Lesson 3.1.6.3

3.1.6.3 Biomes Quiz: AQA Geography, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.6.3, Biomes: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Geography (7037), Unit 1: Physical geography, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. A biome is best defined as:

    • A single species that dominates a small pond and regulates the other organisms within the water body
    • A type of rock that forms in volcanic regions and supports a distinctive range of pioneer vegetation
    • A market for trading ecological products, such as timber, fish and carbon credits, between countries
    • A large region with a characteristic climate, vegetation and fauna, shaped by similar conditions

  2. Tropical rainforests are typically characterised by:

    • Low rainfall and seasonal grassland cover, with scattered trees adapted to long dry seasons each year
    • Permanent snow cover and very low temperatures that prevent most plants from growing for much of the year
    • Dry soils with very little vegetation at any time, because evaporation exceeds rainfall throughout the year
    • High, year-round rainfall and high temperatures supporting very high biodiversity

  3. Savanna grassland is characterised by:

    • Waterlogged peatland with no trees, where sphagnum moss dominates and acidic water collects in the hollows
    • A seasonal rainfall pattern, with grasses and scattered trees adapted to a dry season
    • Permanent ice and tundra vegetation, with mosses and lichens growing across frozen ground all year
    • Constant high rainfall and dense evergreen canopy that shades the ground and limits the growth of grasses

  4. Which adaptation helps savanna trees survive a long dry season?

    • Deep roots that reach groundwater and deciduous leaf loss that reduces water loss
    • Permanently open stomata that lose water constantly, so the plant can cool itself during the heat
    • Shallow roots that spread across the surface only, so that they can absorb rain as soon as it falls
    • Thin leaves that absorb water through the bark, which allows them to draw moisture from the air

  5. Nutrient-poor soils in tropical rainforests are linked mainly to:

    • Permanent frozen ground that stops decomposition and locks nutrients away beneath the surface
    • Low temperatures that stop plant growth and prevent nutrients from being taken up by roots
    • Rapid decomposition and heavy leaching of nutrients in high rainfall
    • Frequent deposition of volcanic ash that dilutes the soil and reduces its natural capacity to hold nutrients

  6. Which human activity is the major driver of tropical rainforest loss?

    • Natural shifts in the position of the ocean ridges, which move forests into new positions over time
    • Growth of permanent ice sheets over forests, which removes vegetation by scraping the land surface
    • Clearance for agriculture such as cattle ranching and plantation crops
    • Expansion of tundra vegetation into forest areas as the climate becomes colder across the tropics

  7. Which development issue is typically associated with savanna biomes?

    • Permanent decline of rainfall to zero, which removes all vegetation and leaves the land completely bare
    • Agricultural extension and intensification leading to pressure on grassland and wildlife
    • Expansion of coral reefs onto land, which gradually covers grassland with calcium carbonate sediments
    • Rapid increase of ice cover over the grassland, which prevents farming and removes wildlife habitat

  8. Which statement best describes the global distribution of major terrestrial biomes?

    • Tundra is found only in tropical deserts, where frozen ground develops beneath the hot surface
    • Rainforests are found only at the poles, where high humidity and warm temperatures support dense forest
    • Biomes are arranged randomly with no relationship to climate, latitude or the distribution of rainfall
    • Biomes are arranged broadly by latitude and climate, with rainforests near the equator and tundra at high latitudes

  9. Which population issue is most likely to affect biodiversity in a savanna biome?

    • Expansion of tundra into savanna grasslands, which would bring cold-adapted species into the region
    • Population decline to zero in all savanna areas, which would remove all human pressure from the grassland
    • Rapid population growth that increases demand for land, water and fuel wood
    • Permanent withdrawal of all settlements from savanna regions, leaving the land entirely to wildlife

  10. Which statement about tropical rainforest biodiversity is most accurate?

    • Its species are all widespread across every continent, so the forest has little unique biodiversity
    • It contains very few species because high rainfall washes away the seeds and prevents plants from establishing
    • It contains an exceptionally high number of species, many of which are found nowhere else
    • It is the least diverse biome on Earth, since most species are unable to tolerate the wet conditions

