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Unit 2: Biogeochemical Cycles Review

Total questions: 65

Worksheet time: 33mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How is the nitrogen cycle important to humans?

a)

It produces free nitrogen that humans can breathe.

b)

It converts nitrogen into a form that humans can obtain by eating other organisms.

c)

It produces nitrogen compounds that humans can breathe.

d)

It converts nitrogen into a form that humans can obtain by absorbing it through their skin.

2.

Which phrase best describes the biosphere?

a)

the rocks on land and in the water

b)

the plants on land and in the water

c)

the animals in the air, on land, and in the water

d)

the organisms in the air, on land, and in the water

3.

Which interaction involves only one of Earth’s spheres?

a)

Plant roots take in water from the soil.

b)

Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air.

c)

During photosynthesis, plants make food and release oxygen into the air.

d)

Energy stored in plants is transferred to humans and animals that eat them.

4.

Some bacteria live in the roots of plants like soybeans and peas. What is the role of these bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

a)

to absorb nitrogen-containing compounds from the soil

b)

to release free nitrogen into the atmosphere

c)

to break down nitrogen-containing compounds in dead organisms

d)

to convert free nitrogen into usable nitrogen

5.

Kate wrote the steps of the carbon cycle to describe how carbon is cycled through specific organisms. The steps are in random order. Which lists the steps in order?

a)

2, 3, 1, 4

b)

3,2,1,4

c)

3,4,2,1

d)

2,4,3,1

6.

A rock collection comes from which part of Earth?

a)

atmosphere

b)

biosphere

c)

geosphere

d)

hydrosphere

7.

The cryosphere is part of which sphere of the Earth system?

a)

atmosphere

b)

biosphere

c)

geosphere

d)

hydrosphere

8.

When a volcano erupts, tiny particles from which of Earth’s spheres are released into the air?

a)

atmosphere

b)

biosphere

c)

geosphere

d)

hydrosphere

9.

Which phrase describes one main feature of the atmosphere?

a)

protects Earth's surface

b)

includes organisms in the air, on land, and in water

c)

consists of rock, minerals, landforms, and Earth's interior

d)

comprises oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater

10.

Which phrase describes one main feature of the hydrosphere?

a)

protects Earth's surface

b)

includes organisms in the air, on land, and in water

c)

consists of rock, minerals, landforms, and Earth's interior

d)

comprises oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater

11.

Which phrase describes one main feature of the geosphere?

a)

protects Earth's surface

b)

includes organisms in the air, on land, and in water

c)

consists of rock, minerals, landforms, and Earth's interior

d)

comprises oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater

12.

Which phrase describes one main feature of the biosphere?

a)

protects Earth's surface

b)

includes organisms in the air, on land, and in water

c)

consists of rock, minerals, landforms, and Earth's interior

d)

comprises oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater

13.

Which statement describes an interaction between the biosphere and the hydrosphere?

a)

Plants take in water through their roots.

b)

Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air.

c)

Energy stored in plants is transferred to humans and animals that eat them.

d)

Plants make food through photosynthesis and release oxygen into the atmosphere.

14.

Humans’ use of rocks and minerals as building materials is an example of which interaction?

a)

an interaction within the geosphere

b)

an interaction within the hydrosphere

c)

an interaction between the biosphere and the geosphere

d)

an interaction between the biosphere and the atmosphere

15.

When a volcano erupts, particles of rock and ash are released into the atmosphere. After this, water droplets form around the rock and ash particles and fall to Earth as rain. The rainwater helps plants grow.

a)

biosphere, cryosphere, hemisphere

b)

cryosphere, geosphere, biosphere

c)

geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere

d)

hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere

16.

Which scenario describes an interaction between TWO of Earth’s spheres?

a)

Water flows from a stream to a lake.

b)

Gravity moves rocks to another location.

c)

Lions use energy to catch other animals for food.

d)

Bears dig big holes in the ground to protect their young.

17.

Cars are powered by fossil fuels, which come from the remains of ancient living things that were buried and exposed to high temperature and pressure from Earth’s interior. Which spheres are represented when fossil fuels form?

a)

atmosphere and biosphere

b)

biosphere and geosphere

c)

cryosphere and atmosphere

d)

geosphere and hydrosphere

18.

