Science Final Exam
1 Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration
SCIENTIFIC TERMS
DEFINITION SCIENTIFIC TERM
A process that converts light energy, water and carbon dioxide Photosynthesis
into glucose by giving off oxygen.
An energy storage molecule that is made from food molecules in ATP
our cells.
A series of chemical reactions that convert the energy in food Cellular Respiration
molecules into a usable form of energy called ATP.
A process by which glucose is broken down into smaller Glycolysis
molecules.
The green pigment inside chloroplasts. Chlorophyll
LEAF STRUCTURE — LABELS
LETTER PART NAME
a Palisade mesophyll cell
b Spongy mesophyll cell
c Cuticle
d Stoma
e Upper epidermal cell
f Lower epidermal cell
KEY INFORMATION
Functions of leaf parts:
Spongy mesophyll cells → have spaces within them, to let gases needed for
photosynthesis to pass through.
Cuticle → a waxy covering that prevents / stops water loss.
Stoma → the opening in which gases and water can get in and out of the leaves.
Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration:
PHOTOSYNTHESIS CELLULAR RESPIRATION
Who performs it? Plants only Plants and animals
Where does it happen? Chloroplasts Mitochondria
Reactants CO₂ + H₂O + light energy Glucose + O₂
Products Glucose + O₂ CO₂ + H₂O + ATP
Products Glucose + O₂ CO₂ + H₂O + ATP
Energy Taken in Released
Cellular respiration — 2 steps:
STEP 1 — GLYCOLYSIS STEP 2
Location Cytoplasm Mitochondria
Needs oxygen? No Yes
ATP produced Less ATP More ATP
By-products None CO₂ + H₂O
Plants perform photosynthesis to produce glucose (food), then cellular respiration is required
to change this glucose into ATP (usable energy). That's why cellular respiration depends on
photosynthesis — the products of photosynthesis are the reactants of cellular respiration.
2 Flow of Energy
SCIENTIFIC TERMS
DEFINITION SCIENTIFIC TERM
Living things that eat other animals. Carnivores
Living things that eat both plants and animals. Omnivores
Living things that feed on only producers. Herbivores
A simple model that shows how energy moves from the Sun to a Food chain
producer, to one or more consumers through feeding
relationships.
A model of energy transfer that shows how food chains in a Food web
community are interconnected.
A model that shows the amount of energy available in each step Energy pyramid
of a food chain.
KEY INFORMATION
Energy transfers / flows from one organism to another.
The main source of energy for living things is the Sun.
How organisms get energy:
TYPE HOW THEY GET ENERGY EXAMPLES
Producers Make their own food (photosynthesis) Plants, algae
Herbivores Eat only plants Rabbit, butterfly
Carnivores Eat only animals Fox, lion, tiger
Carnivores Eat only animals Fox, lion, tiger
Omnivores Eat both plants and animals Human, bear, birds
Detritivores Break down dead organisms Bacteria, fungi, worms
Food chain rules:
Food chain always starts with the producer, then herbivores → carnivores → and so on.
Arrows must be drawn between each organism — they show the flow of energy.
Energy pyramid rules:
Always starts from the bottom (producers) to the top (consumers).
Each level is called a trophic level.
The amount of energy decreases going up — most is used by the organism; the rest is
stored in its body.
Eagle · Level 4
Snake · Level 3
Rat · Level 2
Plants · Level 1 (most energy)
Energy decreases going up ↑
3 Cycling of Matter
SCIENTIFIC TERMS
DEFINITION SCIENTIFIC TERM
Water that falls from clouds to Earth's surface. Precipitation
A process in which liquid water changes into gas called water Evaporation
vapor.
A process in which water vapor changes into liquid water. Condensation
A process that changes atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen Nitrogen fixation
compounds that are usable by living things.
KEY INFORMATION
⚖Energy flows in one direction, from one organism to another (food chain, food web).
Matter cycles through the ecosystem (carbon cycle, water cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle).
