Questions: What Is a Habitat?

Question 1

A polar bear lives in the Arctic. Why would it not survive in a desert?

• A. Because it is too big
• B. Because deserts do not have the cold temperatures, ice, and prey that polar bears need
• C. Because polar bears do not like sand
• D. Because deserts have no animals

Answer: (B)

A polar bear is adapted to its Arctic habitat — it has thick fur for extreme cold, white coloring to blend in with snow, and it hunts seals in icy water. A hot desert has none of these things. Every animal needs the specific conditions of its own habitat to survive.

Question 2

A habitat is just another word for an animal's nest or burrow.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: False

A habitat is much bigger than a nest or burrow. It is the whole area where the animal lives and finds everything it needs — food, water, shelter, and space. A bird's habitat might be the whole forest; the nest is just one small part of it.

Question 3

What are the four things a habitat must provide for a living thing to survive?

Model answer: A habitat must provide food, water, shelter, and space.

Every living thing needs these four things from its habitat. Food provides energy, water keeps the body working, shelter protects from weather and predators, and space gives room to move, find food, and raise young. If any one of these is missing, the habitat cannot support that living thing.