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Review: Biogeochemical Cycles

Total questions: 97

Worksheet time: 49mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which cycle is shown in this diagram?

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Carbon

c)

Phosphorus

d)

Water

e)

Oxygen

2.
What is number 1?
a)
Precipitation
b)
Condensation
c)
Evaporation
d)
Transpiration
3.
What is number 2?
a)
Surface Run-off
b)
Condensation
c)
Transpiration
d)
Evaporation
4.
What is number 3?
a)
Transpiration
b)
Condensation
c)
Evaporation
d)
Precipitation
5.
What is number 4?
a)
Transpiration
b)
Condensation
c)
Evaporation
d)
Precipitation
6.
What is number 5?
a)
Evaporation
b)
Surface Run-off
c)
Ground water
d)
Condensation
7.
What is number 6?
a)
Precipitation
b)
Evaporation
c)
Transpiration
d)
Accumulation
8.

the flow of water from land caused by precipitation

a)

run-off

b)

upwelling

c)

assimilation

d)

leaching

9.
When water is heated in the ocean by the sun and turns into water vapor
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
transpiration
d)
runoff
10.

When water vapor is cooled and forms droplets of liquid water

a)

Condensation

b)

Evaporation

c)

Transpiration

d)

Runoff

11.
Forms of precipitation are-
a)
only sleet and snow
b)
rain, sleet, hail, and snow
c)
only dew and rain 
d)
only snow and rain
12.
Precipitation occurs because 
a)
the droplets evaporate in the air
b)
the droplets are too light for the air to hold
c)
the droplets are too heavy for the air to hold
13.

________________ is movement of water past the soil going deep into the groundwater.

a)

Evaporation

b)

Transpiration

c)

Percolation

d)

Sublimation

14.

____________________ is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.

a)

Infiltration

b)

Percolation

c)

Deposition

d)

Condensation

15.

__________________ is the process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves, where it changes to vapor and is released to the atmosphere. It is essentially evaporation of water from plant leaves.

a)

Transpiration

b)

Percolation

c)

Infiltration

d)

Plant Uptake

16.

Water that flows across the land and enters rivers and streams. It eventually flows into lakes and the ocean.

a)

Transpiration

b)

Surface Runoff

c)

Deposition

d)

Precipitation

17.

How does water enter a plant?

a)

through the stomata

b)

through the roots

c)

by active transport in root hair cells

d)

by osmosis in root hair cells

18.

What allows water to stick to particles of dust in the air, thereby condensing to form clouds?

a)

Cohesion

b)

Adhesion

c)

Dipole moment

d)

Phloem

19.

What is it called when water sticks to water?

a)

Cohesion

b)

Adhesion

c)

Capillary Action

d)

Xylem

20.
Water exits the leaf through the __.
a)
Stomata
b)
Flower
c)
Roots
d)
Phloem
21.

This vascular tissue (tubes) is responsible for the transportation of water and minerals up from the roots to the stem then leaves

a)

Stomata

b)

Shoot

c)

Phloem

d)

Xylem

22.
When water vapor at the surface changes from gas directly to ice crystals, what forms?
a)
dew
b)
fog
c)
frost 
d)
rain
23.
 When water vapor at the surface condenses and temperatures are above freezing, what forms?
a)
dew
b)
fog
c)
frost
d)
rain
24.
Through which water cycle processes does water vapor enter the atmosphere?
a)
condensation, transpiration 
b)
evaporation, transpiration
c)
evaporation,  condensation 
d)
precipitation, evaporation 
25.
What force drives water to move downhill both on the surface and underground?
a)
Magnetism 
b)
Attraction
c)
Gravity
d)
Repulsion
26.

Select one way to reduce water use.

a)

wash dishes under a running tap

b)

install a rain barrel to downspouts

c)

take baths instead of showers

27.

Which cycle is shown in this diagram?

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Carbon

c)

Phosphorus

d)

Water

e)

Oxygen

28.
How much of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen gas?
a)
87%
b)
38%
c)
78%
d)
21%
29.

What is the formula for atmospheric nitrogen?

a)

N

b)

N2

c)

NH3

d)

NO3

30.

What organisms need nitrogen to survive?

a)

only plants

b)

only animals

c)

only bacteria

d)

all living organisms

31.

A correct path that nitrogen could take would be

a)

air -> animals -> plants -> bacteria

b)

animals -> air -> bacteria -> plants

c)

bacteria -> air -> plants -> animals

d)

air -> bacteria -> plants -> animals

32.

In the nitrogen cycle, what does label 1 in the diagram represent?

a)

Gas

b)

Clouds

c)

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

d)

Nitrogen in the atmosphere

33.

