Question

a temperate grassland ______ is dominated by grasses. its climate features cold winters, hot summers, relatively minimal precipitation, and seasonal drought.

○ biosphere

○ biodiversity hot spot

○ biome

○ none of these are correct.

Explanation:

• Biosphere: The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems, not a specific grassland type, so this is incorrect.
• Biodiversity hot spot: A biodiversity hot spot is a region with high biodiversity and threatened by destruction, not defined by grass dominance and the given climate, so incorrect.
• Biome: A biome is a large ecological area with distinct climate and characteristic organisms. Temperate grassland (a biome) is dominated by grasses and has the described climate (cold winters, hot summers, low precipitation, seasonal drought), so this matches.
• None of these: Since "biome" is correct, this is incorrect.

Answer:

C. biome