1. Carbon Cycle
The process that takes carbon from the atmosphere: Photosynthesis
The processes that release carbon to the atmosphere:
Cellular respiration
Decomposition
Combustion
2. Water Cycle
Three main processes: Evaporation → Condensation → Precipitation
Forms of precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, hail
Water vapor also enters atmosphere through transpiration (plants) and exhalation
(animals)
3. Oxygen Cycle
Animals take in oxygen for cellular respiration.
Plants give out oxygen by photosynthesis.
4. Nitrogen Cycle
Plants and animals cannot use nitrogen directly from the atmosphere.
Atmospheric nitrogen must be changed into usable nitrogen compounds → this is called
Nitrogen Fixation.
Nitrogen fixation is done by:
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (on plant roots)
Lightning
Nitrogen returns to the environment by:
Bacteria breaking down dead organisms
Waste of animals
4 Interactions Within Ecosystems
SCIENTIFIC TERMS — SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS
DEFINITION SCIENTIFIC TERM
An interaction between two organisms in which both organisms Mutualism
benefit.
An interaction between two organisms in which one benefits and Commensalism
the other neither benefits nor gets harmed.
An interaction between two organisms in which one benefits and Parasitism
the other is harmed.
The organism that benefits in parasitism. Parasite
The organism that gets harmed in parasitism. Host
The organism that gets harmed in parasitism. Host
SCIENTIFIC TERMS — OTHER RELATIONSHIPS
DEFINITION SCIENTIFIC TERM
One organism hunts and kills the other for food. Predator-Prey relationship
The animal that kills in a predator-prey relationship. Predator
The animal that gets killed in a predator-prey relationship. Prey
Organisms compete (fight) because they need the same Competitive relationship
resources at the same time.
Organisms work together to survive (for food, shelter and Cooperative relationship
protection).
KEY INFORMATION
Symbiotic relationships — summary & examples:
TYPE WHO BENEFITS? EXAMPLES
Mutualism Both organisms ✅✅ • Bee collects nectar from flower → flower gets pollinated
• Cleaner shrimp feeds on food particles in a fish's mouth
Commensalism One benefits ✅ • Bird builds nest in a tree (bird gets home, tree unharmed)
Other unaffected ➖ • Egret birds feed on insects kicked up by cows
Parasitism Parasite benefits ✅ • Ticks on dogs suck blood (tick ✅, dog ❌)
Host harmed ❌ • Tapeworm in human intestines absorbs nutrients
Other relationships — examples:
TYPE EXAMPLES
Predator-Prey Lion eats deer → lion = predator, deer = prey
Competitive Two lions fight for the same deer · Animals in a desert compete for water
Cooperative Ants work together to collect food · Elephants cooperate to protect their young
5 Benefits of Biodiversity
SCIENTIFIC TERMS
DEFINITION SCIENTIFIC TERM
The number and variety of organisms found in a specific region. Biodiversity
A group of organisms that have similar traits and are able to Species
produce offspring.
A geographic area on Earth that contains ecosystems with Biome
similar biotic and abiotic features.
KEY INFORMATION
A. Three types of biodiversity:
TYPE WHAT IT MEANS EXAMPLE
Genetic Different genes / traits in a Different shell patterns on snails · Some goats
biodiversity population have horns, others don't
Species Number of different species and Many different species in an aquatic ecosystem
biodiversity quantity of each
Ecosystem Variety of ecosystems in the Canada has forests, grasslands, freshwater &
biodiversity biosphere oceans
B. Six ways of measuring biodiversity:
# METHOD USED FOR
1 Canopy Fogging — spray insecticide into treetops; insects fall onto Insects
sheets
2 Transect Sampling — use a rope/tape as a transect line Animals on land and water
3 Mist Netting — fine mesh net catches animals safely Birds, bats, fish, prawns
4 Aerial Photos — pictures taken from above (cannot see forest Whales, migrating animals
floor)
5 Surveying — observe using binoculars, collect data from experts Moving animals & birds in large
areas
6 Quadrat Sampling — count species inside a square area Plants and immobile organisms
C. Biodiversity Index:
Biodiversity Index = Number of species ÷ Total number of individuals
The index is a number between 0 and 1.
