KAP ELA Grade 8 Practice Questions - Kansas Assessment Program Summative English Language Arts - Grade 8 Exam

Access More Questions

Read the excerpt from an article on Kansas tallgrass prairies. "Tallgrass prairies once covered over 170 million acres of North America, but today less than 4% remains, primarily preserved in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. The deep root networks of native grasses like Big Bluestem reach up to nine feet underground. These vast subterranean systems anchor topsoil against high prairie winds and store immense amounts of atmospheric carbon, making prairie restoration a key strategy against soil erosion and climate change." Based on the text, what can be INFERRED about the ecological importance of Big Bluestem grass?

It is the only plant species that can survive the harsh winter winds of the Flint Hills. Restoring it will immediately return tallgrass prairies to 170 million acres across North America. Its tall blades provide shade that completely stops water evaporation across Kansas farms. Its extensive root system plays a vital role in preventing erosion and absorbing carbon.

Correct Answer:

Its extensive root system plays a vital role in preventing erosion and absorbing carbon.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to KAP ELA Grade 8 Practice Questions - Kansas Assessment Program Summative English Language Arts - Grade 8 Exam for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions