PQ Unit 3.1: Biogeochemical Cycles & the Water Cycle

Biogeochemical cycles are important for life on Earth because they:

• recycle essential elements and nutrients through the environment.

• produce energy from sunlight for all living things.

• control the weather and climate patterns directly.

• create new elements from chemical reactions.

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Understanding the nitrogen cycle is essential for which real-world scenario related to environmental conservation?

• Managing agricultural fertilizer use to prevent water pollution

• Designing urban transportation systems

• Building earthquake-resistant structures

• Developing renewable energy sources

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Disrupting any of the biogeochemical cycles can have which of the following potential effects on ecosystems and human life?

• It can lead to ecosystem imbalance and negatively impact human health.

• It always improves biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

• It has no effect on human life or ecosystems.

• It only affects non-living components of the environment.

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A real-world example of how precipitation affects a local ecosystem is:

• Increased rainfall in a forest leads to more plant growth and supports a larger animal population.

• Less precipitation in a desert causes more trees to grow rapidly.

• Heavy rainfall in the ocean increases the number of land animals.

• Precipitation has no effect on local ecosystems.

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Condensation and transpiration are two processes that contribute to the water cycle in different ways. Which of the following best describes their roles?

• Condensation changes water vapor into liquid, while transpiration releases water vapor from plants into the air.

• Condensation releases water vapor from plants, while transpiration changes water vapor into liquid.

• Both condensation and transpiration change water vapor into liquid.

• Both condensation and transpiration release water vapor from plants.

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The water cycle is important for ecosystems because it:

• recycles water and supports life processes

• prevents the formation of clouds

• stops plants from absorbing water

• removes all water from the soil

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Human actions can impact the water cycle in the following way:

• Cutting down forests can reduce transpiration and affect rainfall patterns.

• Building more playgrounds increases rainfall.

• Planting flowers causes droughts.

• Using solar panels increases ocean evaporation.

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The difference between condensation and transpiration in the water cycle is that:

• Condensation is the process where water vapor turns into liquid, while transpiration is the release of water vapor from plants.

• Condensation is the release of water vapor from plants, while transpiration is the process where water vapor turns into liquid.

• Both condensation and transpiration are the same process in the water cycle.

• Condensation occurs only in animals, while transpiration occurs only in clouds.

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Label the process shown.

c

d

e

f

b

a

Runoff

Condensation

Transpiration

Infiltration

Precipitation

Evaporation

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Look at the carbon cycle diagram. What parts help move carbon through the air and living things above the ground?

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

Dead Organisms

Trees

Animal Respiration

Burning Fossil Fuel/Emissions

Plant Respiration

Fossils and Fossil Fuels

Sun

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