The nitrogen cycle is unique in that atmospheric nitrogen cannot be converted directly by organisms into usable nitrogen. What is necessary in order for atmospheric nitrogen to be converted to a usable form of nitrogen by organisms?

a)

Ammonification

b)

Denitrifying bacteria

c)

Nitrifying bacteria

d)

Decomposition

e)

Nitrogen fixation

34.

In the diagram, where is nitrogen "fixed" into a usable form for plants?

a)

Through action of nitrogen fixing bacteria only (#3)

b)

Through lightning only (#8)

c)

Through action of nitrogen fixing bacteria and lightning (#3 and 8)

d)

Through photosynthesis (#12)

35.

Nitrogen fixation is a necessary part of the nitrogen cycle because

a)

Atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used directly by organisms

b)

There is not enough nitrogen in the atmosphere

c)

Nitrogen needs to be combined with phosphorus

d)

Bacteria needs to be created to help with plant growth

e)

Nitrogen in the soil needs to be fixed to go back to the atmosphere

36.

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria at step 10 are responsible for converting...

a)

ammonia, ammonium ions, and nitrate ions to DNA, amino acids, and proteins

b)

ammonia and nitrite ions to nitrate ions

c)

nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to ammonia and ammonium

d)

nitrates back into nitrogen gas

37.

In which stage of the nitrogen cycle do soil bacteria convert ammonium ions (NH4+) into nitrites (NO2-) and then nitrate ions (NO3-); a form of nitrogen that can be used by plants?

a)

Nitrogen fixation

b)

Nitrification

c)

Assimilation

d)

Ammonification

e)

Denitrification

38.

Which of the following bacteria are able to convert soil nitrites to nitrates?

a)

Nitrosomonas

b)

Nitrifying Bacteria

c)

Rhizobium

d)

Penicillium

e)

Clostridium

39.

Which stage of the nitrogen cycle diagram shows a soil bacteria that can convert ammonium ions into nitrites?

a)

10

b)

5

c)

14

d)

3

e)

9

40.

Which form of nitrogen is most usable by plants?

a)

Nitrate

b)

Nitrite

c)

Nitrogen gas

d)

Ammonia

e)

Atomic nitrogen

41.

What step in the nitrogen cycle requires plants to take up nitrates to help make plant proteins?

a)

Nitrogen Fixation (#10)

b)

Ammonification (#9)

c)

Denitrification (#14)

d)

Assimilation (#15)

42.

What step in the nitrogen cycle involves bacteria changing usable nitrates back into nitrogen gas?

a)

Nitrogen Fixation (#10)

b)

Ammonification (#9)

c)

Denitrification (#14)

d)

Assimilation (#15)

43.

What step in the nitrogen cycle involves bacteria and fungi working to convert organic material back into ammonium?

a)

Nitrogen Fixation (#10)

b)

Ammonification (#9)

c)

Denitrification (#14)

d)

Assimilation (#15)

44.

According to this diagram, plants use nitrogen to make ________.

a)

bacteria

b)

animals

c)

proteins

d)

decomposers

45.

According to this diagram, animals get proteins from eating ________.

a)

decomposers

b)

bacteria

c)

plants

d)

sunlight

46.

Looking at the diagram, nitrates are poisonous to fish. What should you add more of to get rid of nitrates without having to change the water in your fish tank?

a)

More fish

b)

Nitrobacter bacteria

c)

Nitrosomonas bacteria

d)

Plants

47.

What would happen to this nitrogen cycle if a virus killed all the bacteria?

a)

Nitrogen would just keep on cycling

b)

There would be a build up of ammonia

c)

Plants would take over for the bacteria

d)

Fish would grow more because there's no bacteria

48.

What type of plant is found at step 16 in the diagram, and why is it special?

a)

Photoautotroph - it can do photosynthesis without light

b)

Legume - it has a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria

c)

Chemoautotroph - it can make food without carbon or light

d)

Leginal - it has special bacteria to make food

49.

The following are examples of legumes:

a)

corn and wheat

b)

clover and corn

c)

soybeans and alfalfa

d)

peanuts and rice

50.

What type of bacteria can convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas by using it as an oxygen source?

a)

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

b)

Nitrifying Bacteria

c)

Denitrifying Bacteria

d)

Decomposing Bacteria

51.

The nitrogen cycle is one of the most important and complex of the biogeochemical cycles. It is important because nitrogen:

a)

is a greenhouse gas

b)

is an essential part of biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids (DNA)

c)

is the most toxic element to living organisms

d)

dilutes the oxygen in the atmosphere causing respiratory problems

e)

is a crucial part of the process of photosynthesis

52.

