Carbon Cycle Notes

Open Ended

In what ways do you think carbon is important for living organisms and the environment?

Multiple Choice

Why is carbon considered the basis of life on Earth?

• Because it is found in water

• Because it forms the backbone of organic molecules

• Because it is the most abundant element in the atmosphere

• Because it is only found in living things

Multiple Choice

Which process allows plants to use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to make food?

• Photosynthesis

• Respiration

• Decomposition

• Combustion

Open Ended

Describe what happens to carbon when animals eat plants.

Multiple Select

What are two possible fates of carbon when plants and animals die?

• It is returned to the atmosphere through decomposition

• It is stored in underground deposits like oil and coal

• It is converted into oxygen

• It is used for photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes the carbon cycle?

• Carbon moves between the earth, atmosphere, plants, animals, and underground deposits in a continuous process.

• Carbon is only found in plants and animals.

• Carbon never leaves the atmosphere.

• Carbon is only stored in underground deposits.

Open Ended

Explain how the carbon cycle ensures that the same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on Earth, referencing at least two steps in the cycle.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following processes returns carbon to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle?

• Decomposers breaking down dead things

• Animals eating plants

• Plants using carbon to make food

• Bodies not decomposed becoming part of oil or coal deposits

Open Ended

Explain how the ocean acts as a major store of carbon and describe the role of animals in this process.

Multiple Select

Select all the ways carbon is released into the atmosphere as shown in the carbon cycle diagram.

• Burning fossil fuels

• Respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Decaying matter

Open Ended

How does the burning of fossil fuels impact the carbon cycle and contribute to global warming?

Open Ended

What are two actions humans can take to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?