fill in each blank with a letter.
1. A forest of evergreen trees is a(n) __ __ __ __ __

4 7
2. One of the two deserts in California is the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

6 3 5
3. A dry region with thick brush and small trees is a(n)
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
2 1
Now answer the riddle by putting the corresponding letter on the line
above each number.
Riddle: What do you call a St. Bernard in the middle of August?
Answer:
__ __ __ __ __ __ __
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
71
CHAPTER 3
Heat Energy
Vocabulary
energy the ability to insulation material

cause changes used to prevent heat
from flowing between
two substances
kinetic energy the wave a way to

energy of a moving carry energy from
object place to place
potential energy wavelength the

the energy in an object distance from one crest
because of its height to the next
above the ground
temperature the amplitude the height

average kinetic energy of a wave above its
of the molecules of an rest level
object
72
Chapter 3
How does heat move from
one object to another?
frequency the number friction a force that

of waves that pass any acts when two surfaces
point in a second rub against each other.
sound wave a wave conduction the flow

made when an object of energy by direct
vibrates contact
fossil fuel fuel that convection the flow of

comes from the remains energy through a fluid,
of plants and animals a liquid, or a gas.
work pushing or pulling ^ZObS

Q]\dSQbW]\
Qc``S\ba convection
to move an object current circular
`WaW\U
through a distance aW\YW\U movement of fluids

[O\bZS
]cbS`Q]`S
W\\S`
Q]`S
73
Chapter 3
Lesson 1
Heat Flow
How is energy related to motion?

If you place an ice cube in the Sun, the ice soon melts.
The ice molecules got something from the Sun. This
something made the ice change from a solid to liquid
water. The ice received energy. Energy is the ability to
cause changes.
For example, the molecules that make up a solid are
in back-and-forth motion because the object has energy.
When you heat the solid, the molecules move faster
because the solid is taking in energy. If enough energy
is added, the solid will melt when the molecules begin to
move past one another.
▲ Molecules in a solid have ▲ This blacksmith uses the energy of the fire
limited motion. to change the shape of the iron.
Quick Check
1. Circle the examples that would need energy to do the action.
• melt chocolate • sing a song
• wash dishes • play baseball
74
Heat Energy
Two Kinds of Energy
Energy is classified according
to motion. Kinetic energy (ki•NET•ik
EN•uhr•jee) is the energy a moving object
has. A skateboarder moving down a
ramp has kinetic energy.
When the skater is at the top of the
ramp, she has a different kind of energy.
The energy in an object because of
its height above the ground is called
potential energy. Potential energy is
stored energy.
Energy can change from one form to The higher off the ground the girl is,
another. A rock at the top of a hill has the more potential energy she has.
potential energy as long as it is still. If it

begins to tumble downhill—faster and
faster—the potential energy is changing
into kinetic energy.
Quick Check
2. What would happen to the boulder if its potential energy was changed
into kinetic energy?
75
How is temperature different from heat?
The temperature of an object is the average kinetic
energy of its molecules.
Molecules in all things are always moving. Some
molecules move faster than others. You cannot find the
kinetic energy of millions of molecules one by one. So,
scientists find an average kinetic energy, or temperature.
Molecules in a Solid,
a Liquid, and a Gas
liquid
gas
solid
The molecules in solids, liquids, and

gases move at different speeds.
Quick Check
3. Look at the art of the molecules. Which kind of molecules seems to

be moving slowest? Which kind seems to be moving the fastest?
76
Heat Energy
Heat Flow
Water is heated on the stove. Then the
hot water is mixed with cocoa. Energy
is transferred from the hot cocoa to
the girl’s hands—that is from a warmer
object to a cooler one.
Heat Flow
If you hold a mug of hot cocoa, your hand becomes
warm. Energy has moved from the cup to your hand.
Energy is transferred from a warmer object to a cooler
one. Heat flow is the transfer of energy from a warmer
object to a cooler object.
When something is heated, its molecules move
faster. Because they move faster, they have more
kinetic energy. The temperature of the object goes up.
As energy is transferred out of the warm object, its
molecules gradually slow down. The temperature of the
object goes down.
Quick Check
4. is the average kinetic energy of a substance.
5. Energy is transferred from objects to
objects.
77
Why does heat flow from
one object to another?
Remember, heat flow is the They give energy to the molecules
movement of energy from a warmer in the ice cube. The molecules in
object to a cooler object. Energy the ice cube now move faster. Their
moves between objects because temperature rises. The process
of differences in temperature. continues until all the molecules are
Suppose an ice cube is placed in a at the same temperature. That is
glass of warm water. The molecules why the plastic bag became warm
in the warm water collide with the when it was put into the beaker of
molecules in the ice cube. warm water below.
Measuring Heat Flow
At Start One Hour Later
beaker beaker
at 80°C at 70°C
plastic bag plastic bag

at 60°C at 70°C
Reading Diagrams
The diagram shows heat flow between warm water and

cooler water in the plastic bag (left).
Quick Check
6. What is a clue that energy is moving between two objects?
78
Heat Energy
What is insulation?
Conductors, such as metals, absorb heat and transfer
it. They make a path for heat to flow. If you hold a metal
spoon, it will be warm where you held it. The warmth will
spread out through the spoon.
Insulators, like wood, absorb
heat but do not transfer it. They
do not allow heat to flow. If you
hold a piece of wood, it will be
warm where you held it. However,
the warmth will not spread
through the wood.
Insulation (IN•suh•lay•shuhn) is vacuum
bottle
a material used to prevent heat
flow between two materials. You mirrorlike
insulate something by wrapping coating
it or stuffing it with a material bounces
radiant
that is not a good conductor. For heat
example, walls may be insulated.
An insulated wall contains vacuum
no material
material that helps keep heat to conduct
inside on a cold day. heat between
bottle
Quick Check
inner bottle
7. How do insulators
outer bottle
differ from conductors?
▲ A vacuum bottle has no material to

conduct heat between the inner and
outer bottle. The vacuum insulates
the inner bottle.

79
Lesson 2
Waves
What is a wave?
A wave is a way that energy is carried from place to
place. As a wave moves through water, the water moves
up and down. However, the water itself does not move in
the direction of the wave.
A wave can be described by its parts.
• crest—the highest point on a wave
• trough—the lowest point on a wave
• wavelength—the distance from one crest to the
next crest
• amplitude—the distance from the crest to the rest
position of the water
Wavelength and Amplitude

crest
rest position
trough
Quick Check
Match the description with the word in the first column.
8. wavelength a. how energy is carried from place to place
9. crest b. the highest point on a wave
10. trough c. the distance from crest to crest
11. wave d. the lowest point on a wave
80
Heat Energy
Frequency
A wave can also be described by its frequency.
Frequency is the number of waves that pass any
point in a second. In the picture, one wave has
passed the pelican in 1 second. The frequency of
the wave is 1 wave per second.
Wave Frequency
Time: 0 seconds
Time: 1 second
Reading Diagrams
Why does the pelican stay in the same

place as the wave passes?
Watch waves
@ www.macmillanmh.com
Quick Check
12. Suppose 4 waves pass the pelican in 1 second. What is the frequency
of the waves?
13. If 6 waves pass the pelican in 2 seconds, what is the frequency of the
waves?
81
What is sound?
Water waves are one kind of wave. Sound is another
kind of wave. A sound wave is made when an object
vibrates, or moves back and forth. A drum makes sound
when the drum head vibrates. Your voice is made when
your vocal chords vibrate. Sounds are detected by
your ears.
Pitch, the highness or lowness of a sound, is an
important property. Pitch depends on frequency. The
higher the frequency is, the higher the pitch. A high-
pitched sound, like a tea-kettle whistle, has a higher
frequency than a low-pitched sound, like a foghorn.
2. The vibrating eardrum passes

Movement of Sound Waves the vibrations along to tiny
bones, making them move.
1. Sound from the trumpet

hits the eardrum, making
it vibrate.
3. The vibrating bones pass the sound

waves to a liquid inside a chamber.
These waves eventually reach nerves
that send signals to the brain. As a
result, you hear the sounds.
Quick Check
14. Sound is made when .
82
Heat Energy
Squeeze coils together and release.
Wave Motion
Sound waves travel through the air like the ripples of a coiled spring toy.
How do sound waves travel?

Sound waves travel through a series of compressions.
A compression is a squeezing together of something.
To understand this, think of a coiled spring toy.
Squeeze one end of the spring and then release it. A
wave moves through the coils toward the other end. As
it passes through each part of the toy, the wave pushes,
or compresses, the coils. As the wave moves on, the
coils pull apart.
Sound waves need molecules in order to travel.
Without matter, nothing would compress and pull
apart. The molecules conduct the sound away from the
vibrating object that made the sound. In a sound wave,
the wave and the molecules of matter in the wave move
back and forth in the same direction as the wave.
Quick Check
15. What happens when you squeeze one end of a spring and
then release it?
83
What can sound waves move through?
Place a wind-up clock at one end of a table. Walk
to the other end of the table. The ticking sound gets
quieter. Now put your ear to the table. The sound is
louder. Sound travels better through the table than
through the air.
Sound travels through different materials. In fact,
without a material, sound cannot travel. Sounds can
move through solids, liquids, and gases. It moves
fastest in solids, and slowest in gases.
Sound moves through air, but it does not

travel very far. It also does not travel very fast.
In space there is nothing for sound to

travel through. So sound cannot be
heard in space.
Sound travels about 4 times faster

through water than through air. Whales
can communicate over long distances
because of this fact.
Quick Check
16. Why does sound travel faster through a solid than a gas?
84
Heat Energy
What are electromagnetic waves?
Are there waves other than waves made by water and
sound? In fact, there is a whole range, or spectrum, of
waves. Each kind of wave has its own special range of
wavelengths and its own special uses. These waves
are electromagnetic (ee•LEK•troh•mag•NET•ik). People
often call them “light” or “rays.”
Unlike sound, electromagnetic waves do not need matter
to carry them. They can travel through empty space.
Other Kinds of Waves
Infrared light cannot be Visible light can be seen by X rays cannot be seen
seen by humans. But humans. Visible light is actually by humans. X rays are
photographic film that is made up of many colors. A used to show a person’s
sensitive to infrared can be prism separates visible light bones.
used to take night pictures. into its colors.
Quick Check
17. Circle the kind of wave that does not belong with
the others.
visible light ultraviolet light sound X rays

85
Lesson 3
Fuels: Our Major Energy Source
What are fuels?

A fuel is a material that releases heat when it is
burned. A fuel is a source of energy.
There are many kinds of fuels. One of the most
important kinds is fossil fuels. A fossil fuel is a fuel that
comes from the remains of plants and animals. Coal,
oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels. The organisms that
became these fuels lived millions of years ago. When
they died, their remains were covered by layers of
sand or mud. Over time, heat and pressure changed
them into fuels.
coal
A Fossil fuels contain energy from

ancient plants and animals.
86
Heat Energy
What are other sources of energy?
Fuels are an energy resource. Fuels are said to be
renewable or nonrenewable.
Renewable resources can be replaced in a relatively
short time. Nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced
in a short time or at all.
Fuel Type How Obtained
Coal Nonrenewable Fossil fuel
Oil Nonrenewable Fossil fuel
Natural Gas Nonrenewable Fossil fuel and biomass
Biomass Renewable Corn, manure, animal fats, etc.
Wood Renewable, if used carefully Trees
Water Renewable Running rivers
Wind Renewable Moving air
Solar Renewable Sun
Quick Check
18. How are renewable and nonrenewable resources different?
19. Circle the renewable resources in this list:
coal, oil, water, wind, natural gas
87
What happens when fuel burns?
Oxygen must be present for a fuel to burn. When
it is heated, fuel combines with oxygen in the air. This
combination, or reaction, of fuel and oxygen releases
energy. You see the energy as heat and light.
Methane is one of the ingredients in natural gas.
When methane burns, it produces a lot of energy.
Burning Methane Gas
1 Methane is a gas made up of

carbon and hydrogen. 3 4
2 Oxygen is needed for methane

5
to burn. It comes from the air.
3 As the methane burns, the

carbon in it combines with
the oxygen. Carbon dioxide is
made as a result.
2
4 The burning methane gives 1
off a lot of heat and light. The
heat is what cooks the meal.
5 The hydrogen in the methane

combines with the oxygen. Reading Diagrams
Water vapor is made as a
result. The diagram describes the
steps involved when methane
is burned.
Quick Check
20. When methane is burned, and
combine together. As a result,
and
are made. and
are given off.
88
Heat Energy
When the fuels in the rocket are mixed,
an explosion occurs. The exploding
gases moving out of the bottom of the
rocket make the rocket move upward.
Fuel and Energy

Burning fuel is a way to change potential energy (in
the fuel) into kinetic energy. Here are some examples.
When fuel is burned, many different kinds of energy can
be released:
• heat Coal and petroleum are especially good at this.
• light Candles and kerosene lamps can give off enough
light to brighten a room.
• sound Exploding fireworks produce sound as well as
brilliantly colored light.
• kinetic energy Burning fuels change potential energy
in the fuel into kinetic energy of motion.
Quick Check
21. Four kinds of energy produced when fuels are burned are
, ,
, and .
89
When a car’s engine burns gasoline, gases are produced. The gases
push down the pistons that turn the crankshaft. The wheels spin, and
the car races around the track.
How can energy be used Work and Energy

to do work?
People use energy to do work.
Work is pushing or pulling to move
an object through a distance. People
do work when they move objects
from one place to another. You do
work when you:
• lift up a book
• use a screwdriver
• ride a bicycle
Burning fuel also can do work. Reading Photos
For example, the burning fuel in a jet
plane makes it move forward. The photo shows how a boy can
use the pedals and hand brakes to
control the bicycle.
Quick Check
22. Is reading a book doing work? Explain your answer.
90
Heat Energy
Friction: Nature’s Brakes
To slow a car, you use friction, a force that acts when
two surfaces rub against each other. When you step on
the brake, you press the brakes against the wheel. The
resulting friction slows the car.
Friction makes heat. Rub your hands together. What
do you feel? The heat you feel is caused by friction.
Squeezing the brakes makes

the brake pads squeeze the
tires. Friction between the
brake pads and the tires
slows and stops the bike.
Quick Check
23. An ice skater has to turn the skates in order to stop. Why can’t the
skater just press harder on the skates?

