Cycles in Nature

Water that is taken in by organisms and then returned to the environment a. Respiration b. Photosynthesis c. Transpiration d. Runoff

c. Transpiration

In the carbon cycle, what is the role of green plants? a. release carbon dioxide into the air b. decomposing matter c. absorbing carbon dioxide d. combustion

c. absorbing carbon dioxide

Which of the following cycles needs different types of bacteria to make the most common gas in the atmosphere useful to plants? a. the water cycle b. the carbon cycle c. the nitrogen cycle

c. the nitrogen cycle

The process of plants losing water through their leaves is called ____. a. condensation b. evaporation c. transpiration

c. transpiration

The process used by plants and other organisms to convert energy from the sun a. Carbon Cycle b. Decomposition c. Groundwater d. Photosynthesis

d. Photosynthesis

Snow, sleet, hail, and rain are all examples of ________________. a. evaporation b. condensation c. accumulation d. precipitation

d. precipitation

Which of the following best explains why nitrogen fixation must take place? a. Atmospheric nitrogen is unusable to plants and animals b. Nitrogen must be returned to the atmosphere c. Animals must breathe in nitrogen d. Nitrogen gets "stuck" in the soil and must be untrapped

a. Atmospheric nitrogen is unusable to plants and animals

Moisture that forms on the mirror after a hot shower is an example of _____. a. Condensation b. Evaporation c. Transpiration d. Accumulation

a. Condensation

The change of state from a gas (vapor) to a liquid a. Condensation b. Combustion c. Decomposition d. Precipitation

a. Condensation

What does not produce carbon dioxide? a. Photosynthesis b. Respiration

a. Photosynthesis

Ultimately, what drives the water cycle process? a. Solar (sun) energy b. Chemical energy c. Heat from the Earth's core d. Cold fronts and warm fronts

a. Solar (sun) energy

Which cycle involves condensation, evaporation, and precipitation? a. The water cycle b. The carbon cycle c. The nitrogen cycle

a. The water cycle

What is the overall purpose of photosynthesis? a. To use energy from the sun to produce food for the plant b. To use energy from the sun to produce oxygen for animals to breathe c. To break down food in order to produce energy (ATP) d. To break down food in order to produce carbon dioxide

a. To use energy from the sun to produce food for the plant

The exchange of carbon between the environment and living things a. Nitrogen cycle b. Carbon cycle c. Water cycle

b. Carbon cycle

Steam from hot water is an example of ________. a. Condensation b. Evaporation c. Transpiration d. Infiltration

b. Evaporation

What is the process by which the surface of a liquid absorbs enough energy to change into a gas? a. Percolation b. Evaporation c. Condensation d. Precipitation

b. Evaporation

What makes the phosphorus cycle most different from the other nutrient cycles? a. Phosphorus ends up in the soil b. It has a long term (inorganic) part and a short term (organic) part c. Decomposed plants and animals release phosphorus back into the environment d. Phosphorus is naturally in an unusable form and must be "fixed" in order to be used

b. It has a long term (inorganic) part and a short term (organic) part

Many nitrogen fixing bacteria are found in the roots of plants. The plants receive fixed nitrogen and the bacteria receive nutrients from the plant. This is an example of which type of symbiotic relationship? a. Competition b. Mutualism c. Parasitism d. Commensalism

b. Mutualism

The process of bacteria capturing and converting nitrogen into a form that is usable by plants. a. Denitrification b. Nitrogen fixation c. Decomposition d. Cellular Respiration

b. Nitrogen fixation

How does carbon enter an environment? a. Cellular Respiration b. Photosynthesis c. Decomposition d. Combustion of Fossil Fuels

b. Photosynthesis

Which level of the energy pyramid provides the most nitrogen when eaten? a. Tertiary consumers b. Producers c. Primary consumers d. Secondary consumers

b. Producers

Which of the following best explains why matter must travel through cycles? a. There is an unlimited amount of matter in the universe, so it can take on any form at any time b. There is a fixed amount of matter in the universe, so it must take on different forms at different times

b. There is a fixed amount of matter in the universe, so it must take on different forms at different times

