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Carbon Cycle

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the _______________________ as carbon dioxide.

a)

Water

b)

Atmosphere

c)

Sun

d)

Ground

2.

Carbon enters the soil through dead plant or animal matter.

a)

Decomposition

b)

Respiration

c)

Photosynthesis

d)

Diffusion

3.

How do plants affect the air that animals and people breathe?

a)

Plants use oxygen from the air to make their own food

b)

Plants release pollution into the air

c)

Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen

d)

Plants take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide

4.

In the carbon cycle, animals can release carbon back into the cycle through __________ or through __________.

a)

burning . . . photosynthesis

b)

fixation . . . decomposition

c)

decomposition . . . photosynthesis

d)

respiration . . . decomposition

e)

respiration . . . photosynthesis

5.

How does the carbon in grass become part of a lion?

a)

The lion eats the grass

b)

Carbon from grass doesn't end up in a lion. 

c)

The carbon ends up in the lion's food chain. 

d)

The lion breathes in carbon given out by the plant

6.

If the plant population decreased, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would _________.

a)

Stay the same

b)

Increase

c)

Decrease

7.

How does the human body return carbon to the atmosphere in the carbon cycle?

a)

Waste products

b)

Photosynthesis

c)

Cellular respiration

d)

Formation of glucose

8.

If a forest fire occurs, what will happen to the carbon in the forest?

a)

It will go into the soil

b)

It will go into the atmosphere

c)

It will runoff into nearby streams and rivers

d)

It will be destroyed

9.

Where does all the carbon in organisms (living things) originate from?

a)

Earth's atmosphere

b)

Rocks

c)

Water

d)

Soil

10.

What kind of organism takes out the most carbon from the atmosphere?

a)

Plants

b)

Bacteria

c)

Animals

d)

Humans

11.

Check all the ways that carbon dioxide is ADDED to the atmosphere.

a)

Respiration

b)

Combustion

c)

Photosynthesis

d)

Diffusion

e)

Decomposition

12.

Check all the ways that carbon dioxide is REMOVED from the atmosphere.

a)

Respiration

b)

Combustion

c)

Photosynthesis

d)

Diffusion

e)

Decomposition

13.

What is the primary process by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and incorporated into organic molecules?

a)

Photosynthesis

b)

Respiration

c)

Combustion

d)

Decomposition

14.

Which of the following is a major carbon sink that absorbs more carbon than it releases?

a)

Oceans

b)

Volcanoes

c)

Fossil fuels

d)

Atmosphere

15.

In the carbon cycle, what role do decomposers play in the ecosystem?

a)

They release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere by breaking down dead organisms.

b)

They convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis.

c)

They store carbon in the form of fossil fuels.

d)

They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their tissues.