Seaweed belongs to which of Earth’s spheres?

a)

atmosphere

b)

biosphere

c)

geosphere

d)

hydrosphere

19.

Which best explains why a thick tropical forest filled with large plants typically has a lot of water vapor in the air?

a)

The plants undergo transpiration.

b)

The plants undergo condensation.

c)

The plants prevent water from evaporating.

d)

The plants prevent water from becoming runoff.

20.

Which organisms release carbon dioxide as waste?

a)

consumers only

b)

consumers and decomposers

c)

producers and decomposers

d)

producers only

21.

Which best describes a role of animals in the water cycle?

a)

They help water vapor condense when they produce waste.

b)

They help water vapor condense when they inhale.

c)

They release water vapor through transpiration.

d)

They release water vapor when they exhale.

22.

Which best compares the roles of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and certain decomposers in the nitrogen cycle?

a)

Both organisms convert free nitrogen into nitrogen-containing compounds.

b)

Both organisms convert nitrogen-containing compounds into free nitrogen.

c)

The bacteria convert free nitrogen into nitrogen-containing compounds, while the decomposers convert nitrogen-containing compounds into free nitrogen.

d)

The bacteria convert nitrogen-containing compounds into free nitrogen, while the decomposers convert free nitrogen into nitrogen-containing compounds.

23.

Cleo has a vegetable garden and wants to increase the amount of nitrogen in the soil. How can she most likely do this?

a)

add several soybean plants to her garden

b)

decrease the amount of fertilizers she uses

c)

harvest the vegetable plants continuously

d)

reduce the number of decomposers that live in the soil

24.

How is the nitrogen cycle important to humans?

a)

It produces free nitrogen that humans can breathe.

b)

It converts nitrogen into a form that humans can obtain by eating other organisms.

c)

It produces nitrogen compounds that humans can breathe.

d)

It converts nitrogen into a form that humans can obtain by absorbing it through their skin.

25.

Which human activity would most likely decrease the amount of carbon in the atmosphere?

a)

clearing forests

b)

heating coal

c)

heating coal

d)

planting trees

26.

What change of state occurs during the process of condensation?

a)

gas changes to liquid

b)

liquid changes to gas

c)

gas changes to solid

d)

solid changes to liquid

27.

Which best describes transpiration?

a)

run off from steep hills

b)

icy precipitation

c)

evaporation of water from leaves

d)

water soaking into the ground

28.

What occurs during infiltration?

a)

water freezes and changes from a solid to a gas

b)

fertilizers and debris run off into the bodies of water

c)

water soaks into the ground

d)

water evaporates from leaves

29.

What change of state occurs during the process of evaporation?

a)

gas changes to liquid

b)

liquid changes to gas

c)

gas changes to solid

d)

solid changes to liquid

30.

What is the source of energy that powers the water cycle?

a)

precipitation

b)

Sun

c)

plants

d)

heat from Earth's core

31.

What is water that has infiltrated and collected underground called?

a)

run off

b)

precipitation

c)

condensation

d)

groundwater

32.

What occurs to the water that does not infiltrate the ground?

a)

It runs off into the nearest body of water.

b)

It condenses into water vapor.

c)

It is immediately transpired by plants.

d)

It evaporates immediately into the atmosphere.

33.

What type of organism can fix nitrogen?

a)

animal

b)

plant

c)

bacteria

d)

fungus

34.

What non-living thing can fix nitrogen?

a)

lightning

b)

soil

c)

water

d)

sunlight

35.

What is the most common way that nitrogen fixation occurs?

a)

lightning

b)

combustion

c)

nitrogen fixing bacteria

d)

denitrification

36.

What is the name of the process that occurs when certain bacteria obtain energy by converting nitrates into nitrogen gas?

a)

denitrification

b)

nitrogen fixation

c)

respiration

d)

decomposition

37.

How do animals obtain nitrogen?

a)

respiration

b)

photosynthesis

c)

consuming plants

d)

decomposition

38.

