Linked closely together within habitats are plants and animals. Each organism has its own specific niche, position in the environment. Functioning as producers, plants are the beginning point of the food chain and are followed by primary consumers. A prairie vole nibbles on vegetation and is then eaten by a secondary consumer such as a snake. Energy continues to travel through the food chain resulting in a ten percent loss through its journey. Tertiary consumers complete the predation portion of the food chain by then relying on secondary consumers for sustenance. Birds of prey, cougars, and also bears are examples of tertiary consumers. Once a living organism has died, scavengers feed on the remains followed by decomposers that consume the leftovers at a microscopic level.

1. The tone of the passage may be best described as-

a. enthusiastic

b. disinterested

c. objective