91
Lesson 4
Heat Transfer in Solids and Fluids
How is heat transferred?

Heat can be transferred in three ways. One way is by
conduction, the flow of energy by direct contact. For
conduction to occur, the objects must be touching.
Heating by Conduction
4. Heat from the top of the
food is transferred to the
air above the food.
Conduction is the only way

heat can travel through solids.
3. Heat flows from the

pan into the food. Heat
transfer continues until
all the food is cooked.
2. Vibrating atoms of coil
transfer some of their
energy to the pan
1. As the burner heats up,

its atoms vibrate faster.
Its temperature rises,
making it glow red.
Reading Photos
This photo describes how food is cooked

on an electric stove.
92
Heat Energy
What is convection?
If you put your hand over the food in the pan, you
would feel heat. But the hot pan is not touching the
air. Can heat travel in other ways? Heat moves through
fluids—liquids and gases—by convection.
Convection happens because fluids become less
dense when heated. For example, as air heats up, its
molecules spread out. The air gets less dense. The
heated air rises. As the air rises, it cools. The water vapor
condenses. It turns into a liquid—a cloud.
A Heated air is less dense than cooled air. As a result, the heated
air rises until molecules of water condense, making clouds.
Quick Check
24. Compare conduction and convection.
93
What are convection currents?
As a hot fluid rises away from its heat source, it
may cool. It will get denser and sink. When it reaches
the heat source, it will be warmed again. The circular
movement of fluids is called a convection current. This
current helps warm the entire pot of water.
Convection Currents
Convection currents
distribute heat through
the pot of boiling water.
Cooler Cooler
water sinks. water sinks.
Warm
Water is
water
heated.
rises.
Quick Check
25. Why is it hotter near the ceiling than near the floor of a room?
94
Heat Energy
Do some materials warm faster
than others?
Sand on a beach warms up faster than the water.
Some things warm up faster than others. They do
because it takes less energy to warm them up.
The table below shows how much energy it takes
to raise the temperature of different things one
degree. It takes more energy to warm up liquid water
one degree than anything else in the table. So water
warms up slower than anything else in the table.
Amount of energy
Material (joules) to raise 1
gram by 1 degree
Air 1.004
Aluminum 0.897
Copper 0.385
Water (liquid) 4.181
Ice 2.114
Sand 0.835
Wood 0.42
Brick 0.84
Concrete 0.88
Quick Check
26. Which material in the table warms up the fastest? How can
you tell?

95
Vocabulary
Review
Heat Energy
1. The energy in an object 5. The ability to cause changes

because of its height is called
a. kinetic c. heat a. matter c. heat flow

b. potential d. wave b. convection d. energy
2. The distance from one crest 6. Fossil fuels are sometimes

of a wave to the next is called
the wave’s
a. renewable resources
a. amplitude b. stored sunlight
b. frequency c. plants
c. kinetic energy d. released sunlight
d. wavelength
7. Amplitude is a measure of
3. A thermos bottle is an a wave’s
example of
a. height c. frequency
a. conduction c. fuel b. length d. pitch
b. insulation d. fossil
8. To keep heat inside, you
4. An athlete swinging a bat is might use
a. using kinetic energy a. a conductor

b. doing work b. a metal
c. producing heat c. insulation
d. all of the above d. heat flow
96
Read each clue. Write the answers in the blanks and then
fill in the crossword puzzle.
1. 2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Across
3. A force that acts when two surfaces rub against
each other
5. A way to carry energy from place to place
7. The flow of energy through a fluid
8. The number of waves per second

Down
1. The energy of a moving object
2. The flow of energy by direct contact
4. The average kinetic energy of an object
6. A wave made by a vibrating object
97
CHAPTER 4
Energy in the Earth System

Vocabulary
electromagnetic solar radiation light

wave vibrating from the Sun that
electric charges shines on Earth’s
surface
light wave absorption taking in

an electromagnetic radiant energy
wave you can see
electromagnetic emission giving off

spectrum grouping of radiant energy
electromagnetic waves
in order of wavelength
radiation the transfer La

br
ad
ft
ocean current a river
or
Dri
ntic
of energy by C ream
Nor
th Atla
of water in the ocean
C a f St
ry
electromagnetic
lifo ent
na
urr
Gu
Ca
rnia
waves rial
Benguela
n
ilia
Braz
ru
Pe
z
Mo
West Wind
Drif t
98
Chapter 4
How do radiation and convection
currents affect phenomena on Earth?
Gulf Stream a warm ENSO the way the

surface current flowing Pacific Ocean and the
O[
Ab`S
ZT
along the East Coast air interact
5c
California Current crust the thin, solid,

a cold surface current outermost layer
flowing along the of Earth
C
C a
West Coast
lifo ent
urr
rnia
wind the horizontal mantle the thick layer

flow of air of rock below the crust
Santa Ana wind the core the central part

warm, dry wind that of Earth
blows out of the desert
in Southern California
99
Chapter 4
Lesson 1
Electromagnetic Spectrum
What is the electromagnetic

spectrum?
The Sun’s energy is carried to Earth
by vibrating electric charges, or
electromagnetic waves. These waves
can have many wavelengths. Light waves
for example, have wavelengths that you
can see. The electromagnetic spectrum
is the grouping of electromagnetic waves
in order of wavelength. Each wavelength of visible light
is a color. When all the colors
mix, white light results.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Reading Diagrams
This picture shows the waves that make

up the electromagnetic spectrum.
100
Comparing Electromagnetic Waves
You can compare electromagnetic waves in many
ways. The table shows some of these ways.
Amount of
Kind of Wave Wavelength Examples
Energy
AM/FM radio
radio longest lowest
TV
microwave microwave ovens
heat
infrared infrared lamps
at restaurants
colors from red
visible
to violet
tanning (UV)
ultraviolet
lamps
medicine
X rays
dentistry
gamma ray
gamma rays shortest highest
telescopes
Quick Check
1. Arrange electromagnetic waves from shortest wavelength to longest

wavelength. Use the diagram below to help you.
First
Next
Last
101
▲ The International Space Station collects radiation from
the Sun to make electricity.
How does electromagnetic radiation

reach Earth?
Energy given off by the Sun is called radiant energy.
Radiant energy travels about 150 million kilometers
(93 million miles) from the Sun to reach Earth! There is
no air or other matter between Earth’s atmosphere and
the Sun. What transfers the Sun’s energy to Earth?
Radiant energy travels in the form of electromagnetic
waves. Electromagnetic waves do not need matter
to travel. They can travel through empty space. The
transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves is
called radiation.
Not just the Sun, but all objects give off
electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths. The
wavelengths depend on the object’s temperature. The
Sun’s surface temperature is about 6,000°C (11,000°F).
At this temperature, most solar radiation, energy from
the Sun that shines on the Earth’s surface, is made of
visible and infrared wavelengths.
102
Absorption and Emission of Radiant Energy
An object will take in or give off radiant energy.
Taking in of radiant energy is called absorption. Giving
off of radiant energy is emission. A good absorber is also
a good emitter. Once away from the source of radiation,
the absorber will become an emitter.
Absorption Emission
• dark objects absorb better • dark objects emit better

than light objects. than light objects
• dark objects heat up faster • dark objects cool off faster

than light objects. than light objects.
Absorption and Emission
Reading Photos
The photos show how an absorber

of radiation (the desert floor) during
the day can be an emitter at night.
Quick Check
2. Would you wear a yellow or a dark brown sweater on a chilly autumn
day? Why?
103
What forms of radiation
are useful?
Many kinds of electromagnetic
radiation are useful. They are also
safe if used properly.
Uses of Radiation
Infrared light from the

tuner activates a sensor
In a microwave oven, in the TV, turning it on or
microwaves shake water off, or changing channels.
molecules in food, causing
friction, which heats the food.
The film in the camera reacts to

visible light, making an image.
The DJ’s voice is changed into radio
waves, which travel to your receiver
(radio) and are changed back into sound.
104
Harmful Radiation
The more energy that radiation has, the greater the
danger. Short-wavelength radiation, such as gamma
rays, has the most energy. However, all radiation is
harmful in large amounts. For example, an infrared heat
lamp can burn you if used too long.
A special film in an X-ray machine

reacts to the X rays, making an image
of the teeth. The dentist studies the
pictures to detect cavities.
A Scientists take care when

working with gamma rays.
Quick Check
3. Why does the doctor taking a chest X ray of you leave the room?
Why don’t you need to wear protection?

105
Lesson 2
Solar Radiation
How is the Sun an

important energy source?
Solar radiation is a very important
energy source.
• Plants use it to make food.
• Fossil fuels were formed from
lifeforms that contained stored
energy from the sun.
• It helps cause winds and
ocean currents.
• It influences weather.
• It drives the water cycle.
The Sun is the start of most typical
food chains of Earth. Energy from
the Sun is trapped by plants. Plants
use the energy to make food by
photosynthesis. The energy is stored
in the food in the plant. Animals get
the energy by eating plants or by
eating animals that eat plants.
D When animals, such as this giraffe, eat,

they take in the Sun’s energy trapped
by plants.
Quick Check
4. How do animals get solar radiation by eating plants?
106
How does Earth gain and lose energy?
Most of the heat on Earth comes from the Sun. But
Earth also gives off, or radiates, heat into space. Because
this happens, Earth’s average surface temperature stays
about the same. It is about 140°C (59°F).
The picture shows how energy from the Sun is gained
or lost.
Energy from the Sun
6% reflected by
the atmosphere
25% reflected
by clouds
4% reflected
from Earth’s 15% absorbed by
surface the atmosphere
50% directly
or indirectly
absorbed
by Earth’s
surface
Quick Check
5. Describe what happens to the Sun’s energy after it reaches Earth.
107
How does the Sun affect
the water cycle?
Solar energy helps recycle Earth’s water supply. It
plays a role in each of the main parts of the water cycle:
evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Evaporation
During evaporation:
• Solar radiation warms Earth’s surface water.
• The water molecules move faster as a result.
• Water molecules near water’s surface escape into
the air as water vapor (evaporation).
A Solar energy evaporates the water in the seawater. It leaves behind the salt.
108
Solar Energy and the Water Cycle
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Condensation
During condensation: Reading Diagrams
• Earth’s air absorbs less solar
What is the path of water in the
energy than Earth’s surface. water cycle?
• As a result, water molecules in the
air slow down. Watch solar
energy and the water cycle
• The water vapor changes into @ www.macmillanmh.com
water droplets (condensation).
Precipitation
During precipitation:
• Water droplets in air join together and form a cloud.
• When enough water droplets collect in the cloud,
they fall to Earth’s surface (precipitation).
• Depending on how much Sun’s energy air absorbs,
precipitation falls as rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
Quick Check
6. Francie says the part of the water cycle most affected by solar energy
is condensation. Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
109
How does the Sun affect climate
and weather?
Climate and weather depend on how much solar
energy reaches the Earth. Climate is the average
weather for a region.
Factors that affect climate What the Sun does

• temperature
Solar energy heats air, land, and water. It
• precipitation
helps create patterns of precipitation, wind,
• wind
and ocean currents.
• ocean currents
Sunlight hits surface at a high angle near
equator and at a low angle near poles. Less
• latitude
energy available near poles, so climate is
cooler.
The higher up you go, the less air there is,
• altitude
and the less solar energy absorbed. Climate
(mountains)
is colder.
Solar Radiation and Climate
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The energy from the Sun is spread out over a larger

area at the poles than at the equator.
110
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at
a given place and time. Like climate, weather
is influenced by many variables. The Sun also
plays an important role.
Factors that
The Sun’s role
affect weather
high pressure
• air moisture
result from evaporation
• clouds
caused by solar energy
• precipitation
dry weather
• air temperature heats up air
low pressure
heated air exerts less
• air pressure*
pressure than cool air
wind moves from area of

• wind high pressure to an area
of low pressure wet weather
* Remember, air pressure is how hard the air above a region
pushes down on it.
Quick Check
7. As the air temperature increases, the air pressure
8. The Sun affects a region’s climate and weather by providing

111
Lesson 3
The Power of Convection Currents
What are convection

currents?
A convection current is a pattern of
rising and sinking air or other fluid.
A hot-air balloon shows a convection
4
current at work. 5 5
1. A burner heats the air.

2. The heated air molecules move
apart. They become less dense.
3. The less dense air rises above the
surrounding unheated air.
5 3 5
4. The air at the top begins to cool. It
6 6
becomes denser.
5. The cooling air sinks toward
the bottom.
2
6. When the air reaches the bottom, it
is once again heated up. It rises
and the pattern starts over—a 1
convection current!
Quick Check
9. What would happen to the convection current if the burner under the
balloon was turned off? Explain.
112
What causes ocean currents?
An ocean current is a river of water in the ocean.
Ocean currents follow definite paths. Here are some
facts about them.
• Warm currents carry warm water toward the poles.
• Cold currents move cold water toward the equator.
• Some currents flow near the surface. They are
moved by Earth’s global winds. The Gulf Stream is a
warm surface current. It flows along the East Coast.
The California Current is a cold surface current. It
flows along the West Coast.
• Some currents flow far below the ocean’s surface.
• Currents flow in huge circles, just like
convection currents.
Major Surface Ocean Currents
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This map shows where the major
ocean currents in the world flow.
Quick Check
10. What pattern do you see in the currents in the map?
113
What makes the wind blow?
Wind is the horizontal flow of air. It is caused
by differences in air pressure. Winds move from
high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas.
Global Winds Local Winds
• blow from a specific direction • blow from any direction
• cover long distances • cover short distances
• often are given special names.

• are caused by convection currents:
For example, Santa Ana winds are
warm air moving from equator to poles,
warm, dry winds that blow out of
cool air moving from poles to equator
desert in Southern California.
The hot Santa Ana winds dry out plant life, making it fuel for wildfires.
Quick Check
11. Compare and contrast global and local winds.
114
Sea breezes and land breezes
are convection currents.
Factors That Affect Winds

Earth’s Rotation (curves paths of winds)
• Northern Hemisphere: winds flow clockwise
• Southern Hemisphere: winds flow counterclockwise
Geography (mountains and valleys)
• Valley breeze: in the morning, warm air rises off mountain slopes. Cool air
from the valley takes its place.
• Mountain breeze: in the evening, mountain air cools, sinks, and replaces
warm air in the valley.
Type of Material (land and water)
• Sea breeze: in the morning, air over land warms and rises. Cool air from
the sea flows toward the land.
• Land breeze: in the evening, air over land cools faster than over the sea.
Cool air flows from the land toward the sea.
Quick Check
Fill in the blanks with sea or land.
12. A valley breeze is like a breeze.
13. A mountain breeze is like a breeze.
115
What is El Niño/
Southern Oscillation? Results of El Niño
The oceans and the
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El Niño (el NEEN•yoh).
El Niño is part of the ENSO or El Niño/Southern
Oscillation (ah•si•LAY•shuhn), the way the Pacific Ocean
and the air interact. The Southern Oscillation is back-and
forth reversing of winds.
• In normal conditions, winds blow from North America
and South America across the Pacific Ocean toward
Australia and Japan.
• In El Niño conditions, winds blow in the opposite
direction.
Quick Check
14. During an , deep-level cold water

does not rise toward the surface.
116
ENSO
Effects of ENSO
In normal years, cold water from
deep in the oceans brings food that
supports many fish. During ENSO,
many changes occur.
normal year
• Without food from the cold
waters, many fish die. The food Strong winds keep warm surface water
chain is affected. in the western Pacific Ocean. Cooler
water rises to the surface of the eastern
• Dry areas may receive a lot of Pacific Ocean.
rain.
• Wet areas may experience
drought.
• Heavy storms often affect the
Gulf of Mexico and western South
America.
• Eastern Asia is hit by drought.
El Niño year
• Changes in the path of the
jet stream occur. Warm waters in the western Pacific Ocean
move east and prevent cool water from
The jet stream is a current rising to the surface.
of fast-moving air in the upper
atmosphere. It is one factor that
has a major influence on weather
in North America.
La Niña year
Very strong winds push warm water to the

western Pacific Ocean. Cool water surfaces
near California, bringing drier weather to
much of the United States.
Quick Check
15. How can El Niño cause the weather to change in parts of the world?
117
How do convection currents
work underground?
Earth is divided into three parts:
• crust thin, solid, outermost layer
• mantle thick layer of rock below crust
• core central part of the Earth
Temperatures in the Earth slowly rise until they
reach about 5,500°C (9,932°F) at the center of the
core. Temperatures in the mantle are high enough to
make the rock there flow very slowly, like honey. Rock
is a poor conductor of heat. So, heat is transferred
away from the core by convection currents. The hot
mantle rock rises toward the crust. The cooler mantle
rock sinks toward the core.
Earth’s Convection Currents

convection
currents
crust
rising
sinking
mantle
outer core
inner
core
118
a thermal spring in Iceland
Effects of Convection on Earth’s Surface

Convection in the Earth makes the mantle rock
move slowly in a circle. As this happens, the mantle
rock pulls on the bottom of the crust. Some of the
crust moves, too.
Sometimes, convection rises as a column of melted
rock. If this melted rock reaches the surface, a volcano
can occur. Or sometimes a geyser or a hot spring,
such as those found in Yellowstone National Park or
in Iceland.
Quick Check
16. The Hawaiian Islands are the tops of volcanoes. How might these
islands have formed?