How do animals contribute nitrogen to the nitrogen cycle?

a)

decompostion

b)

respiration

c)

comsumption

d)

photosynthesis

39.

What type of plants contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their root nodules?

a)

grasses

b)

trees

c)

legumes

d)

corn

40.

What process converts waste and decaying organic matter into ammonia?

a)

denitrification

b)

decompostion

c)

fixation

d)

respiration

41.

What gas makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere?

a)

oxygen

b)

carbon dioxide

c)

hydrogen

d)

nitrogen

42.

What chemical formula is used to represent nitrogen in our atmosphere?

a)

N2

b)

NH4

c)

N2O

d)

NO3

43.

What important element are all living things made from?

a)

carbon

b)

oxygen

c)

nitrogen

d)

hydrogen

44.

What carbon-rich molecules do plants create using carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

a)

proteins

b)

fats

c)

carbohydrates

d)

amino acids

45.

What biological process releases oxygen into the atmosphere?

a)

cellular respiration

b)

photosynthesis

c)

decomposition

d)

evaporation

46.

What biological process releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?

a)

cellular respiration

b)

photosynthesis

c)

decomposition

d)

evaporation

47.

Which organisms break down dead remains of plants and animals, and recycles carbon and nitrogen in the environment?

a)

producers

b)

consumers

c)

herbivores

d)

decomposers

48.

Which biogeochemical cycle does lightning play a role in?

a)

water cycle

b)

carbon cycle

c)

nitrogen cycle

d)

precipitation cycle

49.

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are

processes involved in which

biogeochemical cycle?

a)

water cycle

b)

carbon cycle

c)

nitrogen cycle

d)

precipitation cycle

50.

What is the most abundant form of nitrogen on Earth?

a)

gas

b)

liquid

c)

solid

51.

What is the process by which bacteria break down nitrates in the soil and send it back into the atmosphere as nitrogen gas?

a)

denitrification

b)

ammonification

c)

assimilation

d)

nitrogen fixation

52.

What is the process of changing nitrogen into a form that can be used by living organisms?

a)

denitrification

b)

ammonification

c)

assimilation

d)

nitrogen fixation

53.

What is the process in which decomposers break down waste or dead animals and return nitrogen to the soil in the form of ammonia?

a)

denitrification

b)

ammonification

c)

assimilation

d)

nitrogen fixation

54.

What is the process in which living things use nitrogen to build proteins?

a)

denitrification

b)

ammonification

c)

assimilation

d)

nitrogen fixation

55.

What is the process by which producers convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates?

a)

photosynthesis

b)

consumption

c)

decomposition

d)

cellular respiration

e)

combustion

56.

What is the process by which carbon is released through burning?

a)

photosynthesis

b)

consumption

c)

decomposition

d)

cellular respiration

e)

combustion

57.

What is the process by which carbon dioxide is released when organisms die?

a)

photosynthesis

b)

consumption

c)

decomposition

d)

cellular respiration

e)

combustion

58.

What is the process by which living organisms release carbon dioxide into the air?

a)

photosynthesis

b)

consumption

c)

decomposition

d)

cellular respiration

e)

combustion

59.

What is the process by which carbon compounds are passed to herbivores when they feed on plants?

a)

photosynthesis

b)

consumption

c)

decomposition

d)

cellular respiration

e)

combustion

60.

What are the processes which add extra carbon to the atmosphere called?

a)

sources

b)

acidification

c)

sequestration

d)

reservoir

61.

What are the places where an element such as carbon or nitrogen is stored called?

a)

sources

b)

acidification

c)

sequestration

d)

reservoir

62.

Where does nitrification occur?

a)

in the atmosphere

b)

in the water

c)

in the soil

d)

in all of these places

63.

Which organism is a nitrogen "fixer"?

a)

goats

b)

bacteria

c)

fire flies

d)

fish

64.

How do people get nitrogen?

a)

breathing it into their lungs

b)

drinking water

c)

eating meat and vegetables

d)

absorbing it through their skin

65.

What are the process of storing a large amount of carbon from the atmosphere?

a)

sources

b)

acidification

c)

sequestration

d)

reservoir