The most abundant gaseous components of the Earth's atmosphere are:

a)

carbon dioxide and oxygen.

b)

nitrogen and hydrogen.

c)

nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

d)

nitrogen and oxygen.

e)

oxygen and carbon dioxide.

53.

The use of nitrogen-based fertilizers in the Midwestern United States is a major contributing factor to which of the following?

a)

Spread of the West Nile virus

b)

Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico

c)

Water shortages in communities near the Great Lakes

d)

Soil erosion in Texas

e)

The increase in severe storms in the Southeastern United States

54.

A field is abandoned, and an invasive plant that can live in

nutrient-poor soil moves into the field. If the land is later

cleared of this invasive species and it is discovered that the

soil has an abundance of nitrogen compounds, what

the conclusion can best be made?

a)

The plants used up all of the phosphorus and potassium and left the nitrogen behind.

b)

Bacteria in soil and in root nodules converted free nitrogen into nitrogen compounds.

c)

The plants were able to produce nitrogen in their leaves.

d)

More rock was weathered and broken down to release nitrogen compounds.

55.

Which statement correctly describes the role of bacteria/fungi in the nitrogen cycle?

a)

The bacteria/fungi convert radiant energy into chemical energy.

b)

The bacteria/fungi directly provide a source of nutrition for animals.

c)

The bacteria/fungi are decomposers, restoring inorganic material to the environment so elements are made available to other organisms.

d)

The bacteria/fungi convert atmospheric nitrogen into minerals and are found in the nodules of cacti.

56.

Which of the following processes are also a part of or known as ammonification (organic nitrogen to ammonia)? Check all that apply.

a)

Mineralization

b)

Nitrification

c)

Assimilation

d)

Decomposition

57.
Identify the cycle pictured.
a)

The Water cycle

b)

The Carbon cycle

c)

The Nitrogen cycle

d)

The Phosphorus Cycle

58.
TRUE or FALSE?
All of the carbon in existence is continually recycled in the carbon cycle.
a)
True
b)
False
59.
Organisms that do not decompose can be buried and become what?
a)
water
b)
nutrients
c)
air
d)
fossil fuels
60.
What does NOT produce carbon dioxide?
a)
Photosynthesis
b)
Burning Fossil Fuels
c)
Animal respiration
d)
Plants decaying
61.
Carbon can be found in...
a)
The atmosphere
b)
Soil
c)
Fossil fuels
d)
All of the above
62.
Which of the following removes carbon from the atmosphere?
a)
Combustion
b)
Respiration
c)
Photosynthesis
d)
Death
63.
What process occurs when coal (fossil fuel) is used for energy?
a)
Decomposition
b)
Combustion
c)
Pressurization 
d)
Respiration 
64.
Respiration is the process by which animals take in _____ and release _____. 
a)
photosynthesis, air
b)
carbon, oxygen
c)
oxygen
d)
oxygen, carbon dioxide
65.
The diagram shows the flow of organic molecules through an ecosystem. What two processes are identified by the labels X and Y?
a)
X : Respiration
Y : Predation
b)
X : Adaptation
Y : Decomposition
c)
X : Fermentation
Y : Nitrogen Fixation
d)
X : Decomposition
Y : Respiration
66.
Which of the following is an example of a decomposer?
a)
Owl
b)
Fish
c)
Tree
d)
Mushroom
67.

Photosynthesis makes C6H12O6 - also known as ______.

a)

amino acid

b)

glucose

c)

nucleic acid

d)

fatty acid

68.

How do animals get carbon?

a)

By eating plants and or other animals.

b)

They absorb it from the atmosphere.

c)

From the ground

d)

They do not get carbon from anywhere.

69.

When humans EXHALE, we release __________________.

a)

Oxygen

b)

Carbon Dioxide

c)

Nitrogen

d)

Water

70.

What is CO2?

a)

Carbon Monoxide

b)

Carbon Trioxide

c)

Carbon Dioxide

d)

Oxygen

71.

Which of the following are fossil fuels?

a)

Coal, water, oil

b)

Oxygen, coal, oil

c)

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas

d)

None of the above

72.

What goes in Box 5 of the food web in the picture?

a)

herbivores

b)

scavengers

c)

carnivores

d)

decomposers

73.

The major source of carbon dioxide in seawater is:

a)

from photosynthesis by marine plants.

b)

from rain falling into the ocean.

c)

from the respiration of marine animals and other organisms.

d)

from seafloor sediments.

e)

runoff from land

74.