119
Vocabulary
Review

1. Electromagnetic waves you 4. The California Current is a(n)

can see are
a. cold surface current
a. infrared waves b. warm surface current
b. light waves c. cold deep water current
c. ultraviolet waves d. warm deep water current
d. X rays
5. The way the Pacific Ocean and
2. Taking in radiant the air interact is called the
energy is called
a. Santa Ana wind
a. radiation b. Gulf Stream
b. emission c. ENSO
c. absorption d. electromagnetic spectrum
d. vibration
6. What name is given to the
3. A river of water in the ocean grouping of electromagnetic
is a(n) waves in order of wavelength?
a. ocean current a. electromagnetic spectrum

b. ENSO b. solar radiation
c. convection current c. emission
d. El Niño d. absorption
120
radiation absorption Santa Ana
mantle crust Gulf Stream
wind core emission
electromagnetic waves solar radiation
Fill in the blanks with words in the box.
1. Giving off radiant energy
2. A warm surface current
3. A warm, dry wind
4. Earth’s thin, solid, outermost layer
5. The thick layer below Earth’s surface
6. The transfer of energy by electromagnetic

waves
7. A horizontal flow of air
8. The central part of Earth
9. Vibrating electric charges
10. Light from the Sun
121
CHAPTER 5
Plate Tectonics and

Earth’s Structure
Vocabulary
continental drift seismic wave a

Wegener’s theory vibration that travels
that a supercontinent through Earth
split apart and the
pieces drifted to their
present locations lithosphere rocks in
the crust attached to
lithosphere
the upper mantle
mid-ocean ridge
mid-ocean ridge a
oceanic crust oceanic crust
line of underwater
mountains in the middle magma molten rock in
of an ocean the mantle
oceanic trench ocean trench a long,

deep undersea valley magma
lava magma on the

Earth’s surface
earthquake a shaking
of the ground
plate tectonics Earth’s

surface is made of
volcano a crack in the continental
plate plates that move slowly
crust through which across the mantle
magma flows
volcanic
island
island arc
subduction one plate

melting ocean
ocean
sinking beneath another
plate
122
Chapter 5
What geologic forces have
shaped Earth’s landscape?
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123
Chapter 5
Lesson 1
Earth’s Moving Plates
What forces shape Earth?

Look at the outlines of North and South America.
Now do the same for Africa. Do you see a pattern?
The bulge of Africa seems to fit into the area between
the two Americas, right at the Gulf of Mexico and
the Caribbean Sea. Is there a reason for this match?
In 1912 the German scientist Alfred Wegener made
a hypothesis. He said the continents were once part
of a supercontinent. This supercontinent split apart
into pieces. Over time the pieces drifted to their
present locations. Wegener’s hypothesis is known as
continental drift.
Quick Check
1. How did Wegener explain the fit of the continents?
124
Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Structure
Motion of Continents Continental Drift
Wegener called his
supercontinent Pangaea
(pan•Jee•uh). About 200 million
years ago Pangaea split into two
parts. Over millions of years, these
parts split and drifted to their
225 present locations.
million years
ago
Pangaea
Laurasia Gondwanaland
North Asia Europe

America
135
million
years ago India Africa Australia South
America
Antarctica
Quick Check
65
million 2. About 200 million years ago,
years ago
Pangaea split apart into
and
present
day
Reading Maps
The map shows how the positions of

the continents have changed over time.
125
Fossil Evidence
What evidence supports
continental drift? Fossils of
Continental drift is supported by Glossopteris, a
fern, have been
evidence from rocks and from fossils. found in South
America, Africa,
India, Antarctica,
Evidence from Rocks and Australia.
Rocks provide the following clues:
• Parts of Africa and South
America have rocks of the same
type and age. Fossils of Cynognathus, a
• Mountain ranges line up Triassic land reptile about 3 m
(10 ft) long, have been found
across the two continents in South America and Africa.
as if these two continents
were once joined.
• Coal formed from tropical
plants is found in North
America and Antarctica.
This implies they were
both much closer to the
equator at one time.
Evidence from Rocks’ Ages

• When two rock layers are found in the same area
or landform, usually the lower layer is older.
Evidence from Fossils

Fossils also give clues that the continents have
moved in the past.
• Index fossils, which lived only during a short time,
are found only in certain areas. This can only
happen if continents were once joined.
• Fossil plants and animals of the same kind are
found on continents separated by oceans.
• Tropical fern fossils have been found in Antarctica.
126
Fossils of Mesosaurus,
a freshwater reptile,
have been found in
South America
and Africa.
Fossils of the Triassic land reptile

Lystrosaurus have been found in
Africa, India, and Antarctica.
The map shows where fossils of

ancient organisms have been found in
the southern continents. It also shows
how these continents would once have
fit together in a way that explains the
distribution of the fossils.
Quick Check
3. What fossil evidence supports continental drift?
4. Dinosaur fossils were found in Alaska that were previously found only
in tropical Asia. What might this evidence suggest about Alaska?
127
What clues are found on the
ocean floor?
Support for continental drift also came from the
ocean floor. Scientists discovered in the 1960s that
Earth’s crust was made up of large pieces called plates.
They found out that:
• plates carry both continents and ocean floors
with them.
• when plates move apart under the oceans, new rock
from below may move up. It may form mountains
in the space between the plates. These underwater
mountains are called a mid-ocean ridge.
• when plates move together, one may sink under the
other. A long, deep valley, an ocean trench, may form.
Mid-Ocean Ridge Ocean Trench
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Quick Check
5. Challenger Deep is an ocean trench. How might it have formed?
128
What other events occur
at plate boundaries?
If you push two stacks of paper Sometimes plates slide past
together, they might bunch up, each other. When this happens,
forming a mountain. When two a shaking of the ground, or an
plates meet, if they don’t form a earthquake may occur.
trench, they may form a mountain.
When melted rock and hot
The Appalachian Mountains were
gases erupt through a crack in the
made this way.
crust, a volcano may occur.
Earthquake and Volcano Activity
ARCTIC OCEAN
PACIFIC
OCEAN
INDIAN
OCEAN ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Active volcano
Major earthquake Reading Maps

Plate boundary
The map shows the locations of plate
boundaries, volcanoes, and earthquake sites.
Quick Check
6. What conclusion can you draw if you study the locations of volcanoes
and earthquakes?

129
Lesson 2
Plate Tectonics: A Unifying Theory
San Andreas Fault
How do scientists study

Earth’s structure?
Scientists cannot see far enough into Earth to
see its structure. Instead, they use seismic waves. A
seismic wave is a vibration that travels through Earth.
There are two kinds of seismic waves: surface
waves and body waves. Each kind of wave has its own
properties. There are even two kinds of body waves.
By studying seismic waves, scientists learn a lot about
Earth’s interior.
Instruments on Earth’s surface record these
movements or vibrations. These instruments are called
seismographs (SIZE•muh•grafs).
Based on studying these waves, scientists conclude
that Earth’s interior is made up of layers with different
properties.
130
D Seismographs detect, measure,
and record the energy of
earthquake vibrations. As the
ground vibrates, the pen traces
a record of these seismic waves.
Seismic Waves
Kind of Wave Properties
• is trapped near Earth’s surface

Surface wave • moves slower than body waves
• travels like water waves
• goes through interior of Earth
Primary body wave • moves fastest of seismic waves
(P wave) • moves through solids, liquids, or gases
• travels like a sound wave
• moves only through solids
Secondary body wave
(S wave) • vibrates up and down and side to side
as it moves forward
Quick Check
7. waves and
waves are kinds of body waves. The

waves travel with the greatest speed.
131
What are the main layers of Earth?
The Earth has three main layers—the crust, the
mantle, and the core. The core, in turn, has an outer part
and inner part. Each layer has its own properties. These
properties depend on the pressure exerted by the layers
above. It also depends on the temperature, which goes
up as you go deeper into Earth.
Earth’s Layers
The crust is very

thin (6–7 km thick).
It is the outermost
part of Earth. Most
natural resources
are found here.
The mantle is a
thick layer of rock
(about 2,900 km
thick). Pressure and
temperature are high in
this layer. Some of the
rock is almost melted.
This rock can flow slowly.
The central part of

the Earth, the core,
is made of iron and
nickel. It has two parts.
The outer core is about

2,300 km thick. Its
rock is liquid.
The inner core is

shaped like a ball. It
is about 2,400 km in
diameter. The high
pressure of the inner
core makes the rock
act like a solid.
132
How the Main Layers of Earth
Are Subdivided
The crust has two parts.
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• average thickness about 32 km
OabVS\]a^VS`S
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Oceanic crust
The parts of the crust float
• made of denser rock called basalt
on the asthenosphere.
• average thickness about 6 km
• makes up ocean floor
The mantle also has two parts: the upper mantle and
the lower mantle. The rocks in the crust attached to
the upper part of the mantle make up the lithosphere
(LITH•uh•sfeer). The almost melted mantle rocks below
the lithosphere make up the asthenosphere.
The melted, or molten, rock in the mantle is called
magma. Magma on Earth’s surface is called lava.
Quick Check
8. Name and describe two properties of each of Earth’s three layers. Use
the diagrams on these two pages as your guide.
Layer Properties
a.
b.
c.
133
What moves the plates?
The lithosphere is broken into plates. The plates
contain the continents as well as the ocean floor. The
plates are moving slowly. How can the plates move?
They are moving because of movement in the
part of the mantle just below the plates. The rocks
of this part of the mantle rise and flow because of
convection. Convection is the transfer of energy
through a liquid or gas. For example, convection
is how heat moves through a pot of water that is
heated from below.
Lithospheric Plates
EURASIAN EURASIAN
PLATE NORTH PLATE
AMERICAN
JUAN
DE FUCA PLATE
PLATE
PHILIPPINE CARIBBEAN
ARABIAN
PLATE PLATE AFRICAN PLATE
COCOS INDIAN
PLATE
PLATE PLATE
SOUTH
NAZCA AMERICAN
PACIFIC
AUSTRALIAN PLATE PLATE
PLATE
PLATE
SCOTIA PLATE
Convergent boundary
Divergent boundary ANTARCTIC PLATE
Transform boundary
Reading Maps
A Each plate is constantly in motion in a set The arrows show the directions in
direction. This causes pressure to build in which different plates are moving.
locations between plates.
134
Plate Movement
plate
2 cool
water
3 sinks
Concept sketch
water is
heated warm
water
1 rises
4
A Convection currents distribute
heat through the pot of
boiling water.
Reading Diagrams
What happens to warm matter?
Watch plate
movement @ www.macmillanmh.com
Convection in the Mantle

Convection in the mantle occurs in almost the same
way that it does in water. The main difference is that
convection in the mantle occurs very slowly.
1 Hot, less dense rock in the mantle rises toward the
bottom of the plates.
2 As it rises, it cools and gets denser. It moves
sideways.
3 In time it cools enough to sink.
4 As the rock sinks, it heats up and rises, repeating
the cycle.
Quick Check
9. Earth’s plates move as a result of
135
What is plate tectonics?
Scientists do not fully understand what makes
the Earth’s plates move. But they continue to try to
explain all the data they have collected.
A Unifying Theory
A unifying theory gives a complete picture of
natural occurrences. It ties together other related
theories. Plate tectonics is such a theory. Plate
tectonics (playt•tek•TAHN•iks) states that Earth’s
surface is made up of many plates that move
slowly across the mantle. Plate tectonics combines
Wegener’s theory of continental drift, seafloor
spreading, and other supporting data.
Earth’s plates move in different ways and speeds.
Although some move faster, most plates move only a
few centimeters (or inches) a year—about as much as
your fingernails grow in a year.
Types of Plate Boundaries
mid-ocean
ridge
trench
rift
continental
plate
lithosphere
convection convection
current current
136
How Plates Move
There are seven large plates and about a dozen smaller
ones. Each plate can move in a different direction or
speed. At the boundaries where plates meet, dramatic
events can occur.
Divergent boundaries (Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

• plates move away from each other
• new crust forms (seafloor spreading)
• occur at mid-ocean ridges
Convergent boundaries (Himalaya Mountains)
• plates move toward each other (collide)

• one plate usually sinks under the other, or subduction
• an ocean plate meets a continental plate (trench)
• two continental plates meet (mountain range)
• two ocean plates meet (trench or volcanic islands)
Transform boundaries (San Andreas Fault)
• plates slide past each other (earthquake)
Quick Check
10. Explain the three kinds of

boundaries that can form when
plates meet.
continental
plate
-Review Summaries and quizzes

online @ www.macmillanmh.com
137
Lesson 3
Earthquakes
Can earthquakes happen anywhere?