The cycles in nature that help support the transfer of energy and matter are a. water, hydrogen, and carbon b. carbon, nitrogen, and water c. carbon, water, and nitrate d. hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon

b. carbon, nitrogen, and water

The breakdown of dead materials into carbon dioxide and water is called a. succession b. decomposition c. evaporation d. transpiration

b. decomposition

How do plants get the nitrogen they need a. from the air b. from the soil or water in which they live c. from the Sun d. from broken down rocks

b. from the soil or water in which they live

What role do animals play in the carbon cycle? a. absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere b. give off carbon dioxide c. combustion d. decomposing matter

b. give off carbon dioxide

Carbon from the environment becomes a part of living things through ______. a. Transpiration b. photosynthesis c. respiration

b. photosynthesis

What is the basis of the carbon cycle on Earth? a. respiration b. photosynthesis c. transpiration d. condensation

b. photosynthesis

Which of the following cycles does photosynthesis produce oxygen and respiration produce carbon dioxide? a. the water cycle b. the carbon cycle c. the nitrogen cycle

b. the carbon cycle

What process returns nitrogen back to the atmosphere? a. Nitrogen fixation b. Elimination c. Denitrification d. Digestion

c. Denitrification

How do animals (consumers) get the carbon and nitrogen they need? a. From the air they breathe b. From the water they drink c. From the food they eat d. From the sun

c. From the food they eat

Which of the following best explains the idea behind "global warming"? a. There is not enough carbon being put back into the atmosphere, trapping solar heat. b. Photosynthesis is taking place more than ever, trapping solar heat. c. Humans have put too much carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, trapping solar heat

c. Humans have put too much carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, trapping solar heat

Which of the following statements about cycles of matter are true? a. Matter is lost in each cycle. b. Human activity has little or no impact on cycles. c. Matter moves between the environment and living things. d. All three cycles involve evaporation and condensation.

c. Matter moves between the environment and living things.

The movement of nitrogen between the environment and living things a. Water cycle b. Carbon cycle c. Nitrogen cycle

c. Nitrogen cycle

Any form of water that falls to the Earth's surface from the clouds a. Groundwater b. Respiration c. Precipitation d. Transpiration

c. Precipitation

What is the overall purpose of cellular respiration? a. To use energy from the sun to produce food for the plant b. To use energy from the sun to produce oxygen for animals to breathe c. To break down food in order to produce energy (ATP) d. To break down food in order to produce carbon dioxide

c. To break down food in order to produce energy (ATP)

The movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things a. Nitrogen cycle b. Carbon cycle c. Water cycle

c. Water cycle

When any organism dies, what will most likely consume it to return the carbon to the soil? a. producers b. herbivores c. decomposers d. carnivores

c. decomposers

What is the main gas in our atmosphere? a. carbon dioxide b. oxygen c. nitrogen

c. nitrogen

Which substance must be chemically transformed before it can be used by plants? a. carbon dioxide gas b. water vapor c. nitrogen gas

c. nitrogen gas

What is the only process that removes carbon from the atmosphere? a. combustion b. cellular respiration c. photosynthesis d. decomposition

c. photosynthesis

What role do decomposers play in the carbon cycle? a. absorb carbon dioxide b. release carbon dioxide into atmosphere c. release carbon into the soil d. combustion

c. release carbon into the soil

How to animals get the nitrogen that they need? a. From the soil b. From the air c. By performing photosynthesis d. Eating other organisms

d. Eating other organisms

Approximately 78% of the Earth's atmosphere is made up of ____. a. Oxygen b. Water c. Carbon Dioxide d. Nitrogen

d. Nitrogen

1. What percent of Earth is water? 2. What percent of Earth is Saltwater? 3. What percent of Earth is Freshwater?

1. 71% 2. 97% 3. 3%

What is another name for evaporation of water through the leaves of plants? a. Transpiration b. Condensation c. Precipitation d. Percolation

a. Transpiration

All organic molecules contain ____. a. carbon b. oxygen

a. carbon

Producers take in this gas during the carbon cycle. a. carbon dioxide b. nitrogen c. oxygen d. water

a. carbon dioxide

How have humans affected the phosphorus cycle? a. By burning too many fossil fuels b. By cutting down too many trees c. By using fertilizers on plants d. By eliminating decomposers

c. By using fertilizers on plants

What is the process by which a gas changes to a liquid? a. Percolation b. Evaporation c. Condensation d. Precipitation

c. Condensation

Burning (combustion) fossil fuels has which effect in the carbon cycle? a. It removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. b. It puts carbon dioxide under the ground. c. It adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. d. It has no effect in the carbon cycle.

c. It adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.