TASK DEFINITION: You are given an elementary science question along with a few answer options. List all the words from the question that are essential and sufficient for choosing the correct answer option. Keep in mind that essential words are necessary to understand the meaning of the given question. However, non-essential words provide little information needed to select the correct answer. You can think about it like this: If the question was in another language, knowing the meaning of which words were necessary and enough for you to understand the question and answer it?. If your answer consists of multiple spans of words from the question, separate those using a comma (", "). Do not generate any word that is not present in the question. Make sure that your response is contained in the given question and the words are in the same order as the question.
 Grammatical correctness is not important.
PROBLEM: Question: Decomposers are helpful to the environment because they ___. (A) use the Sun's energy to make food (B) are a food source for carnivores (C) return nutrients to the soil (D) prey on carnivores?

SOLUTION: Decomposers, helpful, environment

PROBLEM: Question: Some types of trees are able to survive the heat of a forest fire. Which of the following characteristics would best help a tree survive a fire? (A) large leaves (B) shallow roots (C) thick bark (D) thin trunks?

SOLUTION: characteristics, tree, survive, fire?

PROBLEM: Question: Which change is most likely caused by a thunderstorm? (A) a glacier moving (B) a stream flooding (C) a volcano erupting (D) a mountain forming?

SOLUTION:
change, caused, thunderstorm?