In mid-April 1906 San Francisco was hit by an
earthquake, a shaking of the ground. The shaking
destroyed most of the buildings in the city.
What causes an earthquake? Convection does.
Because of convection, Earth’s mantle is always moving.
As the mantle drags on the plates, stresses build.
When these stresses grow big enough, they overcome
the strength of the rocks. The rocks move. Energy is
released. An earthquake occurs.
D San Francisco
earthquake of 1906
138
Fault Zones
A fault is a crack in the lithosphere. Movements along
faults cause earthquakes. Most faults are found along
plate boundaries.
Many faults are connected to each other in some way.
Areas that contain these kinds of faults are called fault
zones. Earthquakes that occur along one of these faults
often affect other faults in a fault zone.
California Earthquakes
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San Andreas Fault. Many California
earthquakes occur along the fault
zone that includes the San Andreas.
Quick Check
11. Earthquakes occur along , which are
139
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The point where all three

circles come together is the
location of the earthquake.
How do scientists learn about

earthquakes?
To learn about earthquakes, remember that scientists use
seismographs. These instruments measure the energy of an
earthquake at the location of the seismograph. Seismograph
stations are set up in many places throughout the world.
When an earthquake occurs, each seismograph records
the vibrations from it. A circle is drawn on a map around
each of these seismograph stations. The size of the circle
shows how far the earthquake is from the station. The
earthquake is located where all the circles meet.
D When an earthquake happens, P waves arrive at a

seismograph first. Later secondary S waves arrive.
The two kinds of waves appear as two different
patterns on the print-out from the seismograph.
140
Using a Seismograph
Scientists use a seismograph to find two very
important pieces of information about an earthquake.
The focus is the point below the surface of the Earth
where an earthquake occurs. The epicenter is the point
on the surface directly above the focus.
To find these places, scientists study the wavy
lines of the P waves and S waves that are recorded
by the seismograph. Since P waves travel faster than
S waves, they arrive at the seismograph station at
different times. This time difference helps them find the
epicenter and focus.
Focus and Epicenter
Quick Check
12. What is the difference between the focus and the epicenter of an
earthquake?
141
How is the strength of an earthquake
measured?
The strength of an earthquake is measured in
two ways. One way is by indicating its magnitude.
Magnitude tells how much energy was released during
an earthquake. It is based on the amplitude, or height,
of the waves recorded on the seismograph.
Magnitude is measured on the Richter scale.
Magnitude is expressed in whole numbers and decimals.
An increase of 1 on the Richter scale means an increase
of about 30 times in the energy released.
Quick Check
13. What magnitude on the Richter Summary of the Richter Scale

scale would indicate a major
Magnitude Descripton
earthquake? Recorded on local
1–2+ seismographs but not
generally felt
3–4+ Often felt, no damage
Widely felt, slight damage
5+
near epicenter
Damage to poorly
constructed buildings
6+ and other structures
within tens of miles or
kilometers from epicenter
“Major” earthquake
causing serious damage
7+
within up to 100 km (60
mi) of epicenter
“Great” earthquake
causing great destruction
8+ and loss of life in areas
more than 100 km (60
mi) from epicenter
“Rare great” earthquake
causing major damage
9+ over a large region more
A A seismologist monitors the than 1,000 km (600 mi)
strength of an earthquake. from epicenter
142
How is the intensity of an earthquake
measured?
Another way to measure an earthquake’s strength is
by its intensity. Intensity is how strong the earthquake
feels at the surface. Intensity is measured using the
Mercalli scale. It tells what people feel and observe
when an earthquake occurs. The Mercalli scale is based
on observed effects, not on math. This scale is not as
scientific as the Richter scale.
Summary of the Mercalli Scale
Intensity Descripton
Felt by persons at rest or

II in places more favorable
to sensing tremors
Felt indoors and
outdoors; like vibrations
IV of passing heavy trucks;
windows, doors, and
dishes rattle
Felt by almost everyone,
walking is unsteady,
VI pictures fall off walls,
furniture may move or
fall over
Walls may collapse,
VIII
monuments may fall
Most buildings are
A An earthquake measured at intensity VI destroyed, large
on the Mercalli scale can cause damage X
landslides occur, train
inside a building. tracks are bent slightly
Damage nearly total,
objects thrown into the
XII
Quick Check air, some landforms
moved
14. Why is the Richter scale a more
useful scale than the Mercalli scale
when measuring the strength of an earthquake?
143
How can we prepare for earthquakes?
In 1906 and 1989 San Francisco was hit by huge
earthquakes. In 1857 the largest California earthquake,
the Fort Tejon quake, struck. These quakes and others
have caused tremendous damage and loss of life.
During an earthquake, the ground may open. Some
parts of the ground may rise or sink. The wave motion
of an earthquake may cause bridges, highways, and
buildings to collapse. The motion of an earthquake may
also trigger landslides.
Scientists still cannot predict when an earthquake will
occur. Nor can they prevent them. However, people can
take steps to lessen the effects of an earthquake.
144
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Earthquake Safety
After an Earthquake
During an Earthquake • Check yourself for

Before an Earthquake injuries.
• If you are outside,
• Make an emergency move into the open, • Remind your parents
escape plan with away from buildings, to turn off sources of
your family. streetlights, and utility natural gas, electricity,
• Put together an wires. and water.
earthquake kit that • If you are in your house, • Know how and when
includes drinking go to the corner of to dial 9-1-1 or your
water, a flashlight, the room, away from local emergency
extra batteries, windows, shelves, or number and which
a portable radio, mirrors. radio station to tune
and a first-aid kit. to for emergency
• If you are in school,
• Take a course in first information.
get under your desk,
aid and CPR. and follow the school • Stay away from
emergency plan. damaged buildings.
Quick Check
15. Three steps you can take to prepare for an earthquake are
, , and

145
Lesson 4
Volcanoes
What are volcanoes?

Volcanoes are vents in the crust
How Volcanoes Form
through which magma, gases,
and other materials erupt. Most
volcanoes are found along plate
boundaries.
Volcanoes are produced by
rock fragments
powerful forces inside the Earth.
• One plate is subducted
below another. vent
• Mantle rocks melt and rising magma

become magma. lava flow
• Gases mix with the magma.
• The magma rises toward
the surface.
• Magma collects, forming a
magma chamber.
• In time, magma escapes
through an opening in the crust,
a vent. An eruption occurs.
• The magma, now called lava,
hardens into rocks. A volcanic
mountain forms.
• The top of a volcano often has a
bowl-like feature called a crater.
magma
chamber
Quick Check
16 The magma in a volcano collects in a
and erupts through a .
146
What kinds of volcanic landforms
are there?
No two volcanoes are the same. Volcanoes differ in
• the kinds of materials they give off
• the intensity of eruptions (how strong eruptions are)
• how often eruptions occur
• the types of landforms that result.
With all these differences, there are basically three
main types of volcanoes.
Type of Volcano Examples Features Photo
• made up of small rock

Cinder cone volcano particles, or cinders
Paricutìn
(Mexico)
• usually a small cone
(top) with steep sides
• made up of layers of
Shield volcano lava rocks.
Mauna Loa
(Hawaii)
• usually has broad,
gently sloping sides
• made up of
Composite volcano Mount Pelée alternating layers of
(Martinique), lava and ash
Mount
Vesuvius • usually symmetric
(Italy) cones with steep sides
that curve inward
Quick Check
17. Why do volcanoes have such different shapes?
147
How do eruptions differ?
There are four basic types of eruptions. They
are named after volcanoes that show that kind of
volcanic activity.
Hawaiian eruptions Vulcanian eruptions

• named after volcanoes in Hawaiian • named after volcano off island
Islands of Sicily
• least violent eruptions • violent eruptions
• very liquid lava flows out slowly • huge, loud explosions
• builds up shield volcanoes • lots of ash, dust thrown into air
Strombolian eruptions Peléean eruptions

• named for volcano off Italian coast • named after Mount Pelée in
• fairly gentle eruptions Martinique
• thick magma • most violent eruptions
• builds up cinder cones • sticky magma contains gas under
much pressure
• parts of the mountains may be
blown away
A devastation from the 1980 eruption of

Mount Saint Helens
148
D Tourists view the crater
of Mount Vesuvius. Mount
Vesuvius, below, overlooks
the ruins of Pompeii.
Volcanic Activity
To summarize kinds
of eruptions, eruptions are
often classified by how violent
they are. Eruptions can:
• be violent explosions
• have lava flowing out slowly
and quietly
• can have lava flowing
more quickly, like a car
on a highway
Scientists also classify volcanoes
according to how often they
erupt. A volcano may be active,
intermittent, dormant, or extinct:
• Active volcanoes erupt constantly.
• Intermittent volcanoes erupt
fairly often.
• Dormant volcanoes have become
inactive for a long period of time.
However, scientists are not sure
that they will not erupt again.
(Dormant is from the French word
dormir, which means “to sleep.”)
• Extinct volcanoes have not
erupted within recorded history.
Quick Check
18. How do scientists distinguish between volcanoes?
149
What are subduction zones, island arcs,
and hot spots?
When an oceanic and a continental plate collide,
the oceanic plate slides under the other. Rocks in the
continental plate are pushed up to form mountains and
mountain ranges. Many parallel mountain ranges make
up a mountain belt.
When oceanic plates collide, one may be subducted.
The melting plate forms undersea volcanoes, which
in time reach the surface. A volcanic island arc forms.
Island arcs and volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean rim
form the Ring of Fire.
Most volcanoes occur along plate boundaries. The
Hawaiian Islands are far from boundaries. They formed
over a hot spot, a region of volcanic activity in the
middle of a plate.
Subduction
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The denser plate slides under the other plate
and becomes part of the mantle.
150
hot spring, Yellowstone
National Park
What are hot springs, geysers,

and fumaroles?
New volcanic activity is still occurring. Old Faithful geyser
One place is Yellowstone National Park in
Wyoming. Magma below Yellowstone is a
source of heat for many volcanic features:
hot spring — a stream of hot, bubbling
water flowing out of the ground.
geyser — a fountain of hot water and
steam that shoots into the air. Eruptions
may occur at regular or irregular intervals.
fumarole — a “geyser” in which only steam
escapes.
Quick Check
19. What is the difference between a fumarole and a geyser?
20. Yellowstone is located over a hot spot. What can you

conclude about Yellowstone’s location on its plate?
151
What are the three main types of rocks?
Earth has many kinds of rocks. However, all rocks can
be classified as one of three types. One of these types,
igneous rocks, comes from magma or lava.
Igneous Rocks
Igneous rocks form in two ways:
• Lava from a volcano cools and hardens quickly.
Basalt is a type of igneous rock.
• Magma below Earth’s surface cools very slowly.
Granite is an example of this kind of igneous rock.
granite
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks form over long periods of time:
• Wind and water break rocks into smaller rocks.
• Over time, these smaller pieces settle into layers.
The layers build up.
• Pressure builds up on the bottom layers.
• The layers harden into rock.
Sedimentary rocks can sometimes contain pieces
of shell or fossils. They may also contain minerals.
sandstone
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic rocks are changed rocks:
• They were once igneous, sedimentary, or even
other metamorphic rocks.
• Very high temperatures and pressures changed
the form of the original rocks.
• They often form deep underground.
marble
152
Rock Cycle sediments
sedimentary
Igneous rock
rock
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Follow the arrows and labels

to see how rocks change
The Rock Cycle from one type into another.
Where do rocks come from? Igneous
rocks break down and eventually become
sedimentary rocks. Under high pressure sedimentary rocks
may become metamorphic. So, where do rocks come from?
Rocks come from other rocks. Rocks are changed from
one type into another in a process called the rock cycle. Like
the water cycle, the rock cycle never ends.
Quick Check
21. Evidence exists that suggests Earth started out totally molten.
If this is so, what type of rock was the first type of rock? Why?

153
Lesson 5
How Plate Tectonics Affects California
What parts of California lie on

different plates?
California lies on two lithospheric plates. Most of the
state rests on the North American Plate, which includes
all of North America and part of the Atlantic Ocean.
A small part of California lies on the Pacific Plate. This
plate includes a narrow piece of California west of the
North American Plate and the Pacific Ocean.
Reading Maps
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A7
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154
San Andreas fault line is where
the Pacific Plate and the North
American Plate meet.
The San Andreas Fault

In California, the boundary between the North
American Plate and the Pacific Plate is called the San
Andreas Fault. It begins just north of San Francisco and
extends south into Mexico and the Gulf of California.
The two plates slide past each other along the
San Andreas Fault. The Pacific Plate is slowly moving
northwest along the fault. Sometimes the Pacific Plate
does not move for years. Then, suddenly, the rocks may
jump forward as much as several meters. The result is
often large earthquakes.
Quick Check
22. The Pacific Plate is moving northwest at about 5 cm (2 in.) per year.
Where might Los Angeles be located in about 2 million years?
155
What features of California are the
result of plate tectonics?
Millions of years ago, much of Central and Southern
California was under water. The major features of
California’s landscape are the result of plate tectonics.
Feature Facts
• largest valley in California
Central Valley • 800 km long, 64 km wide
• bordered by Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges
• valleys between Transverse and Peninsular
Los Angeles Basin and
Ranges
Ventura Basin
• unstable (frequent earthquakes)
Coast Ranges • low narrow ridges rising from the sea
Klamath Mountains • were an island long ago
Cascade Range • many volcanoes are located here
Sierra Nevada • highest mountain range in California
Land, long ago pushed upward

and northward, helped form
Big Sur’s rugged coastline.
156
What are some of California’s
notable features?
In many ways California is the
result of tectonic forces, which are
still at work today. Here are some of
California’s tectonic landforms that
help make it one of the most beautiful
states in the United States.
• The Sierra Nevada range has deep
canyons and high waterfalls. Three
national parks — Yosemite, Kings
Canyon, and Sequoia — are located
here.
• Mount Whitney, at 4,419 m, is the
highest point in the state.
• Death Valley contains the lowest
point in North America (–82 m).
• Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak are
two volcanoes that erupted within
the last 300 years.
A Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite National

Park, California
Quick Check
23. Why might Yosemite Park have so many high waterfalls?
24. Why are there so many mountain ranges and valleys in our state?

157
Vocabulary
Review

Write the letter of the description in the second column to
match the word(s) in the first column.
1. continental drift a. the strength of an earthquake
2. fault b. one plate sinking under another

c. rocks in the crust attached to the
3. focus upper mantle
4. lava d. a way to measure the intensity of an
earthquake
5. lithosphere
e. a long, deep undersea valley
6. magnitude f. Wegener’s theory that a supercontinent
7. Mercalli Scale split apart
g. the idea that Earth’s surface is made up
8. mid-ocean ridge of moving plates
9. ocean trench h. a vibration that travels through Earth
10. plate tectonics i. a way to measure the magnitude of an

earthquake
11. Richter scale j. magma at Earth’s surface
12. intensity k. a line of underwater mountains in the
middle of an ocean
13. seismic wave
l. a crack in the lithosphere
14. subduction m. the point below the surface where an
earthquake occurred
n. the amount of energy released in an
earthquake
158
Fill in the missing words in the blanks below. Then find and circle
those words in the Word Search at the bottom.
1. A shaking of the ground is a(n) .

2. A crack in the crust through which magma flows is a(n)
3. Molten rock in the mantle is called .

4. The point on Earth’s surface just above the focus is the
.
5. A region of volcanic activity in the middle of a plate is a(n)
.
6. The boundary between the North American and Pacific plates is
the San Fault.

