Describe the flow of matter in the carbon cycle

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Middle School Life Science › Describe the flow of matter in the carbon cycle

Questions 1 - 10
1

Where is most carbon on Earth stored?

in rocks and sediments (and dead organisms)

in the atmosphere

in the ocean

in living organisms

Explanation

The answer is "in rocks and sediments"

The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon in ecosystems. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

2

How do heterotrophs acquire their carbon?

from eating autotrophs

from the atmosphere

from fossil fuels

by digging in the ground

Explanation

The answer is "from eating autotrophs"

The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon in ecosystems. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

3

Which of the following is NOT a part of the Carbon Cycle?

Carbon moves from the atmosphere to plants.

Carbon moves from plants and animals to soils.

Carbon moves from fossil fuels to the atmosphere when fuels are burned

Carbon moves from the atmosphere into space

Explanation

The answer is "Carbon moves from the atmosphere into space." The Carbon Cycle is a closed system that operates on Earth and while some Carbon may move between Earth and space, that is not related to our Carbon Cycle. The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon on Earth. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

4

Carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere through what process?

photosynthesis

cellular respiration

carbonic absorption

neutralization

Explanation

The answer is "photosynthesis."

The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon in ecosystems. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

5

Which of the following correctly identifies the significance of Carbon on Earth?

Living things need carbon to survive

The Earth has a finite amount of carbon

Carbon is found in non-living things such as rocks, animal shells, the atmosphere and oceans

none of these

all of these

Explanation

The answer is "all of these." The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon on Earth. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

6

Which of the following has the largest effect on the carbon cycle?

human activities

bird migrations

the water cycle

none of these impact the carbon cycle

Explanation

The answer is "human activities." The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon on Earth. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

7

Why are forests and areas where there are many plants referred to as "Carbon sinks"?

because plants absorb carbon in photosynthesis and drain carbon from the atmosphere

because plants release carbon in the atmosphere like the faucet in a "sink"

because plants make carbon "sink" to the bottom of the Earth

because carbon is drained from plants by animals

Explanation

The answer is "because plants absorb carbon in photosynthesis"

The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon in ecosystems. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

8

What happens to Carbon stored in plants and animals when they die?

it disappears

it decomposes

it evaporates

none of these

all of these

Explanation

The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon on Earth. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.'

9

Screen shot 2020 06 08 at 1.34.33 pm

According to this diagram, how does Carbon travel to the atmosphere?

all of these

volcanic emissions, plant respiration, and soil respiration

the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation

ocean loss

Explanation

The answer is "all of these."

The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon in ecosystems. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

10

Which of the following answer choices best describes the 4 main components of the Carbon Cycle?

Photosynthesis, Decomposition, Respiration and Combustion

Photosynthesis, Decomposition, Respiration and Recombination

Photosynthesis, Deforestation, Respiration and Restoration

Photosynthesis, Decomposition, Deforestation, and Respiration

Explanation

The answer is "Photosynthesis, Decomposition, Respiration and Combustion." The carbon cycle describes the flow of the element Carbon on Earth. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. Carbon in the air is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, consumed by organisms who eat the plants, and then it is returned to the soil when animals die and their organic matter decomposes. The same process happens in oceans with aquatic plants as well. Carbon is also emitted from the burning of fossil fuels which are made from the organic material of organisms that died millions of years ago.

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