Exploring the Carbon Cycle

What essential element is found in both living and nonliving things, such as fossil fuels and diamonds?

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

Which of the following is an example of inorganic carbon?

• Fossil fuels

• Amino acids

• Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

• Glucose

What process do plants use to convert carbon dioxide into glucose using sunlight?

• Cellular respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Combustion

• Decomposition

During cellular respiration, what is released as a waste product?

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Carbon dioxide

• Water

What happens to carbon in the bodies of organisms after they die?

• It becomes part of the soil, rocks, or minerals

• It disappears

• It turns into water

• It is immediately released into the atmosphere

What is the process called when fossil fuels are burned, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?

• Photosynthesis

• Combustion

• Decomposition

• Respiration

What role do oceans play in the carbon cycle?

• They release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

• They have no role

• They absorb and store carbon dioxide

• They convert carbon dioxide into oxygen

How can human activities disrupt the carbon cycle?

• By releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere

• By creating new carbon

• By increasing oxygen levels

• By stopping photosynthesis

What is a potential consequence of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

• Decreased global temperatures

• Climate change

• Improved plant growth

• Increased oxygen levels

What is the term for areas like oceans that store large amounts of carbon?

• Carbon sources

• Carbon pools

• Carbon sinks

• Carbon reservoirs