7. The process by which one kind of rock is changed into another is
the .
E A R T H Q U A K E
P V O L C A N S P L
I E C V O L C A N I
C R K H O T S P O T
E Y C O S L R M N H
N H Y L E R C E T O
T T C M A G M A N S
E P L S A E R D N A
R L E Q U A L E T O
159
CHAPTER 6
Shaping Earth’s Surface

Vocabulary
0ORTLAND :]e
6WUV
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weather the day- abrasion the slow
to-day conditions scraping away of land
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.ASHVILLE
Warm front
Stationary front
of the atmosphere by tiny rock pieces

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in an area carried by wind
humidity the amount erosion the wearing

of water vapor in the air away of the land and
carrying away of pieces
the land
dew point the deposition the

temperature at which dropping off of soil
condensation occurs and rock pieces in
new places
Coriolis effect the sediment the rock

westerlies
northeast
trade winds shift in wind direction particles that are
caused by Earth’s dropped off on land
southeast
trade winds
westerlies
rotation or in water
half dome weathering the slow glacier a slow-moving

breakdown of rock river of ice
into smaller pieces by
natural events
160
Chapter 6
What effects do weathering,
erosion, and deposition have
on Earth’s landforms?
landslide the rapid, oxbow lake a portion

downward movement of a stream channel cut
of rock, soil, and off from the rest of the
objects stream by erosion
TZ]]R^ZOW\
flood plain the flat beach erosion the way
area of land on both that waves pick up sand
sides of a river particles and move
them along the shore
[SO\RS`W\Uab`SO[
delta a triangle-shaped breaker a wave that

deposit at the mouth of breaks into foam as
a river it moves against the
shore
watershed the area tsunami a series of

from which water is waves caused by an
drained epicenter of earthquake or volcanic
earthquake
eruption beneath or
near the ocean
arroyo a small channel levee a wall or large

with steep banks mound of earth built
located in a dry area along a river
161
Chapter 6
Lesson 1
Atmospheric Pressure, Temperature, and Weather
What is the difference between

climate and weather?
Weather is the day-to-day conditions of the
atmosphere in an area. Climate is the average weather
conditions of a region. To talk about an area having
cold winters, you are talking about climate. When you
talk about yesterday being a cold day, you are talking
about weather.
Climate is affected by
• latitude (distance from the equator) Areas near
the equator will usually have a warm climate. Those
nearer the poles will tend to have a cold climate.
• altitude (height above sea level) The higher up you
go on a mountain, the cooler it gets.
World Climates
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162
Changes in Weather
Many factors make up or contribute to the weather of
an area. They include:
• air temperature • cloud cover
• air pressure • ocean temperature
• moisture in the air • wind patterns
A change in any of these factors can change the
weather. Weather conditions averaged over a long
period of time determine an area’s climate. For example:
• Tropical climates have high temperatures and rain
all year.
• Polar climates are cold all year.
This satellite photo of

Earth shows how the
ocean temperatures
around the world
vary. Yellow areas are
the warmest.
Quick Check
1. Juneau, Alaska, has a cold climate. San Diego, California, has a warm
climate. How can you explain the difference in climate?
163
What is air pressure?
If you take a trip to the top of a mountain, you
may feel your ears pop. This popping is a result of air
pressure. Air pressure is the force on a region caused
by the weight of air above. Air pressure is measured
in Pascals.
Air pressure depends on temperature and gravity.
• Air temperature As the temperature rises, air
molecules move apart. The air pressure goes down.
As the temperature goes down, pressure goes up.
• Gravity Gravity pulls air molecules toward Earth,
causing air pressure. At higher altitudes, there
are fewer air molecules for gravity to attract. Air
pressure decreases.
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Air Pressure and Altitude

Height Air Pressure
(in kilometers) (in Pascals)
;]c\bEVWb\Sg
80.5 0.64
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70 3
60 13
50 59
40 263
30 1,160
20 5,125
AO\2WSU] 10 22,638
Y[
4.418 51,876
0 100,000
Quick Check
2. Using the table and diagram, the air pressure at the top of
Mount Whitney is about Pascals.
164
U.S. Weather Map
Portland Low
Duluth
New York
Chicago
San Francisco
Denver
Kansas City Low
High Nashville
1]ZRT`]\b
EO`[T`]\b
AbObW]\O`gT`]\b
Houston
>`SQW^WbObW]\
Miami
High- and Low-Pressure Systems

The Sun does not heat up all areas of Earth equally.
As a result, some areas are warmer than others. A
general rule is that as temperature goes up, pressure
goes down. A warm area may cause a low-pressure
system (a Low). A cool area may cause a high-pressure
system (a High).
Warm air in the center of a Low rises and cools. Water
vapor condenses, forming clouds. A Low often brings
rainy or stormy weather. By contrast, a High usually
brings fair weather with few clouds.
As Earth rotates, warm and cold air masses move as
a result. The line where air masses meet is called a front.
Fronts can be cold, warm, or stationary.
Quick Check
Write the letter of the description that fits each word.
3. Low a. a line where air masses meet
4. High b. usually brings storms
5. front c. usually brings fair weather

165
What causes rain?
Precipitation is one of the steps in the water cycle.
As solar energy causes evaporation, water vapor
collects in the air. The amount of water vapor in the
air is humidity (hew•MID•i•tee).
Warm air is less dense than cool air. So, it rises.
As it rises, the temperature falls. As the temperature
falls, less water vapor can stay in the air. When the
air cannot hold any more water, the relative humidity
is 100%. Relative humidity is the amount of water
vapor in the air compared with how much it could
hold at that temperature.
At 100% relative humidity, the vapor condenses.
The temperature at which condensation occurs is
called the dew point.
A These low clouds formed from water droplets. The

arrows show the path water on the surface takes as
it evaporates and forms clouds.
166
Types of Precipitation
There are four main types of precipitation. They are
rain, sleet, snow, and hail. Each type begins as either
water droplets or ice crystals in clouds. The temperature
of the lower atmosphere determines which form the
precipitation will take as it falls.
Precipitation
Rain falls when the air temperatures are above freezing.
Sleet occurs when raindrops fall through freezing air near

Earth’s surface. The drops turn into pellets of ice.
Snow falls when water vapor passes through air that is very
cold. As a result, the water vapor crystallizes and builds into
snowflakes.
Hail forms when thunderstorm winds push water back up

into the atmosphere. The water turns into ice, is coated with
more water, and pushed up to freeze again. This process
repeats until the hailstone is heavy enough to fall.
Quick Check
6. The dew point occurs when the relative humidity is
7. The four types of precipitation are ,
, ,
and .
167
How does wind change weather?
Wind travels from areas of high-pressure to areas
of low-pressure. However, Earth is rotating. As a result,
winds are shifted in a curve. This shift in wind direction is
called the Coriolis effect (kaw•ree•OH•luhs).
The Coriolis effect makes winds blowing from the
North Pole to curve to the right in northern latitudes.
(South of the equator, winds curve to the left.) As a
result, in the Northern Hemisphere, weather usually
travels from west to east.
Prevailing Winds
polar polar high
easterlies
polar front
solar
radiation
subtropical
high
westerlies
northeast
trade winds
equatorial
solar low
radiation
southeast
trade winds
westerlies
Reading Diagrams
Compare the directions of

wind zones in the Northern
and Southern Hemisphere.
Quick Check
8. The curving of winds due to Earth’s rotation is the
168
Sea and Land Breezes
Winds can affect how it feels
near the seashore. During the day,
the Sun heats the land faster than
the water. Air pressure is higher
over the water than the land. Wind During the day, winds usually blow
flows toward the shore, making a rom the water toward the land.
sea breeze. At night, the land cools
off faster, resulting in a flow of wind
toward the sea — a land breeze.
Cyclones
Winds affect large areas. A
cyclone is a huge mass of spinning At night, the wind changes
air surrounded by high pressure. direction and blows from
Winds in a cyclone blow inward the land toward the water.
counterclockwise. Because cyclones

are Lows, they bring storms. They
can turn into hurricanes.
Hurricanes are very large storms with

powerful winds and heavy rains, which
can cause great destruction.
Quick Check
Write the letter of the description that fits each word.
9. sea breeze a. huge mass of spinning air
10. land breeze b. huge storm with wind and rain
11. cyclone c. winds blowing from shore to sea
12. hurricane d. winds blowing from sea to shore

169
Lesson 2
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
What is weathering?
Weathering is the slow breakdown of rock into
smaller pieces by natural events. These events include
precipitation, wind, plant growth, and temperature
changes.
Chemical Weathering
There are two types of weathering. One type is
chemical weathering. This kind occurs when minerals
in rock interact with chemicals in water and the air. For
example, acid rain may eat away limestone. Chemical
weathering changes the composition of the rock.
Weathering can eventually create

a dome, such as Half Dome in
Yosemite National Park.
170
Physical Weathering
Another kind of weathering
is physical weathering. Physical
weathering breaks rock into smaller
pieces but the rock pieces keep the
properties of the original rock. There
are three main causes of physical
weathering.
• Water — When water freezes, it
expands. Water in cracks in rock
push outward when it freezes,
slowly breaking the rock.
• Roots — As roots push their way
into rocks, the pressure they exert
slowly pushes the rock apart.
• Wind — Tiny rock pieces carried
by wind slowly drill and grind
away landforms. This process is
called abrasion. Abrasion acts like A Tree roots can penetrate cracks in rock.
In time the rock may break apart.
sandpaper, pitting and polishing
the surface.
Quick Check
Use the diagram below to show how physical
weathering can change rock.
Cause Effect
13.
14.
15.
171
Water and wind are both very powerful agents of erosion.
How is Earth’s surface reshaped?

Earth’s surface is reshaped by
• erosion (i•ROH•shuhn), the wearing away and
movement of Earth’s surface, and
• deposition (DEP•uh•zi•shuhn), the way the eroded
soil and rock are put down in new places. Most
of the rock particles, called sediment, (SED•i•muhnt)
are deposited in deserts, rivers, flood plains,
and oceans.
Water plays the main role in erosion and deposition.
However, wind also plays an important role in these
processes. This is especially true in dry areas. Blowing
wind picks up and drops off particles of sand into
wavy mounds called sand dunes.
172
Glaciers
A glacier is a slow moving
river of ice. Although glaciers
move slowly, they can erode the
land the similar ways as water
and wind do. As a glacier moves
along the ground, it scrapes the
land underneath it. It drags rocks
along with it. A glacier also pushes
material in front of it as it moves.
Some glaciers form in high
mountainous areas. These glaciers
often carve out U-shaped valleys
as they move. Alaska has many
examples of this type of glacier.
Other glaciers are huge sheets of
ice. These glaciers flow outward in
all directions from a central place.
Such glaciers may cover large
areas. The island of Greenland is
covered by this type of glacier.
Glaciers move and deposit
amounts of sediment. Large parts Alaskan glacier
of North America were once
covered by glaciers. These glaciers
deposited layers of soil and rock
tens or hundreds of meters thick.
Quick Check
16. Erosion and deposition are caused by ,
, and .
17. How do glaciers change the land?
173
What are landslides?
How fast materials are eroded depends on the speed
and amount of wind or water. However, soil and rock
can move downhill without wind or water. They move
downhill because of the slope of the land.
The movement can be so slow that it is barely
noticeable. On the other hand it can be a landslide—a
rapid, downward movement of rock, soil, and other
objects. In mountains that have a thick cover of snow,
landslides are called avalanches.
Landslide
Laguna Beach
Reading Photos
This photo shows how dangerous

a landslide can be.
174
Factors in Landslides
Several factors can cause a landslide
to occur. They include
• gravity Earth pulls everything toward its center. If
rock weakens, it eventually falls. The Old Man in the
Mountain in New Hampshire fell due to gravity.
• slope of the land The steeper a hillside is, the easier it
is for rock and soil to slip.
• water Water seeps into the spaces between rocks. This
makes it easier for the rocks to slide.
• loud noises Loud noises make the rock and soil vibrate.
The vibrations make it easier for the rock to move.
Gravity and a steep slope caused this landslide near

La Conchita, California.
Quick Check
18. Which four factors can cause a landslide?
, ,

175
Lesson 3
Rivers and Streams
What affects how a

river or stream flows? River flows.
If you live near a river or Rain seeps
stream, you may notice that the into ground. Rain falls.
water flows fast and high on
some days. On other days, the Rain falls into river.
Excess rainwater
water is slow and may be just a runs off into river.
trickle. Why is there a difference? River swells.
Rainfall can affect how fast

or slow a river or stream flows. Kinetic energy of
river increases.
As more water enters a river or
stream, the speed of the flow
increases. The following diagram River flows faster.
summarizes this river flow.
A After a heavy rain, the amount of water in a river

increases, so the river flows at a greater speed.
176
Flowing Water
Flowing water is a powerful force. It can change the
look of a river. Any river has a bank, the rising ground at
its edges. When a river overflows its banks, the water
covers its flood plain. A flood plain is the flat area of land
on both sides of a river.
As a river flows, small pieces of it are carried along
with it. These particles act like tiny drills. They slowly
erode the banks. Eventually the path of the river
develops curves, or meanders (mee•AN•durz), as the river
flows to the sea.
Flood Plain
TZ]]R^ZOW\
[SO\RS`W\Uab`SO[
A Because of sediments deposited by rivers

and streams, a flood plain usually has rich
soil that can produce good crops.
Quick Check
19. How does rainfall increase the speed of a river?
177
What are the stages of stream
development?
No two streams are exactly alike. However, streams
go through three similar stages.
• A young stream moves swiftly down steep slopes.
It may have rapids and waterfalls.
• A mature stream has most of the rocks in its bed
eroded. At this stage, streams often develop meanders,
as well as a flood plain.
• An old river flows slowly through a broad, flat flood
plain. A delta often forms. A delta is a triangular-
shaped deposit that forms at the mouth of a river.
The Life of a Stream
A river usually has more

water than a stream.
However, scientists consider
all rivers to be streams, and 1
they believe that all streams

go through similar stages
of development.
1 The source of a river

or a stream often occurs
in a mountainous area. 2
Here the force of gravity
causes water to flow
quickly. Some streams 3
flow from springs, lakes,
or the ends of glaciers.
2 The fast-flowing stream

can carry many sediments
4
and often carves out
V-shaped valleys. Fast-
moving streams are often
used for rafting.
3 Smaller streams add

water, increasing the size
of the stream and often A Young streams flow swiftly down
steep slopes.
forming a young river.
178
Quick Check
Match the stage with its description.
20. young a. smoothly flowing with meanders
21. mature b. slowly moving over broad, flat flood plain
22. old c. swiftly flowing, steep slopes
4 As the river reaches flatter

land, it slows down. As it
A slow, meandering river may flow
slows it deposits some of
at a rate of less than 1 kilometer
(0.6 miles) per hour. B the sediments it carried.
5 The slow-moving river

flows across flat land,
forming large curves called
meanders. Water flows
faster along the outside of
a meander, eroding or
wearing away the bank.
6 When a river empties into

a larger body of water
such as an ocean or a bay,
6
5 it deposits the remaining
sediments it has carried.
These deposits can form
a delta that extends from
the river’s mouth.
Reading Diagrams
Describe how water flows from a river’s

source to its mouth.
Watch the life of

a stream @ www.macmillanmh.com
179
An Oxbow Lake
The meanders change Sometimes a meander hits An oxbow lake is a portion

position over time by a part of the valley where of a stream channel that is
eroding sideways and slightly the soil is heavier or where cut off from the rest of the
downstream, slowly moving there are large rocks that stream by erosion.
down the river valley. resist erosion.
How does flowing water affect

a watershed?
Rivers get water from the land. A watershed is the
area from which water is drained. Watersheds may be
small or large. In a watershed the flow of water and the
resulting erosion and deposition may vary. Seasonal
changes are common.
For example, in the spring, rain and melting snows
can carry large amounts of water and sediment to
streams and rivers. Flooding may bring sediment onto
the flood plains. In the summer, with much less rain,
rivers can be slow and shallow.
River erosion sometimes carve an arroyo (uh•ROY•oh).
An arroyo is a small channel with steep banks located in
a dry area. Arroyos are dry most of the time, but fill with
water quickly after a heavy rainstorm.
Erosion can also cause other features to form. One
such feature is an oxbow lake. See the diagram above.
180
A River’s Mouth
All rivers in time flow into a larger body of water.
When a river enters a lake or ocean, its speed drops
quickly. The river drops the rest of its sediment at its
mouth. This deposit eventually builds up a triangular-
shaped delta at the mouth of the river.
Sometimes a stream enters a plain or flat valley. The
sediment it drops looks like a delta. This fan-shaped
deposit is called an alluvial deposit.
Formation of a Delta
Reading Photos
This photo shows how sediment

can form a delta.
Quick Check
23. How might a delta be useful to wildlife?

