All living things need energy to move and grow. Energy can come in many different forms. 【小题1】 While energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it can be converted (转换) between different forms.

Where do plants get their energy? They get their energy from the sun. Plants absorb sunlight with their leaves. 【小题2】 This chemical process is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis means, “making out of light.” The energy from the sun, light energy, is converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis.

Plants are called producers because they produce their own food. Producers form the base of every food chain in an ecosystem. Plants are eaten by animals, which are eaten by larger animals. For example, a plant takes in energy from the sun and turns it into plant food. 【小题3】 Then, a human eats the rabbit. The energy the human gets from the food was originally energy from the sun!

The food humans eat provides us with energy. When we chew and digest food, a chemical reaction takes place. 【小题4】 We require energy from food for basic functions, like moving and breathing. Energy from food also helps our body repair itself and stay warm.

【小题5】 Whole foods (天然食品), like kale, contain lots of important nutrients, such as calcium (钙) and potassium (钾). Sugary foods, like candy, do not contain as many nutrients. Whole foods can provide us with enough energy over long periods of time. So are you more energized throughout the day?