Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

Trophic levels are the steps or levels in a food chain, each occupied by organisms sharing the same position in the flow of energy.

| Organism | Trophic Level |
|---|---|
| Grass | 1st (Producer) |
| Grasshopper | 2nd (Primary consumer) |
| Frog | 3rd (Secondary consumer) |
| Snake | 4th (Tertiary consumer) |
| Eagle | 5th (Quaternary consumer) |

Eagle has the least available energy. At each trophic level, only 10% of the energy is transferred to the next level; the rest is lost as heat. By the 5th trophic level, energy has been reduced to a tiny fraction of what was originally fixed by the grass.

Source: Chapter 13, Section 13.1.1 — Food Chains and Webs

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• Define first, then apply — examiners expect the definition before the example.
• The 10% law is the key scientific reason for least energy at the top; always state it explicitly.
• A table is an efficient way to show trophic levels clearly and saves words — examiners appreciate it.
• Note: NCERT text shows food chains of 3–4 steps; a 5-step chain is valid but uncommon — identify Eagle as the top/quaternary consumer confidently.
• Do not write long paragraphs; this is 3 marks ≈ 60–90 words, so be concise.