181
Lesson 4
Beaches and Wave Erosion
How do waves change the shoreline?

Waves have a lot of power. They roll in to shore and
back out to sea, often pounding against the shore.
They can change the shape of the coast. Beach erosion
occurs when waves pick up sand particles and move
them along the shore. This process helps smooth out
the shoreline. Chemicals in the seawater help break up
the rocks.
beach erosion
182
Shorelines
Beach erosion can produce many effects. Sometimes
waves pound hard against the shore. Over time, they
carve out a cliff. They smooth out the seafloor and form
a flat step. Eventually the step is exposed to air and
becomes a marine terrace.
Waves hitting the shore hit at an angle. As they move,
breakers form. Breakers are waves that break into foam
against the shore. When the waves wash back into the
ocean, they also leave at an angle. The waves pull sand
particles down the beach.
Beach Drift
direction of drift
path of
sand particles
current
Reading Diagrams
This illustration demonstrates

how currents can affect a
shoreline.
Quick Check
24. How do breakers affect a beach?
183
What is sand?
Most sand is weathered rock. Sand has certain
properties.
• It has the same composition as the rock it came from.
• River sediments are a major source.
• Sand can be beige or brown, black, green, pink,
or white.
• Some sand is made of the remains of tiny red-shelled
organisms.
Sometimes waves deposit sand and cause shallow
water to be collected. This formation is called a sandbar.
Sandbars more than 100 m (328 ft) wide are called
barrier islands.
Types of Sand
Hawaii British West Indies
Reading Photos
These photos show the range of

colors that sand can have.
Quick Check
25. Sand that contains the remains of tiny red-shelled organisms
would be the color .
184
How can you identify the weathered
parts of sand?
The sand on beaches can be divided into two types:
silicate sand and carbonate sand. Some beaches contain
a mixture of both types.
Type of Sand Comes from Made of Also contains

minerals such as
Silicate land silicon and oxygen quartz, feldspar,
and magnetite
shells of marine calcium, carbon,

Carbonate limestone
organisms and oxygen
Calcium in underwater springs and carbonates in

lakewater mixed, forming these tufa towers. They
appeared above water when Mono Lake’s water level fell.
Quick Check
26. The two types of sand are and

185
Lesson 5
Changing Habitats
How do natural disasters

affect habitats?
Natural disasters can cause sudden and violent
changes to Earth’s surface. Natural disasters include
earthquakes, landslides, floods, erupting volcanoes.
Plants, animals, and people are often severely
affected by any natural disaster. For example, Lassen
Peak in California erupted in 1915. When it erupted, heat
from the lava melted most of the snow on the mountain.
A lahar (LAH•hahr), a mudflow containing volcanic ash
and rock, flooded the surrounding valley. Ranchers had
to leave their homes to survive.
A Lassen Peak erupted early in the twentieth century.

It is still an active volcano.
186
devastation caused by the
eruption of Lassen Peak
Impact on Wildlife
Natural disasters also affect wildlife.
• Volcanoes can shatter and burn trees and other
forms of life.
• Landslides can carry away plants and animals.
• Floods can cover a region with water, killing plants
and animals. They can also wash away soil.
• Earthquakes can start fires, trigger landslide, and
cause huge ocean waves.
Quick Check
27. How might an earthquake affect wildlife?
187
How do tsunamies affect habitats?
A tsunami (tsoo•NAH•mee) is a series of waves caused
by an earthquake or volcanic eruption beneath or
near the ocean. Tsunamis are usually started by an
earthquake. The speed of a tsunami depends on the
depth of the ocean.
In the open ocean, tsunamis are not very high, but
travel very fast. As a tsunami nears the shore, it slows
down. The energy that is still in the wave makes the
height of the wave increase dramatically. Finally, the
tsunami crashes onto the shore as a giant wall of water.
How a Tsunami Moves Across the Ocean
BVSSO`bV_cOYS^caVSaeObS` BVSeOdS`SOQVSaa^SSRa
cêO`RO\RabO`babVSeOdS c^b]$[WZSa^S`V]c`
BVSeOdSaZ]eaOaWb
`SOQVSabVSaV]`S
S^WQS\bS`]T
SO`bV_cOYS
Reading Diagrams
The arrow and the labels explain how

a tsunami develops as it approaches
the coast.
188
Effects of a Tsunami
Reading Photos
These photos show how a

tsunami can affect a shore
community.
Effects on Habitat
On December 26, 2004, an wiped out. Many plants and
earthquake with a magnitude animals were killed. Habitats were
between 9.0 and 9.3 on the Richter destroyed. Many parts of the region
Scale occurred. The epicenter was are still trying to recover.
in the Indian Ocean about 160 km Tsunamis often take hours to
(100 mi) off Sumatra. A tsunami travel across the ocean. So there
was triggered. The waves hit may be time to warn people.
Thailand and other countries along Scientists are working to set up
the rim of the Indian Ocean. a tsunami warning system in the
Hundreds of thousands of Indian Ocean.
people died. Whole villages were
Quick Check
28. What habitats of a region are most likely to be affected by a tsunami?
189
How do floods affect habitats?
Floods are often caused by sudden, heavy
downpours, melting snow in the spring, and
failure of dams.
Floods can affect habitats in
many ways.
• Moving floodwater can knock
down trees.
• A flood can carry away tons
of soil.
• Mud from a flood can cover
plants and animals, killing them.
• Floods renew the soil, making
it more fertile. This helps
future crops.
To prevent flooding, people may
make a levee, a wall or large mound
of earth built along a river. A levee
raises a river’s bank, but they can
fail, or break. The failure of levees
during Hurricane Katrina in 2005
resulted in much damage.
Flooding in New Orleans caused

by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 C
Quick Check
29. How might floods affect habitats?
190
How do earthquakes and landslides
affect habitats?
Earthquakes and landslides can have a major
effect on a habitat.
Earthquakes can:
• rupture power and gas lines
• cause fires
• damage buildings
• open cracks in ground
• change a river’s course
• drain lakes
• cause landslides
An earthquke in Alaska caused the ground

to sink, flooding these trees.
Landslides can:
• carry buildings down hillsides
• bury highways under debris
• uproot plants
• change the slope of a cliff
• create a natural dam
A landslide can also benefit some fish, such

as salmon, by changing the river’s flow and
leaving behind small pools where these fish
can lay their eggs.
Quick Check
30. How might earthquakes affect habitats?
191
How can people plan for
natural disasters?
Natural disasters cannot be prevented. However, they
can sometimes be predicted. What’s more, people can
prepare for them.
A This skyscraper in San Francisco A a seismic test with lasers near

is twice as strong as building Parkfield, California
codes in the area require.
Natural Disaster Predictable Ways to Prepare
• Don’t build on flood plain.

Sometimes: melting
Flood
snow in spring
• Build levees to hold water back.
• Don’t live close to an earthquake fault.

Some areas prone
to them can be
• Use laser technology to detect
Earthquake predicted.
movement along fault.
Computers being
used to help.
• Build structures to withstand tremors.
Some eruptions • Get out of harm’s way.

Volcanic eruption preceded by
earthquakes • Don’t live close to active volcano.
192
Long-term Effects
Natural disasters can have long term effects on Earth
and its habitats. Some of the effects can be harmful. But
some effects are helpful.
Harmful Effects Helpful Effects

• Landslides, floods, eruptions can cause
• Volcanic ash in air dims solar radiation. new growth and enrich soil.
Global temperatures fall.
• Floods and landslides leave nutrient-rich
mud behind.
• Earthquakes, floods, tsunamis
destroy habitats. • New habitats are created.
An eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Ash from the eruption enriched the soil,
Philippines produced volumes of ash that enabling new plant life to grow.
caused temperatures worldwide
to drop by about 1°F.
Quick Check
31. How can a volcanic eruption help create new habitats?

193
Vocabulary
Review

Write the letter of each description in the second
column to match the word(s) in the first column.
1. humidity a. a slow-moving river of ice
2. dew point b. the day-to-day atmosphere conditions

c. the amount of water vapor in the air
3. weather
d. the wearing away of Earth’s surface
4. erosion e. the flat area of land on both sides of
5. glacier a river
f. the temperature at which condensation
6. arroyo occurs
7. flood plain g. a small channel with steep banks in a
dry area
8. Coriolis effect
h. a wave caused by an earthquake or
9. weathering volcanic eruption
10. abrasion i. a cut off portion of a stream

j. the carrying and dropping of sand along
11. deposition a shore
12. oxbow lake k. the shift in wind direction caused by
Earth’s rotation
13. beach erosion
l. the slow breakdown of rock into smaller
14. tsunami pieces
m. dropping off soil and rock in new places
n. scraping away of land by wind-carried
bits of rock
194
Use the clues to fill in the crossword puzzle.
Across
3. The area from which water is drained.
5. A wall or large mound of earth built along a river.
6. Rock particles deposited in deserts, rivers, and oceans.
Down
1. Rapid, downward movement of rock, soil, and objects.
2. A wave that breaks into foam as it moves against the shore.
4. Triangular deposit at the mouth of a river.
1. 2.
3. 4.
5.
6.
195
CHAPTER 7
Earth’s Resources
Vocabulary
energy source where solar energy any form

the light, heat, and of energy radiated by
electricity people use the Sun
come from
coal a hard, black efficiency the amount

substance formed from of usable energy
plants that lived about compared with the total
300 million years ago amount of energy used
to produce the usable
energy
oil a thick, black
liquid that forms from pollution a harmful
decaying plants and addition to the natural
animals environment
natural gas a mixture

of gases formed from natural resource any
marine organisms material people take
from Earth
geothermal
energy heat energy
from inside Earth
196
Chapter 7
Where do the energy and the
materials people use come from?
nonrenewable hydroelectric power

resource any material collecting energy that
taken from Earth that is produced by falling
takes a long time to or running water
replace or cannot be and changing it into
replaced electricity
renewable resource conservation the wise

any material taken use of natural resources
from Earth that can be
replaced in a relatively
short time
nuclear fuel a source recycling making new

of energy in a nuclear products by reusing
power plant materials that would be
thrown away
fusion the joining of synthetic a material

two nuclei to make a made artificially
nucleus with a larger
mass
197
Chapter 7
Lesson 1
Sources of Energy
Why is energy important?

Almost all the things you do use energy, from using
a computer to riding the bus. The light, heat, and
electricity we use come from an energy source.
Most forms of energy come from the Sun. Most of
the energy people use can be traced to fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels come from life forms that originally used the
Sun’s energy to survive. Fossil fuels have stored Sun’s
energy inside.
Los Angeles, California
198
Earth’s Resources
How Geothermal Systems Work
Winter
Summer 1 Liquid from
1 Liquid from house is piped
geothermal system below ground,
in house is piped which is warmer
below ground. than air. Liquid
Ground absorbs becomes warmer.
heat and cools
liquid. 2 Warmed liquid
returns to house.
2 Cooled liquid
returns to house. 3 Inside house
warm liquid gives
3 Inside house off heat and warms
liquid absorbs heat the air in rooms.
from rooms and
cools the air. Reading Diagrams
The red arrows stand for warmed liquid.

The blue arrows stand for cooled liquid.
Types of Energy
People have many ways to get energy. Fossil fuels
such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are just one way. Coal
is a hard, black substance formed from plants that lived
about 300 million years ago. Oil, or petroleum, is a thick,
black liquid that forms underground, over millions of
years, from decaying plants and animals. Natural gas is a
mixture of gases formed from marine organisms.
People use geothermal energy, heat energy from
inside Earth. They also use solar energy, which is any
form of energy radiated by the Sun.
Quick Check
1. List the different types of energy that people use today.
199
How is energy converted into Wind Energy
usable forms?
Energy is neither created nor destroyed. It
changes from one form into another through a
process called energy conversion. Some kinds of
energy conversion are familiar ones used in your
home and school.
Energy Conversion Example
chemical light and heat battery
electric mechanical electric fan
sunlight electricity solar cell
How a Solar-Powered Car Works
solar energy
energy flow
200
Earth’s Resources
Reading Photos
These photos compare and contrast modern windmills

with older-type windmills.
Complex Energy Conversions

Other energy conversions are more complicated.
Machine Steps in Energy Conversion
Steam engine Chemical heat mechanical
Hydroelectric power plant Mechanical electric
Coal Heat electricity
All energy sources have advantages and

disadvantages. The disadvantages that must be
considered include:
• the financial cost of energy conversion and
• possible harm to the environment due to the use of
the energy source.
Quick Check
2. What kind of energy conversion is involved when people use a
microwave oven?
201
Geothermal steam pours from a power plant in Iceland.
How does cost affect

energy use?
When government officials
decide which energy source to
recommend, they look at the costs
and benefits of the energy. They
consider how cost effective the
source is. To tell how cost effective
something is, they compare the
cost of an energy source with the
consequences of using it.
Many alternative-energy
sources are not cost effective right
now. They are not because the
technology to make the energy
sources cost effective is not yet in
use. However, newer technologies
may make such energy sources
more attractive.
202
Earth’s Resources
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency is an important factor to consider when
you buy a new appliance. Efficiency compares the
amount of usable energy made with the total amount of
energy used up to make the usable energy. No appliance
is 100% energy efficient. Some energy is always lost as
heat given off to the air.
Before you buy an appliance, look at the Energy
Guide tag. The lower the annual energy use, the more
energy efficient the appliance is. And the less money
you will spend when you use the appliance.
Quick Check
3. What are things that must be compared when selecting a source of
energy or an appliance?
estimate of the
appliance’s annual
energy use (The lower
the number, the more
energy efficient the
appliance, and the less
it costs to run.)
range of
ratings
for similar
models
estimate of
annual cost
to run this
model
203
What are the consequences of
energy use?
Energy use has its consequences, including pollution
and damage to land and waterways. Pollution is a
harmful addition to the natural environment.
Pollution may be the release of harmful substances into the air or the
release of energy that disrupts an ecosystem.
Energy Source Pollution Problems

• Strip mining peels away topsoil.
• Burning releases pollution.
Fossil fuels
• Released gases cause acid rain.
• Smog in cities hurts lungs.
• Dams can alter flow of rivers, flood
Hydroelectric power
habitats, interfere with natural cycles.
• Radioactive waste produced.
Nuclear power • Hot water released into rivers can kill
wildlife and destroy habitats.
204
Earth’s Resources
At this power plant in Florida, manatees are attracted to the warm water.
This behavior alters manatees’ migration patterns.
Nonmonetary Costs of Energy Use

Damage to the environment, due to pollution, affects
everyone. This damage is known as nonmonetary
costs, or environmental consequences, of energy use.
Examples of nonmonetary costs are:
• pollution caused by fossil fuels
• health problems due to pollution
• smog
• acid rain
• thermal pollution of rivers
Nonmonetary costs can lead to monetary costs.
Monetary costs include the cost of repairing or cleaning
up damage to the environment. So, people need to be
wise in their choice of energy sources.
Quick Check
4. List some nonmonetary costs of nuclear power.

