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The Nitrogen Cycle and the Phosphorous Cycle: Mastery Test

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Jake wants to enrich the nitrogen content of his soil through fixation. Which crop can he use for this purpose?

a)

wheat

b)

sugarcane

c)

cashew nuts

d)

alfalfa

2.

usan is a geological researcher measuring the rate of removal of phosphorous from sedimentary rock during the phosphorous cycle. What process is Susan investigating?

a)

mineralization

b)

eutrophication

c)

weathering

d)

decomposition

3.

Mary is campaigning for improved air quality in her city. She is very concerned about carbon and methane outputs, but not phosphorous. Why is that?

a)

She thinks phosphorous makes a positive contribution to air quality.

b)

Phosphorous is most commonly found as phosphate rock.

c)

She doesn’t know a lot about phosphorous.

d)

She doesn’t consider phosphorous to be a greenhouse gas.

4.

In what form will Susan be able to capture that phosphorous as it is released from the sedimentary rock?

a)

phosphorous granules

b)

phosphate powder

c)

soluble phosphate

d)

soluble phosphorous

5.

Jill takes her children to play in the park every afternoon. She notices that since the city changed their landscaping service, the pond in the center of the park is now covered with algae.


What is the most probable cause?

a)

too much rain

b)

not enough rain

c)

excessive application of fertilizer

d)

insufficient application of fertilizer

6.

Select all the correct answers from menu.


What happens during nitrification?


During nitrification, bacteria convert ammonia into _______________

and ________________.

a)

nitrogen

b)

oxygen

c)

nitrite

d)

phosphorous

e)

nitrate

7.

Type the correct answer in the box. Spell all words correctly.


What happens when nutrient levels become too concentrated in rivers, lakes, and oceans?


When nutrient levels get too high, water quality degrades and oxygen levels are depleted through a process known as (a)   .

8.

Type the correct answer in the box. Spell all words correctly.


What is the correct term for low levels of oxygen in a body of water?


When microbial action during decomposition in aquatic ecosystems removes too much oxygen, the body of water experiences (a)   .

9.
How much of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen gas?
a)
87%
b)
38%
c)
78%
d)
21%
10.
After plants and animals contain nitrogen, what puts it back into atmosphere and soil?
a)
decomposition
b)
precipitation
c)
condensation
d)
bacteria
11.
What happens when organisms die and decay? 
a)
Their bodies are lifted up
b)
Their nitrogen returns to the soil
c)
they keep their nitrogen
d)
They stay on earth forever
12.
The process in which Nitrogen circulates and is recycled is called ____________
a)
The nitrogen cycle
b)
The water cycle
c)
The carbon cycle
d)
Nitrogen Fixation 
13.
Nitrification happens in the ______
a)
Air 
b)
Soil 
c)
Ground Water 
d)
Plants 
14.

What converts nitrogen gas into a usable form for plants and animals?

a)

bacteria

b)

rain

c)

fungi

d)

car exhaust

15.

This is NOT a part of the phosphorus cycle.

a)

Phosphate is incorporated into sedimentary rocks

b)

Phosphate bound to soil

c)

Atmospheric phosphate

d)

Phosphate is absorbed from the soil by plants

16.
Phosphorous is passed from plants to ____ who eat them
a)
plants
b)
animals
c)
scavengers
17.
What role do decomposers play in the phosphorous cycle?
a)
absorb phosphorous 
b)
release phosphorous into atmosphere
c)
return phosphorous into the soil
d)
combustion
18.
This is released by the weathering of rocks.
a)
Carbon
b)
Oxygen
c)
Phosphorus
d)
Nitrogen
19.

What is the phosphorus' symbol on the periodic table?

a)

P

b)

pH

c)

Ph

d)

H

20.

True or false: Phosphorous can enter the atmosphere

a)

True

b)

False