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What is an Abiotic Factor? — Reading Comprehension

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This audio integrated reading passage explains abiotic factors for 4th-grade students in clear, simple terms. Students will learn that abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, air, soil, rocks, and temperature. The passage contrasts biotic and abiotic factors, provides real-world examples like cacti in deserts and polar bears in the Arctic, and explains how changes in abiotic factors can affect entire ecosystems. A fun fact about the Dead Sea highlights extreme abiotic conditions. The included comprehension questions cover DOK levels 1–3, helping students recall, infer, and apply knowledge. Audio integration makes the content accessible for diverse learners. SEO keywords like abiotic factors, non-living, and NGSS ensure discoverability for teachers, homeschooling, and science classrooms.

CONTENT PREVIEW

An abiotic factor is any nonliving part of an ecosystem. The word "abiotic" means "not living." Abiotic factors include water, air, soil, sunlight, temperature, and minerals. These nonliving parts are important because they provide the raw materials and conditions that all living things need to survive.

Every ecosystem contains both living things (like plants and animals) and nonliving things. The nonliving parts create the environment where life can exist. For example, plants need sunlight to make food through a process called photosynthesis—when plants use light energy to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar. Without sunlight, an abiotic factor, plants could not survive. Animals need water to drink and air to breathe. These are also abiotic factors.

Soil is another important abiotic factor. Soil is made of tiny pieces of rock, minerals, and decayed plant and animal matter. Plants grow their roots in soil to get water and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are nonliving chemicals that help plants grow strong and healthy. Think of soil like a pantry that stores food for plants—without it, most plants cannot get what they need.

Temperature is an abiotic factor that affects where organisms can live. Some animals, like polar bears, live in very cold places. Other animals, like camels, live in hot deserts. Each organism has adapted to the temperature of its environment. Water temperature also matters. Cold ocean water holds more oxygen than warm water, which affects the fish and other animals living there.

All abiotic factors work together to create conditions for life. When water evaporates from lakes and oceans, it rises into the air and later falls as rain. This moving water brings nutrients to soil and provides drinking water for animals. The matter—the physical substance that makes up water, air, and minerals—cycles through the environment. Abiotic factors are the environment that keeps this cycle going.

Interesting Fact: The driest place on Earth is the Atacama Desert in Chile, where some areas have not received rain for over 400 years! This extreme abiotic factor makes it nearly impossible for most living things to survive there.

What does the word abiotic mean?

Not livingVery smallLiving thingsPlant food

Which is an abiotic factor?

A birdSunlightA treeA fish

What do plants use photosynthesis for?

To drink waterTo breathe airTo make foodTo grow roots

Why does temperature affect where organisms live?

It changes soil colorOrganisms adapt to specific temperaturesIt makes water disappearIt creates more sunlight

How does soil help plants?

It gives them sunlightIt provides water and nutrientsIt makes them warmerIt helps them breathe

What happens when water evaporates from lakes?

It disappears foreverIt rises and later falls as rainIt turns into soilIt becomes sunlight