205
Lesson 2
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
farm near the Russian River, California
What are natural resources?

What do we get from Earth that we need to live? We
get air to breathe and water to drink. We get food for
energy. We get soil to grow food. Forests give us oxygen
as well as wood for building and fuel. Natural resources
are materials people take from Earth. Almost everything
people use comes in some way from a natural resource.
Earth’s natural resources can be grouped by the
time it takes to replace them. A nonrenewable resource
takes a long time to replace or cannot be replaced at
all. A renewable resource can be replaced in a relatively
short time.
Quick Check
5. Why are natural resources important?
206
Earth’s Resources
Reading Photos
This photo shows how farmers make

wise use of natural resources.
Types of Resources
Although some resources are considered renewable,
it may take time to replace them. Soil is an example. To
replace just a few centimeters of soil can take from 500
to 2,000 years!
Water is renewed naturally by the processes of Earth’s
water cycle. However, only a small amount of fresh water
is available for people to use. Wasting or polluting water
can result in severe shortages.
Nonrenewable Renewable
• fossil fuels • trees
• minerals such as gold • water
and copper • soil
• nuclear fuels • solar energy
Quick Check
6. Why is water considered a renewable resource?
207
What are nonrenewable resources?
Much of our current technology depends
on nonrenewable resources. Two main types
of nonrenewable resources are fossil fuels and
nuclear fuels.
Fossil Fuels
• formed from remains of organisms
Produced
that lived millions of years ago
Example • coal, oil, natural gas
• more than 90% for fuel
Uses
• about 10% to make plastics
Problems • air pollution
Fuel Use
Type of Proved Reserves
Amount Used
Energy (as of
(for 2003)
Source January 1, 2004)
about 80
1,265 billion
Oil million barrels
barrels
per day
about 96
6,079 trillion
Natural gas trillion cubic
cubic feet
feet per year
oil field in Huntington Beach, California
208
Earth’s Resources
Nuclear fuels are often produced by fission, the splitting
of atoms into pieces.
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuels are the energy source for nuclear
power plants.
Nuclear Fuels
Produced • atoms are split apart
Example • uranium 235
• tremendous energy released
Uses
• good electricity producer
Problems • getting rid of radioactive waste
Quick Check
7. From the fuel use table, about how much time will pass until natural
gas reserves are used up? (You may round the data.)
209
What are renewable resources?
Renewable resources are those that can be replaced.
Some renewable resources, however, are not truly
renewable because it takes so long to replenish them.
Completely renewable resources include:
• almost endless due to enormous reserves

of heat below Earth’s surface.
geothermal
energy
• problem: not many places were it can
be used.
• the joining of two nuclei with smaller

masses to make a nucleus with a
larger mass
fusion
• problem: fusion reactors are not yet
cost efficient
A Fusion reactors have the potential to

provide a cheap, clean source of energy.
210
Earth’s Resources
Other Renewable Resources
Other completely renewable resources
include:
• solar panels collect

solar power Sun’s energy and turn
it into electricity
• windmills send energy
from turning blades
wind energy
into a turbine, which
makes electricity
• collecting energy that
is produced by falling
hydroelectric
or running water
power
and changing it into
electricity.
Some resources, such as biomass, are

renewable, but may take a long
time to replace.
Biomass is matter that comes from
living things—such as plants and animal
wastes. New trees, for example may
be planted after trees are cut down.
However, the replaced trees take time
to grow.
A Trees are a renewable resource.

However, replacing a forest can
take decades.
Quick Check
8. Emil says that soil should really be considered a nonrenewable
resource. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
211
A Hydroelectric Plant
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How is hydroelectric power dependent

on solar energy?
Hydroelectric power is a renewable-energy resource.
It is produced by the force of falling or running water.
Hydroelectric power depends on the water cycle. The
water cycle, in turn, depends on the Sun.
• The Sun warms water on Earth’s surface and causes
it to evaporate—that is, turn into water vapor.
• Water vapor rises into the air, cools, and
condenses—that is, turns back into liquid water.
• In time, the water falls back to Earth as some form
of precipitation,
The precipitation adds to Earth’s rivers, lakes, and
streams. Flowing water, such as in a river, enters a
hydroelectric plant. The water spins the blades of
turbines. The spinning turbines produce electricity in
generators.
212
Earth’s Resources
^]eS`ZW\Sa
bÒ\aT]`[S`
A A dam collects and stores the water
that will be used to run a hydroelectric
power plant’s turbines.
Reading Diagrams
In what direction does water move to

reach the hydroelectric plant?
Watch power generation

@ www.macmillanmh.com
Advantages and Disadvantages of Water Power

Hydroelectric power has both advantages and
disadvantages.
Advantages Disadvantages
• cheap • not all locations are suitable
• renewable • flooding behind a dam can
• no air pollution destroy or change habitats
Quick Check
9. An electric power company wants to build a hydroelectric power plant

and dam on the flood plain of a slow-moving river. What would you
say about this at a town meeting to discuss the proposal?
213
How can energy resources be
conserved?
Conservation is using natural resources wisely.
Conservation is especially important for nonrenewable
resources. Conservation can involve something as simple
as choosing to walk or riding a bicycle. It may be turning
out the lights when you leave a room. It may be putting
solar panels in your house to make some of your own
electricity.
Quick Check
10. Why is it important to practice conservation?
214
Earth’s Resources
This house is made of
recycled cans and mud.
Recycling
Recycling is making new products by reusing
materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
Recycling usually uses less energy than making a
product from raw materials.
Also, by recycling, people can reduce the number
of things they throw away. Reusing items, instead of
throwing them away, also helps to conserve resources.
Conservation and recycling are just two ways to save
natural resources.
Quick Check
11. List three ways that people can recycle.

215
Lesson 3
Uses of Resources
Where do everyday
materials come from?
Raw materials are the building
blocks of products. Many products
are made from natural resources.
Some natural resources can be used
immediately. Other natural resources
have to be processed using chemicals
before they can be used.
A Timber comes from trees, which are a

renewable resource.
Raw material Products made with raw material

lumber houses, musical instruments, paper
cotton clothing
rocks bricks, concrete, glass
minerals gems, ceramics
copper metal electric wires
iron metal tools, building materials
Quick Check
12. What might be a disadvantage of processing raw materials to make
products?
216
Earth’s Resources
Extrusion Blow-Molding Process
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P]bbZS
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OW`bcPS
A hot plastic Air is blown into The tube When the

tube is enclosed the tube inside expands and mold is opened,
in a mold. the mold. takes the shape the plastic
of the inside of bottle can be
the mold. removed.
What is plastic?
Materials made artificially— Plastics are good insulators. That
that is, human-made—are called is, they do not conduct heat well
synthetic. Plastic is a synthetic and, thus, are useful as pot handles,
material. It is made from petroleum. cooking utensils, toaster controls,
and cookware. Also, many food
Plastic is an example of a
wraps and containers are made of
polymer (PAH•li•muhr). A polymer is
plastic.
made by chemically linking many
smaller molecules into a larger Most plastics can be reheated
molecule. Plastics can be made and remolded. They can be made
into fibers and sheets. They can be into bottles. See the diagram.
made flexible or hardened. Because they can be reheated and
remolded, plastics can be recycled.
Quick Check
13. Four objects in your home made from plastic are
, ,
, and .
217
How are textiles
produced?
A textile is a fabric made by
weaving or knitting fibers together.
Their uses include clothing, sails, and
furniture upholstery. Fibers as old
as 17,000 years have been found in
caves in France.
Textiles can be made from animal
and plant products or artificially. For
example, wool is from sheep’s coats.
Cashmere comes from goat hair.
Angora is from the fur of angora
rabbits. Silk is made by silkworms.
Cotton is used to make many kinds
of clothes. Synthetic textiles are
made from fossils fuels. These
include nylon, acrylic, and polyester.
As with plastic, textiles can also
be recycled. Some clothing can be
made from recycled plastic. For
example, fleece pullovers are made
from old plastic bottles. Plastics can
be used for fibers for carpets.
Quick Check
14. Textiles are made by
and
are made from
D A cotton plant goes through

many processing stages before
it becomes a useful fabric.
218
Earth’s Resources
Public transportation is a more fuel-efficient
way to move large numbers of people.
How are fuel resources used for

transportation?
Most oil is made into gasoline. However, burning fossil
fuels creates pollution, which harms the environment
and causes health problems. Scientists are trying to find
solutions to these problems.
One option is developing alternative fuels. These fuels
are not made from oil, so they burn more cleanly than
oil does. But they are not efficient enough to be cost
effective.
One very interesting alternative is a hybrid car.
Hybrids combine two or more sources of power, usually
gasoline and electricity. Hybrids use less fuel and emit
less pollution. Some hybrid cars can get 55 miles to
the gallon.
Quick Check
15. Why is it important to search for alternative types of transportation?
219
How are natural resources
used for shelter?
Every living thing, including people, needs shelter.
People use many natural resources to build homes.
They include.
• sod • adobe • stone
• wood • bricks • animal skins
Most houses built today use many types of natural
resources. To build a home, you need:
• a strong foundation to support the building
• a frame for the house
• a waterproof roof
sod house adobe house
stone house
220
Earth’s Resources
Covering the Exterior
After the house is framed, exterior windows and
doors are added. Windows are made of glass, a kind of
silicate sand.
Then the house is usually wrapped in a moisture-
resistant material. After this the exterior of the home
is covered in roofing and wall materials. The walls are
usually covered on the sides. Wood, stone, and brush are
often options. Electrical wiring and plumbing are put in
next. Finally, the house is painted.
Building Materials
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ObS`WOZa9Sg
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E]]R
0`WQY
0`WQY
1S[S\b
1S[S\b
5ZOaa
5ZOaa
BWZS
BWZS
;SbOZ
;SbOZ Reading Diagrams
DW\gZ
The materials listed in the key are
used in making the house.
Quick Check
16. Tall buildings are framed with steel. Why do you think this is so?

221
Vocabulary
Review
Earth’s Resources
Fill in the blanks with words from the vocabulary box.
1. a mixture of gases conservation

formed from marine life forms efficiency
2. making new energy source
products by reusing things that might have natural gas
been thrown away natural resource
3. any source of renewable

resource
energy in a nuclear power plant
nonrenewable
4. any material taken resource
from Earth that can be replaced in a relatively nuclear fuel
short time pollution
5. any material taken recycling

from Earth that cannot be replaced in a
relatively short time or at all
6. the wise use of Earth’s materials
7. any material that people take

from Earth to use
8. comparing the amount of usable energy

produced with the total amount of energy used in the process
9. any harmful addition to the