  11. Which of these is an example of an ecological response to soil moisture in savannas?

    • Grasses that die back in the dry season and regrow after the rains
    • Corals that grow only in freshwater lakes, where the water is low in salt and rich in minerals
    • Trees that shed all leaves permanently every year and never regrow foliage in the following season
    • Animals that hibernate underwater for the whole year, sheltering in mud beneath the seasonal pools

  12. Which statement evaluates the sustainability of tropical rainforest clearance most accurately?

    • Clearance can bring short-term economic gains but often reduces biodiversity and soil productivity in the long term
    • Clearance is sustainable because rainforest soils are very deep and can supply nutrients for centuries
    • Clearance has no effect on biodiversity, since species quickly move to other forests nearby without loss
    • Clearance always improves long-term soil fertility, because the removal of trees allows sunlight to reach the ground

  13. Which climate condition is most important in defining a tropical rainforest biome?

    • High rainfall distributed throughout the year and consistently warm temperatures
    • Strong seasonal temperature extremes, with very hot summers and very cold winters in every year
    • A very low annual rainfall total, which limits vegetation to scattered shrubs and drought-tolerant grasses
    • Cold winters with snow cover that persists for several months and insulates the soil from the air

  14. Which of these is an adaptation of animals in tropical rainforests?

    • Burrowing into permafrost to survive winter, sheltering in frozen ground until the spring thaw
    • Storing large fat reserves for months of drought in deserts, reducing the need for food and water
    • Arboreal behaviour and camouflage that use the vertical forest structure
    • Thick fur that insulates against snow and cold winds during the long winter months of the year

  15. A savanna's development issues include changes in population and economic development. What is the most likely consequence for biodiversity?

    • Expansion of coral reefs into grassland, as the coastline moves inland with rising sea levels
    • Increased area of rainforest on the savanna, as trees spread across the grassland with economic growth
    • Increased conversion of grassland to farmland and reduced wildlife habitat
    • Permanent loss of all soil cover, leaving bare rock exposed across the whole savanna region

  16. Which feature of savannas makes them vulnerable to intensification of agriculture?

    • Permanent ice cover that limits cultivation and prevents farmers from using the land in most seasons
    • Constant waterlogging that prevents farming, since fields are flooded for most of the year
    • Fragile soils and limited, variable rainfall that make yields unstable
    • Very high rainfall that washes away crops before they can be harvested in any year

  17. Which statement best describes the relationship between a biome and its climate?

    • Biomes can exist independently of any climate pattern, because species adapt quickly to any conditions
    • A biome's vegetation and fauna are adapted to the prevailing climate and soil moisture conditions
    • Biomes are determined only by the presence of humans, who decide which plants and animals can live in each area
    • A biome is unaffected by climate once it has formed, since the vegetation then controls its own environment

  18. Which of these is an example of a typical development issue in rainforest areas?

    • Lack of any resources or population within the region, which keeps the forest entirely free of development
    • Pressure on forest land from road building and resource extraction
    • Permanent decline in population across all rainforest regions as people move to cities in search of work
    • Freezing of the forest canopy in summer, which kills trees and leaves the forest open to the sky

  19. A rainforest area is cleared and 30 per cent of its original species are lost. Which statement is the best evaluation?

    • Clearance has increased the number of species in the area, since open land supports more kinds of organisms
    • The loss is compensated by the arrival of cold-adapted species, which replace the tropical species in the area
    • The 30 per cent loss has no significance for ecosystems, since most species are common and widespread
    • Clearance has caused substantial biodiversity loss, which may be irreversible for some species

  20. Which statement best explains why savannas can support large herbivore populations?

    • Extensive grasslands provide abundant food for grazing animals during the wet season
    • Savannas have no vegetation for animals to eat, so herbivores must rely on food brought in from elsewhere
    • Herbivores are unable to survive in any warm climate, so large populations occur only in cold regions
    • Savannas are permanently covered in ice, which provides a stable habitat for large grazing animals

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