Educational worksheet on extinction, featuring matching definitions and short-answer questions about endangered species and human causes of extinction.

Task: Solve the problem and explain the solution

#### Step 1: Match the terms with their definitions
We need to match each phrase on the left with the correct term on the right.

1. When a species is gone forever
- This describes a species that no longer exists.
- Correct answer: (e) extinct

2. Species that are in danger of becoming extinct
- This refers to species that are at risk of disappearing but still exist.
- Correct answer: (c) endangered

3. Organisms of a kind or sort
- This refers to a group of living things that share common characteristics.
- Correct answer: (d) species

4. When a species is on its way to becoming endangered or extinct
- This describes species that are vulnerable but not yet endangered.
- Correct answer: (b) threatened

5. An animal or plant that lived a long time ago on Earth
- This refers to remains or evidence of past life forms.
- Correct answer: (a) fossil

#### Matched Answers:
- When a species is gone forever: (e) extinct
- Species that are in danger of becoming extinct: (c) endangered
- Organisms of a kind or sort: (d) species
- When a species is on its way to becoming endangered or extinct: (b) threatened
- An animal or plant that lived a long time ago on Earth: (a) fossil

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#### Step 2: Answer Question 6
How are threatened species different from endangered species?

- Threatened species: These are species that are at risk of becoming endangered in the near future. They are not yet critically low in population but are declining due to various factors such as habitat loss, pollution, or overhunting.
- Endangered species: These are species that have very low populations and are at immediate risk of extinction. Their survival is highly threatened, and they require urgent conservation efforts.

Answer:
Threatened species are at risk of becoming endangered but are not yet critically low in population. Endangered species, on the other hand, have very low populations and are at immediate risk of extinction.

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#### Step 3: Answer Question 7
How can people cause animals to become extinct?

People can cause animals to become extinct through various activities, including:

1. Habitat Destruction: Deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion destroy natural habitats, leaving animals without food, shelter, or space to survive.
2. Overhunting and Overfishing: Excessive hunting or fishing for food, sport, or trade can deplete animal populations to unsustainable levels.
3. Pollution: Chemicals, plastics, and other pollutants contaminate water, air, and soil, harming wildlife and disrupting ecosystems.
4. Climate Change: Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns affect ecosystems, forcing species to migrate or adapt, often leading to extinction.
5. Invasive Species: Non-native species introduced by humans can outcompete native species for resources, leading to declines in native populations.
6. Poaching and Illegal Trade: The illegal trade of exotic animals and their parts (e.g., ivory, fur) drives some species to the brink of extinction.

Answer:
People can cause animals to become extinct through habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and poaching.

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Final Answer:

1. Matched Answers:
- When a species is gone forever: (e) extinct
- Species that are in danger of becoming extinct: (c) endangered
- Organisms of a kind or sort: (d) species
- When a species is on its way to becoming endangered or extinct: (b) threatened
- An animal or plant that lived a long time ago on Earth: (a) fossil

2. Question 6:
Threatened species are at risk of becoming endangered but are not yet critically low in population. Endangered species have very low populations and are at immediate risk of extinction.

3. Question 7:
People can cause animals to become extinct through habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and poaching.

Boxed Final Answer:
\[
\boxed{
\text{1. (e), (c), (d), (b), (a)} \\
\text{2. Threatened species are at risk of becoming endangered but not yet critically low; endangered species are at immediate risk of extinction.} \\
\text{3. Habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and poaching.}
}
\]