Select all the reasons there is more dissolved oxygen at the surface than the deeper part of the ocean.

a)

Less diffusion from the atmosphere

b)

More producers= less photosynthesis

c)

Algae and phytoplankton are present

d)

there is more turbulence and mixing produces air bubbles

75.

Which molecule is consumed during decomposition in an aquatic environment, potentially leading to a hypoxic (low-oxygen) situation?

a)

Nitrogen

b)

Phosphorus

c)

Calcium

d)

Carbon

e)

Oxygen

76.

a simple type of sugar that is an important energy source in living things and which is a part of many carbohydrates

a)

Reservoir

b)

Glucose

c)

Carbon

d)

Carbon dioxide

77.

the process by which green plants turn carbon dioxide and water into food using energy obtained from light from the sun

a)

Photosynthesis

b)

Respiration

c)

Decomposition

d)

Diffusion

78.

a process in living organisms involving the production of energy, typically with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide

a)

Decomposition

b)

Respiration

c)

Diffusion

d)

Combustion

79.

What is the greatest contributor to atmospheric carbon?

a)

burning garbage

b)

burning biomass

c)

transportation

d)

household usage

80.

What are two (2) ways to reduce the carbon emissions from passenger cars?

a)

Use less expensive gas

b)

Carpooling

c)

Public Transportation

d)

Driving only passenger cars

81.
Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere by
a)
Burning fossil fuels 
b)
Cellular respiration
c)
Decomposing organic matter
d)
All answers are correct
82.
What is happening at 1?
a)
respiration: releasing CO2
b)
decomposing CO2 in the soil
c)
photosynthesis: absorbing CO2
d)
turning CO2 from the atmosphere into organic molecules
83.
Which nutrient is not cycled through the atmosphere?
a)
carbon
b)
nitrogen
c)
phosphorous
d)
water
84.
Which of the following statements is true of the phosphorus cycle?
a)

Phosphorus enters the atmosphere as phosphates.

b)

The phosphorus cycle utilizes the processes of erosion and weathering of rocks.

c)

Phosphates are used in carbohydrate and glucose storage.

d)

The phosphorus cycle utilizes bacteria to breakdown phosphates and make them available for plants.

85.

What is the original, and primary reservoir of inorganic phosphate (PO43-) in terrestrial ecosystems?

a)

live plants and animals

b)

groundwater

c)

the atmosphere

d)

rocks

86.

Nitrogen and carbon are cycled on a global scale. Why does phosphorus cycling tend to occur more locally?

a)

it primarily involves the weathering of rocks, which are mostly stationary

b)

it only involves land animals that cannot swim across oceans to transport the nutrient

c)

it occurs in areas where cloud formation is low, so it rarely gets trapped in water vapors

d)

all of the answers are correct

87.

The phosphorus cycle occurs much more quickly than the carbon and nitrogen cycles.

a)

true

b)

false

88.

Phosphorous is passed from plants to ____ who eat them.

a)

plants

b)

animals

c)

scavengers

89.

This is NOT a part of the phosphorus cycle.

a)

Phosphate is incorporated into sedimentary rocks

b)

Phosphate bound to soil

c)

Atmospheric or gaseous phosphate

d)

Phosphate is absorbed from the soil by plants

90.
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
91.

How do plants obtain phosphorus?

a)

Absorbing it from gas in the air

b)

Absorbing from the soil

92.

Which of the following is a human activity that allows us to utilize large amounts of phosphorus?

a)

Deforestation

b)

Digging up fossil fuels

c)

Digging up uplifted rock formations

93.

Looking at the diagram, which of the following have an impact on the phosphorus cycle? Check all that apply.

a)

Fertilizer runoff

b)

Crop harvest

c)

Livestock wastes

d)

Atmospheric pollution

94.

Which of the following is NOT true of phosphorus?

a)

Can be used by vegetation and soil microbes for normal growth

b)

Can be found in nucleic acids

 

c)

Can be found in sugar or carbohydrates

d)

Can be found in cell membranes

95.

Match the following Monomer to the Macromolecule

a)

Fatty acid & Glycerol

1.

Lipid

b)

monosaccharide

2.

Carbohydrate

c)

Amino acid

3.

Protein

d)

nucleotide

4.

Nucleic Acid

96.
The process where excess nutrients enter a body of water causing overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae...
a)
Eutrophication
b)
Acid Precipitation
c)
Nitrogen Fixation
d)
Decomposition
97.
Phosphorus runoff in the water supply can lead to _____________.
a)
phosphorus poisoning of land mammals
b)
deformed fish species
c)
overgrowth of algae, resulting in loss of other aquatic species
d)
Who knows?  Not Me.

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