In nature, every living thing needs energy to survive. But where does that energy come from? The answer lies in something called a **food chain**.
A food chain shows how energy moves through an ecosystem. It starts with the **producers**—usually green plants. They use sunlight, water, and air to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis.
Next are the **consumers**—animals that eat plants or other animals. A rabbit eating grass is a consumer. A fox eating the rabbit is also a consumer. And sometimes, a larger animal like a hawk might eat the fox. That’s how energy keeps moving.
At the end of the food chain are **decomposers**—like mushrooms and worms. They break down dead plants and animals into tiny pieces. These tiny pieces go into the soil and help new plants grow.
Food chains can be short or long, but they are always connected. In fact, when many food chains are linked together, they form something bigger: a **food web**.
If one part of a food chain changes—like if a certain animal disappears—it can affect the whole system. That’s why keeping ecosystems balanced is so important. Every living thing plays a role in nature’s circle of life.
Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
Q2: What is a producer in a food chain?
Q3: What would most likely happen if all the decomposers disappeared?
Q4: What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
Q5: Why is it important to keep ecosystems balanced?
Printable Comprehension Practice
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Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage explains how food chains work and how energy moves through producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Q2: What is a producer in a food chain?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage says producers are green plants that make their own food through photosynthesis.
Q3: What would most likely happen if all the decomposers disappeared?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage explains that decomposers help break down dead matter and return nutrients to the soil.
Q4: What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage explains that when food chains link together, they form a food web.
Q5: Why is it important to keep ecosystems balanced?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage explains that if one part of the chain changes, it can affect the whole system.