Close to 0 → low biodiversity.
Close to 1 → high biodiversity.
Higher biodiversity = healthier ecosystem.
Example: 4 species — A:4, B:3, C:2, D:1 → Total = 10
Biodiversity Index = 4 ÷ 10 = 0.4
D. Seven Land Biomes:
# BIOME KEY FEATURES
1 Desert Hot and dry · Very little rain
2 Grassland Lots of grass · Invertebrates, birds, mammals
3 Tropical Rain Forest Near equator · Very hot · Higher biodiversity
4 Temperate Rain Forest Between tropics & polar circles · Warm · Lower biodiversity
5 Temperate Deciduous Forest Between tropics & polar circles · Trees lose leaves in fall
6 Taiga Green forests · Cone-bearing trees
7 Tundra Cold and dry · No trees · Frozen ground
E. Aquatic Freshwater Ecosystems:
TYPE FEATURES ANIMALS
Streams Narrow, shallow, fast-flowing, clear water Salmon, crayfish, insects
Rivers Wide, deep, slow-flowing, muddy water Snails, catfish
Ponds Shallow, smaller —
Lakes Deep, larger —
6 Maintaining Biodiversity
KEY INFORMATION
Threats to biodiversity & Ways to protect it:
THREAT DEFINITION / EXAMPLES PROTECTION STRATEGY
1. Habitat Changing a habitat so much that organisms Habitat restoration & conservation
Destruction can no longer live there. • Reforestation: Planting trees to
• Cutting trees to build homes replace cut ones
• Draining wetlands to plant corn • Reclamation: Restoring land
disturbed by mining
2. Overuse of animals/plants for food, medicine, Sustaining populations
Overexploitation or clothing. • Fishing ban for few months
• Catching too many fish at once • Fines for illegal hunting
• Hunting too many elephants for tusks
3. Pollution Contamination of the environment with Reducing pollution
harmful substances. • Using less harmful chemicals
• Harmful gases from factories → air pollution • Disposing waste properly
4. Invasive Non-native species that outcompete native Removing or controlling invasive
Species species for resources. species
5. Climate Rising temperatures shift habitats; many Reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
Change species cannot adapt. using clean energy
7 Earthquake Risks
SCIENTIFIC TERMS
DEFINITION SCIENTIFIC TERM
The vibrations caused by the breaking of rocks. Earthquake
The exact location where an earthquake starts. Epicenter
Measures the magnitude of an earthquake. Richter Scale
The amount of energy released by an earthquake. Magnitude
The amount of energy released by an earthquake. Magnitude
An instrument used for measuring how powerful an earthquake Seismograph
can be.
A large ocean wave generated when earthquakes happen on the Tsunami
seafloor.
KEY INFORMATION
A. Why some places have more earthquakes:
Some places have more earthquakes because they are near tectonic plate boundaries.
Example: Japan experiences many earthquakes because it is surrounded by many
different tectonic plates.
B. Factors that affect earthquake damage:
The strength of the earthquake (magnitude)
The distance from the epicenter — closer = more damage
The design of the structures or buildings
C. The Richter Scale:
Measures the magnitude of an earthquake.
Scale starts from 1 and ends with 10.
An area closer to the epicenter will suffer more damage and have a higher magnitude
reading.
Each step up in magnitude = 10× more shaking:
Magnitude 2 → 10 times greater shaking than magnitude 1
Magnitude 4 → 100 times greater shaking than magnitude 1
Example: How much shaking does magnitude 6 produce compared to magnitude 4?
6 − 4 = 2 → 10 × 10 = 100 times greater shaking
D. Seismograph:
A seismograph shows us the magnitude of an earthquake.
On a seismograph reading, the point with the largest / tallest waves = highest
magnitude (strongest shaking).
Exam: Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 2 Hours | Grade 7 · Al-Iman Schools · Teachers: Salwa Saud & Noora Ammar