Environmental Science Nutrient Cycle Practice
APES: NUTRIENT CYCLES: QUIZ
NAME: ____________________
DATE: ______________
Questions 1-3 refer to the following processes.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
1.
2.
3.
Photosynthesis
Eutrophication
Denitrification
Decomposition
Transpiration
The rapid rate of this process in tropical forests results in low-nutrient soils.
The process in which glucose is synthesized by plants.
The process by which a soil nutrient is reduced and released to the atmosphere as a gas.
Questions 4-6 refer to the following processes
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
4.
5.
Nitrification
Denitrification
Assimilation
Ammonification
Nitrogen fixation
Ammonia is converted to nitrite, then to nitrate.
Plant roots absorb ammonium ions and nitrate ions for use in making molecules such as DNA,
amino acids, and proteins.
6. Nitrate ions and nitrite ions are converted into nitrous oxide gas and nitrogen gas. (N2)
Questions 7-10 refer to the following answers.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
7.
8.
9.
10.
Nitrates
Nitrites
Ammonia
Atmospheric nitrogen
Nitrogen dioxide
Produced in the atmosphere by lightening
Fixation in the nodules of legumes produces this form of nitrogen
Full oxidation during secondary sewage treatment produces these ions.
When mixed with water vapor, this forms acid rain.
11. Which of the following cycles is most responsible for transferring energy from one part of the
Earth to another?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorus cycle
Sulfur cycle
Water cycle.
Questions 12-15 refer to the following answers
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
a) Nitrogen cycle
b) Carbon cycle
c) Sulfur cycle
d) Phosphorus cycle
e) Water cycle
Does not involve a chemical reaction
Used in sewage treatment process
Involves respiration
Includes both the production of coal and acid rain.
Which of the following nutrient cycles has the greatest effect in regulating climate?
a) Carbon cycle
b) Sulfur cycle
c) Nitrogen cycle
d) Phosphorus cycle
e) Arsenic cycle
Questions 17-20 refer to the following answers
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorus cycle
Sulfur cycle
Water cycle
17. Includes fermentation and respiration
18. Nutrient is always in the form of the same polyatomic ion
19. Helps to drive the formation of hurricanes
20. Phytoplankton production in this cycle can cool global climate
21. The process by which plants release water is called
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Aporization
e) Perspiration
22. The atmosphere contains ___________ which is needed for photosynthesis
a) Nitrogen
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
b) Oxygen
c) Carbon dioxide
d) All of the above
Inorganic nutrients are released from dead organic wastes and animal wastes by
a) Decomposers
b) Secondary consumers
c) Autotrophs
d) Producers
Bacteria that obtain energy for organic compound synthesis from oxidizing inorganic
compounds such as ammonia, nitrites, and sulfides are _______a) Photoautotrophs
b) Chemoautotrophs
c) Heterotrophs
What is true about the phosphorus cycle?
a) It enters the atmosphere
b) Weathering of sedimentary rocks makes phosphate available phosphate
c) Is incorporated into organisms’ proteins
d) All of the above
Which of the following is known as the sedimentary cycle because its reservoir is sedimentary
rock?
a) Carbon cycle
b) Hydrologic cycle
c) Nitrogen cycle
d) Phosphorus cycle.
Nutrients from the ___________ cycle run from a terrestrial to an aquatic ecosystem which
enriches the aquatic ecosystem
a) Nitrogen
b) Phosphorus
c) Sulfur
d) Both a and b
The cycling of water through the hydrologic cycle depends on ____
a) Transpiration from plants
b) Evaporation from the soil
c) Precipitation to the ocean
d) All of the above
Which of the following is true of the hydrologic cycle?
a) The supply of groundwater is unchanging
b) All freshwater eventually returns to the sea
c) Precipitation to the ocean exceeds evaporation from the ocean
d) Fresh water makes up about 75% of the world’s supply of water.
Which of the following is contributing to an overload of the carbon cycle?
a) Photosynthesis
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
b) Cellular respiration
c) Deforestation
d) All of the above.
The largest reservoir of carbon is the
a) Soil
b) Atmosphere
c) Ocean
d) Vegetation
e) Sedimentary rock
__________- fixes carbon in green plants as simple sugars.
a) Denitrifiation
b) photosynthesis
c) Carbonation
d) Hydrolysis
e) Bacteria
In nutrient cycle in general, minerals tend to be dispersed through________
a) Plant action
b) Surface and subsurface runoff
c) Evaporation
d) Assimilation
e) Conduction
Which is the possible path of the movements of nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?
a) Soil-air-plants-air-animals-soil
b) Air-soil-plant-animals-soil-air
c) Soil-animals-plants-soil-air
d) Air-animals-soil-plants-air
The burning of fossil fuels has the greatest and most direct impact on the
a) Carbon cycle
b) Water cycle
c) Nitrogen cycle
d) Rock cycle
36.
37. Plants use the phosphorus found in...
a. air
b. water
c. rocks
d. bones
38. Phosphorus is the major ingredient used in...
a. photosynthesis
b. protein synthesis
c. cellular respiration
d. bones and teeth
39. The harmful effects of phosphorus pollution occur in combination with...
a. oxygen
b. nitrogen
c. high turbidity
d. low temperatures
40. One effect of high dissolved phosphorus levels in a river is...
a. high flow rates
b. high turbidity
c. the excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae
d. better water quality