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Nutrient Cycles

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

When water turns to vapor and rises into the atmosphere from the ocean, it is called

a)

condensation

b)

transpiration

c)

evaporation

d)

sublimation

2.

Our atmosphere is _____% nitrogen gas

a)

87

b)

75

c)

57

d)

78

3.

Plants use CO2 in the process of _____ to make _____ and O2

a)

photosynthesis, greenhouse gases

b)

photosynthesis, glucose

c)

cellular respiration, greenhouse gases

d)

cellular respiration, glucose

4.

A(n) _____ is fresh (drinking) water underground

a)

aquifer

b)

aquarium

c)

well

d)

estuary

5.

Animals use O2 in the process of _____ to make more CO2

a)

photosynthesis

b)

fermentation

c)

cellular respiration

d)

decomposition

6.

Higher organisms use nitrogen to make their

a)

bones

b)

proteins

c)

cells

d)

nerves

7.

The carbon in coal, oil, and natural gas came from

a)

the combustion of fossil fuels

b)

the remains of dead organisms

c)

carbon-fixing bacteria in swamp soil

d)

carbon dioxide dissolved in ocean water

8.

How does most of the carbon in an organism's body return to the environment after the organism dies?

a)

Decomposers break the body down into simpler compounds

b)

Heat from the sun causes the carbon in the body to evaporate

c)

Geological processes cause the body to turn into a fossil fuel

d)

Rain water dissolves the carbon in the body and carries it to the ocean.

9.

Human processes mainly contribute to the

a)

release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

b)

decrease of the total amount of carbon found on Earth

c)

depletion of carbon dioxide reserves in the atmosphere

d)

increase the amount of carbon contained in rock materials.

10.

Nitrogen fixation is the process in which certain bacteria convert nitrogen gas into

a)

liquid nitrogen

b)

nitrates

c)

nitrites

d)

ammonia

11.

Denitrification is the process by which some bacteria convert nitrates into .

a)

liquid nitrogen

b)

nitrites

c)

ammonia

d)

nitrogen gas

12.

_____ are the main regulators of CO2 in the atmosphere because CO2 dissolves easily in them.

a)

Glaciers

b)

Oceans

c)

Rivers

d)

Lakes

13.

Another natural source for CO2 is _____.

a)

car emissions

b)

the greenhouse effect

c)

photosynthesis

d)

volcanoes

14.

During _____, water evaporates directly from glacial ice.

a)

transpiration

b)

evaporation

c)

sublimation

d)

condensation

15.

The water cycle is driven by

a)

water

b)

wind

c)

the sun

d)

Earth's rotation

16.

_____ is when water evaporates from plants and goes into the atmosphere.

a)

Transpiration

b)

Transportation

c)

Evaporation

d)

Precipitation

17.

_____ occurs when water droplets that are large enough fall from clouds.

a)

Percipitation

b)

Transpiration

c)

Condensation

d)

Precipitation

18.

Water vapor that collects into a liquid is called _____.

a)

Condensation

b)

Evaporation

c)

Precipitation

d)

Sublimation

19.

Describing the cycling of elements between living organisms and the non-living environment.

a)

Chemical

b)

Biological

c)

Geological

d)

Biogeochemical

20.

Process of describing how water seeps through the soil into groundwater

a)

aquifer

b)

run off

c)

erosion

d)

percolation

21.

Which biogeochemical cycle does NOT include a major path in which the substance cycles through the atmosphere?

a)

water cycle

b)

carbon cycle

c)

nitrogen cycle

d)

phosphorous cycle

22.

Lightning, legumes, and bacteria are all part of which cycle?

a)

Water

b)

Carbon

c)

Nitrogen

d)

Phosphorous

23.

Which of the following is NOT a way that carbon in dead organisms is returned to the carbon cycle?

a)

by becoming fossil fuel

b)

through combustion

c)

through decomposition

d)

through photosynthesis

24.

In the water cycle, at which point does water enter?

a)

In the clouds

b)

In the ocean

c)

Groundwater

d)

Through rain, snow, sleet and hail

e)

There is not a starting point

25.

Scientists estimate that it can take a single water molecule as long as _____ years to complete one cycle.

a)

4000

b)

400

c)

40

d)

4