Identify the land biome on the basis of the given characteristics : 1. Their climates are characterised by high rainfall and temperatures that vary from cold to mild. 2. These forests contain primarily deciduous trees - including maple, oak, hickory and beechwood. 3. Raccoons, opossums, bats and squirrels are found in the trees. Select the correct land biome from the options given below :

The correct answer is B, Temperate forest. Mild to cold seasons, good rainfall, broad-leaved deciduous trees like maple and oak, and animals like raccoons and squirrels mark the temperate deciduous forest.

Temperate forests grow in the mid-latitudes, especially in eastern North America, western and central Europe and eastern Asia. They have four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters, and rainfall spread through the year. The trees shed their leaves in autumn to save water and energy during the cold months, which gives these forests their bright autumn colours. Maple, oak, hickory and beech are typical trees, and the forest floor is rich in leaf litter and fertile soil. Deer, raccoons, opossums, bats, squirrels and many birds live here.

A is wrong because tropical forests are hot all year with very heavy rain and evergreen trees. C is wrong because boreal forests, or taiga, are made of conifers like spruce and pine in very cold climates. D is wrong because Mediterranean forests have dry summers and wet winters with hardy evergreen shrubs and trees.

Exam tip: maple, oak, beech and autumn leaf fall = temperate deciduous forest; spruce and pine = taiga.