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How Does Climate Change Affect Plants

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

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Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 6
Subjects: science
Languages: English, Spanish

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What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This educational resource, audio integrated, delves into the critical topic of how climate change affects plants, aligning with NGSS MS-LS1-5. Students will read an engaging passage that explains key concepts like global warming, carbon dioxide, and how these changes influence plant growth, flowering times, and overall ecosystem health. The passage includes relevant SEO keywords to enhance discoverability. Following the reading, students will engage in a variety of activities designed to test their comprehension, vocabulary, and ability to apply scientific concepts. These activities include multiple-choice questions, a glossary for key terms, and short answer questions, all crafted to deepen their understanding of environmental and genetic factors influencing organisms.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

Plants are the foundation of nearly everything we depend on. They produce the oxygen we breathe through photosynthesis. They form the base of every food web on land. They provide food for humans and animals alike. Because plants play such critical roles, how they respond to climate change matters enormously for all life on Earth.

Rising temperatures change where plants can survive and grow. Evidence shows that many plant species are shifting their ranges toward cooler areas. Some species move northward, following temperatures they can tolerate. Others migrate up mountain slopes to find cooler conditions. Scientists observe that plants in some regions now grow 50 to 100 miles farther north than they did decades ago. This shift affects which crops farmers can grow in different regions. It also changes which wild plants survive in natural ecosystems.

Warmer temperatures also change when plants bloom and grow. Earlier springs cause many plants to flower weeks sooner than they did in the past. This timing shift can create problems for pollination. If plants bloom before their pollinating insects emerge, flowers may not get pollinated. Without pollination, plants cannot produce seeds or fruits. In Japan, scientists documented that cherry trees now bloom about a week earlier than they did 50 years ago. This change may seem small, but it can disrupt the relationships between plants and the animals that depend on them.

Heat and drought stress many plants in ways that threaten their survival. Plants need water for photosynthesis and to stay cool. During droughts, plants close tiny pores in their leaves to conserve water. However, this also stops photosynthesis, slowing plant growth. Extreme heat can damage plant cells and reduce crop yields. Some evidence suggests that important crops like wheat and corn produce less food when temperatures rise above certain levels.

Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has mixed effects on plants. Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis, and higher levels can help some plants grow faster. However, research shows that faster-grown crops may contain fewer nutrients. Wheat grown with elevated carbon dioxide can have less protein and fewer minerals. This means that even if we grow more food, it may be less nutritious.

These changes in plants have widespread consequences. They affect food security as crop-growing regions shift. They alter natural ecosystems as plant communities change. They impact animals that depend on specific plants for food and shelter. Understanding how climate change affects plants helps scientists and farmers develop strategies to protect food supplies and preserve ecosystems.

Interesting Fact: Some alpine plants that grow high on mountains have nowhere cooler to go as temperatures rise. Scientists call these species "mountaintop refugees" because they may face extinction if warming continues.

What process do plants use to produce oxygen?

PhotosynthesisPollinationMigrationRespiration

According to the passage, how far north have some plants moved compared to decades ago?

10 to 20 miles25 to 40 miles50 to 100 miles150 to 200 miles

What does the term 'pollination' mean in the context of this passage?

The process of plants moving to cooler areasThe transfer of pollen from one flower to anotherThe way plants conserve water during droughtThe production of oxygen by plants

What problem can occur when plants bloom earlier than usual?

Plants produce too many flowersPollinating insects may not be available yetPlants use too much waterCarbon dioxide levels drop too low

Why do plants close tiny pores in their leaves during droughts?

To absorb more sunlightTo conserve waterTo release more oxygenTo attract pollinators

Based on the passage, what is one negative effect of increased carbon dioxide on crops?

Crops grow more slowlyCrops require more waterCrops may contain fewer nutrientsCrops cannot perform photosynthesis

What can be inferred about 'mountaintop refugee' plants?

They are moving to lower elevationsThey face extinction risk because they cannot move to cooler areasThey grow better in warmer temperaturesThey do not need water to survive

How might climate change affect food security, according to the passage?

By making all crops grow fasterBy shifting crop-growing regionsBy eliminating the need for pollinationBy reducing carbon dioxide levels

True or False: Cherry trees in Japan now bloom about a week earlier than they did 50 years ago.

TrueFalse

True or False: Higher carbon dioxide levels always improve the nutritional quality of crops.

TrueFalse