Fungi: Hyphae, Spores and Digestion Outside the Body · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Threads that digest the world outside

Science · Organisms & Life Processes · ages 18-19
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Why threads instead of a compact body?

    • Threads trap sunlight better
    • More surface for enzymes and uptake
    • Compact bodies cannot grow

  2. How does a fungus digest its food?

    • Outside its body with released enzymes
    • Inside a stomach
    • By trapping sunlight

  3. Fungi cook their food with chlorophyll.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. How does a mycorrhiza differ from an infection?

    • Partners trade and both gain, parasites digest the host
    • Infections always help plants
    • Mycorrhizae digest living roots

  5. Why are fungi the main land decomposers?

    • They plant new forests
    • They eat only living prey
    • They dissolve dead matter and free carbon and nitrogen

  6. Why do standard antibiotics fail against fungi?

    • Antibiotics only target viruses
    • Fungi are eukaryotes, unlike bacteria
    • Fungi have no chemistry

  7. A student files fungi with plants since both sit still. What is the error?

    • Fungi digest dead matter instead of photosynthesising
    • Plants also digest wood
    • Fungi carry chlorophyll

  8. What follows if fungi vanished from a forest?

    • Plants grow faster forever
    • Nitrogen rains from the sky
    • Dead matter piles up and nutrients lock inside
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Threads that digest the world outside W1-mt_qfp2nuk1IH-s1

  1. More surface for enzymes and uptake · Feeding through the surface rewards maximum surface.
  2. Outside its body with released enzymes · Enzymes leave the threads, and dissolved pieces come back in.
  3. False · They carry no chlorophyll and feed on other matter.
  4. Partners trade and both gain, parasites digest the host · Trade aids both sides, while parasites feed on living tissue.
  5. They dissolve dead matter and free carbon and nitrogen · Dissolved remains return locked nutrients to the cycle.
  6. Fungi are eukaryotes, unlike bacteria · Antibiotics aim at bacterial machinery that fungi lack.
  7. Fungi digest dead matter instead of photosynthesising · Stillness misleads: feeding style decides the kingdom.
  8. Dead matter piles up and nutrients lock inside · Without recyclers the loop stalls at the dead stage.
Worksheet · LightMySky