natural environment
10. where the light, heat, or electricity

that we use comes from
222
Use the clues below to fill in the crossword puzzle.
1. 2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
Across
3. Energy collected from falling water and used to make electricity
4. The joining of two nuclei with small masses to form a nucleus with a
larger mass
6. Heat energy from within Earth.
7. A thick, black fluid that forms from decaying plants and animals.
Down
1. A material made artificially by treating natural resources
with chemicals.
2. A hard, black substance formed from plants that lived about
300 million years ago.
5. Energy radiated by the Sun.
223
Cover Photo: Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library; 22: (tl) Roland Birke/
Illustration Credits: All illustrations are by Macmillan/McGraw- Phototake, (tr) Carolina Biological Supply Company/Phototake,
Hill except as noted below: (cl) Eric Grave/Phototake; 23: (bc) M. Loup/Peter Arnold Inc.;
24: (cl) Sinclair Stammers/Science Photo Library, (cr) Viola
Vi: (9, 10) John Kocon; 1: (7) John Kocon, (8) Sebastian Quigley; Joyner Photography/Alamy; 25: (tr) Jason Smalley/Nature
2: (tc) Rob Wood; 7: (cr) J. Edwards Inc.; 11: (tr) Rob Wood; 12: Picture Library, (cl) Joseph Sohm; ChromoSohm Inc./Corbis,
(t to b) Mike DiGiorgio; 13: (tc) Rob Wood, (bc) Joe LeMonnier; (cr) Vaughan Fleming/Science Photo Library; 26: (c) Steve
14: (c) Rob Wood; 17: (t to b) Rob Wood; 27: (tl) John Kocon; 28- Bloom/Alamy; 29: (tr) Studio Carlo Dani/Animals Animals-Earth
29: (l to r) John Kocon; 31: (tc) John Kocon; 32: (bc) Sebastian Scenes; 30: (inset) Brandon D. Cole/Corbis, (cr) Paul
Quigley; 34-35: (l to r) John Kaufmann; 36-37: (l to r) John Edmondson/Corbis, (br) Joe McDonald/Corbis; 33: (cl) Photo
Kaufmann; 43: (tc) Joe LeMonnier; 45: (t to b) J. Edwards Inc.; Company/zefa/Corbis, (cr) Klaus Nigge/National Geographic/
56: (c) J. Edwards Inc.; 57: (c) J. Edwards Inc.; 60: (tl, bc) Joe Getty Images; 37: (cr) The Garden Picture Library/Alamy; 40: (1)
LeMonnier; 64: (tl) Joe LeMonnier; 72: (5, 7, 8) Rob Schuster; ©Creatas/PunchStock, (2) Mario Corvetto/Evergreen Photo
73: (1) Rob Schuster, (2) Stephen Durke, (7) Joe LeMonnier, Alliance, (3) Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd/Alamy, (4)
(8) J. Edwards Inc.; 74: (cl) Rob Schuster; 76: (c) Rob Schuster; Joseph Van Os/The Image Bank/Getty Images, (5) Michael
78: (cl, cr) Rob Schuster; 79: (t to b) Rob Schuster; 80: (cl) Rob DeYoung/Corbis; 41: (1) Tobias Bernhard/zefa/Corbis, (2) Danita
Schuster; 81: (c) Rob Wood; 82: (l to r) Joel & Sharon Harris; 84: Delimont/Alamy, (3) Dewitt Jones/Corbis, (4) Andrew Brown;
(cl) Stephen Durke; 98: (1, 4) Rob Schuster, (3, 5) J. Edwards Ecoscene/Corbis; 42: (tl) Royalty-Free/Corbis; 44: (c) Frans
Inc., (8) Joe LeMonnier; 99: (1, 2) Joe LeMonnier, (5) J. Edwards Lanting/Corbis; 46: (tc) Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd/
Inc., (6-8) Stephen Durke; 100: (bc) J. Edwards Inc.; 104-105: (l Alamy; 47: (c) Tom Brakefield/Digital Vision/Getty Images; 48:
to r) Rob Schuster; 109: (tc) J. Edwards Inc.; 110: (bc) J. Edwards (cl) ©Creatas/PunchStock; 49: (tl) Kent, Breck P./Animals
Inc.; 112: (tr) Kenneth Batelman; 116: (tr) Joe LeMonnier; 117: Animals - Earth Scenes; 50: (tc) Joseph Van Os/The Image
(t to b) J. Edwards Inc.; 118: (bc) J. Edwards Inc.; 122: (1) Joe Bank/Getty Images; 51: (tl) Michael DeYoung/Corbis; 52: (tl)
LeMonnier, (2, 3, 5, 6, 8) Sebastian Quigley, (7, 10) Stephen Philip Gould/Corbis; 53: (tr) ©Creatas/PunchStock; 54: (tl)
Durke, (11) John Kaufmann; 123: (1, 10, 11) Joe LeMonnier, (2, Georgette Douwma/Digital Vision/Getty Images; 55: (tc) Tobias
3) Sebastian Quigley, (8) John Kaufmann, (9) Stephen Durke. Bernhard/zefa/Corbis, (c) Doug Allan/Science Photo Library,
125: (l) Joe LeMonnier; 126: (tr, cr) Stephen Durke; 127: (tr, (bc) OSF/Fleetham, D./Animals Animals - Earth Scenes; 58: (bc)
cr) Stephen Durke, (tc) Joe LeMonnier; 128: (cl, cr) Sebastian D. Robert & Lorri Franz/Corbis; 59: (bc) Dewitt Jones/Corbis; 61:
Quigley; 129: (bc) Joe LeMonnier; 132: (bc) Sebastian Quigley; (tc) Larry Dale Gordon/zefa/Corbis; 62: (tr) Bruce Coleman Inc./
133: (tr) Stephen Durke; 134: (c) Joe LeMonnier; 135: (tc) Rob Alamy, (bl) Andrew Brown; Ecoscene/Corbis; 63: (bc) Kevin
Schuster; 136-137: (bc) Stephen Durke; 139: (bc) Joe LeMonnier; Schafer/Corbis; 64: (bc) Charles Krebs/Corbis; 65: (tr) George
140: (tc) Kenneth Batelman, (bc) Sebastian Quigley; 141: D. Lepp/Corbis, (bl) Theo Allofs/Corbis; 66: (tc) Scott
(c) Sebastian Quigley; 145: (tr) Joe LeMonnier; 146: (t to b) Camazine/Photo Researchers, Inc.; 67: (c) Engels, Harry/
Sebastian Quigley; 150: (bc) John Kaufmann; 153: (tc) Stephen Animals Animals - Earth Scenes; 68: (tr) Julie Mowbray/Alamy,
Durke; 154: (bcl) Joe LeMonnier; 160: (1, 4) Joe LeMonnier, (cl) Associated Press, San Diego Wild Animal Park; 69: (cl)
(2) John Kaufman; 161: (2) Sebastian Quigley, (9) J. Edwards Associated Press, University of California Davis, (cr) H.
Inc.; 162: (bc) Joe LeMonnier; 164: (cl) Joe LeMonnier; 165: (tc) Reinhard/zefa/Corbis; 59: (tl) Hal Beral/Corbis; 72: (1) Robert
Joe LeMonnier; 166: (bc) Kenneth Batelman; 167: (cl) Kenneth Glusic/Getty Images, (2) Viviane Moos/Corbis, (3) Royalty-
Batelman; 168: (bc) Joe LeMonnier; 169: (c) Sebastian Quigley; Free/Corbis, (5) Stockbyte, (6) Ron Brazil/Zuma/Corbis; 73: (3)
177: (c) Sebastian Quigley; 178-179: (l to r) Sebastian Quigley; Bill Ross/Corbis, (4) David Young-Wolff/Photo Edit, (5) Corbis;
180: (tc) John Kocon; 183: (c) J. Edwards Inc.; 188: (bc) J. 74: (cr) Owaki-Kulla/Corbis; 75: (tr) Corbis, (cr) Digital Vision/
Edwards Inc.; 199: (tc) Kenneth Batelman; 200: (bc) Kenneth Punchstock; 79: (t to b) Stockbyte; 84: (cr) ©JupiterImages; 85:
Batelman; 212-213: (tc) John Kocon; 217: (tc) Kenneth Batelman; (cl) Martin Dohrn/Nature Picture Library, (c) Clayton J. Price/
221: (bc) Kenneth Batelman. Corbis, (cr) Abrams/Lacagnina/The Image Bank/Getty Images;
Photography Credits: All photographs are by Ken Karp, John A. 86: (bl) Mark Schneider/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images, (bc)
Karachewski, or Roger Loewenberg for Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Science VU/Visuals Unlimited; 89: (tc) Brand X Pictures/
except as noted below: PunchStock; 90: (tc) Mark Scott/Photographer’s Choice/Getty
Vi: (1) M. Loup/Peter Arnold Inc., (2) Gunter Marx Photography/ Images, (cr) David Young-Wolff/Photo Edit; 91: (c) Corbis; 92: (c)
Corbis, (3) Galen Rowell/Corbis, (4) George D. Lepp/Corbis, (5) Science VU/Visuals Unlimited; 93: (c) ©Royalty Free/Corbis; 98:
Atmosphere Picture Library/Alamy, (6) Paul Edmondson/ (2) Clayton J. Price/Corbis, (6) Tom Bean/Corbis, (7) Travel-
Corbis, (7) Joseph Sohm, ChromoSohm Inc./Corbis, (8) Shots/ Alamy; 99: (3) Terry Qing/Getty Images, (4) Grant Faint/
Vaughan Fleming/Science Photo Library; 1: (1) Sumio Harada/ Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images; 100: (tr) Alfred Pasieka/
Minden Pictures, (2) Peter Arnold, Inc./Alamy, (3) Julie Science Photo Library; 102: (tc) ©JupiterImages; 103: (cl) Tom
Mowbray/Alamy, (4, 5) Steve Bloom/Alamy, (6) Studio Carlo Bean/ Corbis, (cr) Travel-Shots/ Alamy; 104: (cl) David Young-
Dani/Animals Animals-Earth Scenes, (9) Photo Company/zefa/ Wolff/ Photo Edit, (bl) Michelle D. Bridwell/ Photo Edit, (br) Jeff
Corbis, (10) Klaus Nigge/National Geographic/Getty Images; 4: Greenberg/Photo Edit; 105: (tc) Tom Stewart/Corbis, (cr) Pascal
(cl) Cosmo Condina/Alamy; 5: (cl) Johnny Johnson/ Goetgheluck/Science Photo Library; 106: (cl) Jim Zuckerman/
Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images; 6: (tr) Bryan Mullennix/ Corbis; 107: (c) ©Royalty-Free/Corbis; 108: (bc) Moshe Shai/
Alamy, (bc) Royalty-Free/Corbis; 8: (cl) Gunter Marx Corbis; 110: (inset) Pankaj & Insy Shah/ Gulfimages/Getty
Photography/Corbis; 9: (tr) Galen Rowell/Corbis, (cl) Charles Images, (inset) Frans Lanting/Corbis; 111: (tcr) Aflo Foto
Mauzy/Corbis; 10: (cl) George D. Lepp/Corbis; 15: (cl) Viola Agency/Alamy, (bcr) culliganphoto/Alamy; 112: (tr) Kennan
Joyner Photography/Alamy, (cr) Dr. Jeremy Burgess/Science Ward/Corbis; 114: (bc) Grant Faint/Photographer’s Choice/
Photo Library; 16: (cr) Atmosphere Picture Library/Alamy; 18: Getty Images; 115: (tc) Keith Pritchard/ Alamy; 119: (tc) F. Damm/
(tr) Steve Gschheissner/Science Photo Library, (cl) Andrew zefa/Corbis; 122: (4) Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis, (9) Jim Sugar/
Syred/Science Photo Library, (br) Eric Grave/Science Photo Corbis; 123: (4) Reuters/Corbis, (6) Lauren McFalls, Stringer/
Library; 19: (c) Michael Newman/Photo Edit; 20: (tr) Charles Associated Press, AP, (12) Kevin Schafer/Peter Arnold, Inc.; 130-
Philip Cangialosi/Corbis, (cr) Sinclair Stammers/Science Photo 131: (tc) Craig Aurness/Corbis; 138: (bl) Corbis, (br) Bettmann/
Library; 21: (tl) Andrew Syred/Science Photo Library, (tr) Steve Corbis; 142: (bl) Reuters/Corbis; 143: (cl) Lauren McFalls,
Stringer/Associated Press, AP; 144: (tc) Roger Ressmeyer/
224
Corbis; 145: (c) Matthias Kulka/zefa/Corbis; 147: (1) Joseph
Baylor Roberts/National Geographic/Getty Images, (2) Michael
T. Sedam/Corbis, (3) Jean du Boisberranger/The Image Bank/
Getty Images; 148: (bc) Philip James Corwin/Corbis; 149: (inset)
Jonathan Blair/Corbis, (t to b) Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis; 151: (tc)
Kevin R. Morris/Corbis, (cr) Kennan Ward/Corbis; 152: (tr) Jules
Frazier/Getty Images, (cr) Royalty-Free/Corbis, (br) Siede
Preis/Getty Images; 155: (tc) Kevin Schafer/Peter Arnold, Inc.;
156: (bc) Owaki-Kulla/Corbis; 157: (cr) Paul A. Souders/Corbis;
160: (3) Theowulf Maehl/zefa/Corbis, (5) Galen Rowell/Corbis,
(6) Digital Vision/Punchstock, (7) Paul Edmondson/Corbis, (8)
David Muench/Corbis, (10) Kennan Ward/Corbis; 161: (1) Kevin
Djansezian/AP/Wide World Photos, (3) NASA, (4) Stockbyte
Gold/Alamy, (7) Royalty-Free/Corbis, (8) Digital Vision/
PunchStock, (10) J.P. Moczulski/Reuters/Corbis; 163: (c) NASA/
Science Photo Library; 166: (bc) William Eckersley/Alamy; 169:
(bc) Corbis; 170: (bc) Galen Rowell/Corbis; 171: (tr) geogphotos/
Alamy; 172: (tl) Carol Polich/Lonely Planet Images/Getty
Images, (tr) David Muench/Corbis; 173: (tr) Kennan Ward/
Corbis; 174: (bc) Micahel Goulding/Orange County Register/
Corbis; 175: (c) Kevin Djansezian/AP/Wide World Photos; 176:
(bc) Jan Tove Johansson/Taxi/Getty Images; 178: (inset)
Associated Press, AP; 179: (inset) Associated Press, AP; 181: (c)
Yann Arthus-Bertrand/Corbis; 182: (bc) Royalty-Free/Corbis;
184: (cl) Douglas Peebles Photography/Alamy, (cr) Terry Smith
Images/Alamy; 185: (bc) Richard Cummins/Corbis; 186: (bc)
Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis; 187: (tc) PBNJ Productions/
Corbis; 189: (tc) 2006 DigitalGlobe 190: (tr) Smiley N. Pool/
Dallas Morning News/Corbis; 191: (tr) Paul A. Souders/Corbis,
(cr) Natalie Fobes/Corbis; 192: (tl) Matthias Kulka/zefa/Corbis,
(cr) Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis; 193: (cl) Alberto Garcia/Corbis,
(cr) Courtesy of USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory; 196: (1)
Robert Glusic/Getty Images, (2) Mark Schneider/Visuals
Unlimited/Getty Images, (3) Lester Lefkowitz/Photographer’s
Choice/Getty Images, (4) Royalty-Free/Corbis, (5) Charles
O’Rear/Corbis, (6) George Steinmetz/Corbis, (7) Roger
Ressmeyer/Corbis, (8) Ron Watts/Corbis, (9) Bill Heinsohn/
Alamy; 197: (1) Mark Schneider/Visuals Unlimited/Getty Images,
(2) Philip James Corwin/Corbis, (3) Digital Vision/Getty Images,
Inc., (4) Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis, (5) Bob Rowan;Progressive
Image/Corbis, (6) Svenja-Foto/Zefa/Corbis; 198: (bc) Robert
Landau/Corbis; 200-201: (l to r) Robert Glusic/Getty Images;
200: (bc) G. Brad Lewis/Science Photo Library; 201: (tr) Lester
Lefkowitz/Corbis; 202: (tc) Paul A. Souders/Corbis, (br)
Comstock Images/Alamy; 204: (c) Ron Watts/Corbis; 205: (tc)
Michael Patrick O’Neill/Alamy; 206-207: (l to r) Bill Heinsohn/
Alamy; 208: (bc) Bill Ross/Corbis; 209: (tc) Galen Rowell/
Corbis; 210: (bc) Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis; 211: ( r ) Gary
Braasch/Corbis; 213: (tr) Bob Rowan;Progressive Image/Corbis;
214: (c) Svenja-Foto/Zefa/Corbis; 215: (tc) Roger Ressmeyer/
Corbis; 216: (tr) Douglas Kirkland/Corbis; 218: (tl)) John
Wigmore/Corbis, (tcl) Stephanie Maze/Corbis, (bcl) JG
Photography/Alamy, (bl) Joe Fairs/Alamy; 219: (tc) Keren Su/
China Span/Alamy; 220: (cl) Wolfgang Kaehler/Corbis, (bl)
Westend61/Alamy, (br) Craig Aurness/Corbis.
225

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CHAPTER 1

ecosystem a place producer a living

population members consumer a living

community all the decomposer a living

photosynthesis the bS`bWO`gQ]\ac[S`

make food by using to another

respiration the release food web all the food

herbivore an animal scavenger an animal

carnivore an animal energy pyramid a

omnivore an animal ^`SQW^WbObW]\

animals into a gas

predator an animal condensation the

prey an animal that a precipitation water

This diagram shows living and

1. What kind of system is an ecosystem?

2. What do living things in an ecosystem depend on?

Living and Nonliving Parts of an Ecosystem

Nonliving Parts Living Parts

3. Name ﬁve living parts of the ecosystem shown in the picture on

4. Name ﬁve nonliving parts of an ecosystem. ,

Areas near the Equator

Parrots thrive in warm areas, such as

A Penguins learned to huddle to keep warm.

6. Areas near the North and South Poles get

7. Two things that some kinds of living things do to survive cold

Central Valley irrigation

8. Some kinds of living things can live in places where

there is little water because .

Soil usually has four layers:

• Parent rock is the rock that

• Bedrock is the lowest layer,

9. Three things that soil supplies to plants are ,

California sea lions

This photo shows some

Beavers help provide habitats for other

13. What must populations do to survive in a community?

-Review Summaries and quizzes online @ www.macmillanmh.com

Why is photosynthesis important?

Poppies use sunlight to make food.

15. Which of the following organisms would be most likely to use

carbon dioxide, water,

Source of Energy heat from oven sunlight

Where It Happens oven leaves

16. For photosynthesis to occur, there must be

roots are thin and have lots of

17. Why are roots important?

Soft Stem (ﬂexible) Woody Stem (stiff)

The xylem, phloem, and cambium

19. Two important roles that stems perform are

Air enters. Water and

20. Leaves get water from the roots through their .

21. Chlorophyll is found in the .

22. During photosynthesis, and water

23. Photosynthesis mostly occurs in the .

Water travels from the roots to the stem.

photosynthesis the bS`bWO`gQ]\ac[S`