Maybe "sleep mode"?
http://www.answers.com/hibernate
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312800/hibernate.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernation
=)
This was an extra credit Q on a 6th grade science test..
"What do we call the period of hibernation by animals?"
Since winter is not the correct answer, I'm stumped as to what the correct answer would be!
Thanks for your help!
Thank you for your reply! I have twins- my son answered this with 'winter' and my girl answered with 'a time for deep sleeping' but both got it marked wrong. Since they are not allowed to bring home their science books, I couldn't look in the text for the answer. When I looked up hibernation on dictionary.--- it stated the word was of Latin origin for 'to winter,relating to winter'- it listed synonyms torpor and dormant,so maybe one of them is the answer the teachers were looking for?
Oops! I meant the word torpid, not torpor.
The correct answer to the question "What do we call the period of hibernation by animals?" is indeed "hibernation." Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression that some animals go into during the winter months. During this period, animals lower their body temperature, slow down their heart rate, and reduce their metabolic activities to conserve energy. Hibernation helps animals survive when resources are scarce and temperatures are cold.
To find the answer to this question, you can use various resources, such as online dictionaries, websites, or science books. Let's break down the process:
1. Online Dictionaries: When you searched for the word "hibernation" on dictionary websites, it provided definitions and origins related to winter or the Latin word "hibernare," which means "to winter" or "relating to winter." These definitions indicate that hibernation is the term used to describe the period of inactivity during winter for certain animals.
2. Websites: You found several websites such as answers.com, thinkquest.org, and Wikipedia that provide information on hibernation. By visiting these websites, you can learn more about the topic and find the answer to your question.
3. Science Books (unavailable): Although your children were not allowed to bring their science books home, textbooks are valuable resources for finding information. They often have sections dedicated to various animal behaviors, including hibernation. If possible, in the future, you may want to refer to these textbooks to find answers to questions like this.
When your children answered "winter" and "a time for deep sleeping," they were close, but the specific term "hibernation" was what the teachers were looking for. The words "torpor" and "dormant" listed as synonyms also describe the state of reduced activity and metabolic depression during hibernation. However, hibernation is the specific term used to describe this period in animals.
I hope this explanation helps clarify the answer and provides information on how to find answers to such questions in the future.