Cycles In Nature Pretest A Name - ________________________

Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____ 1. Which of the following processes produces carbon dioxide?

a. decomposition c. combustion
b. respiration d. all of the above

____ 2. During nitrogen fixation, nitrogen gas is converted into a form that ____ can use.
a. plants c. fungi
b. animals d. All of the above

____ 3. Which of the following substances must be chemically transformed before it can be used by plants?
a. Oxygen c. nitrogen gas
b. carbon dioxide d. Water

____ 4. Carbon from the nonliving environment becomes a part of living organisms through
a. photosynthesis. c. transpiration.
b. respiration. d. absorption.

Examine the diagram below, and answer the questions that follow.

____ 5. How do the living organisms in the diagram return carbon to the atmosphere?
a. by way of precipitation
b. through the process of photosynthesis
c. by breaking down sugar molecules during respiration
____ 6. What is the source of carbon in fossil fuels?
a. combustion and respiration
b. carbon captured during nitrogen fixation
c. the buried remains of long-dead organisms
d. carbon dioxide in ground water

____ 7. Carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere in increasing quantities, causing it to
hold heat. This causes
a. the temperature of land to rise. c. global warming.
b. the temperature of the ocean to rise. d. All of the above

____ 8. What step(s) could be taken to help reduce the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
a. Decrease combustion. c. Cut fewer trees.
b. Plant more plants. d. All of the above

____ 9. Carbon dioxide and water are released as byproducts of

a. combustion. c. photosynthesis.
b. respiration. d. decomposition.

____ 10. Most animals get the nitrogen they need by

a. breathing. c. "fixing" nitrogen.
b. eating other organisms. d. drinking water.

____ 11. Pioneer species are adapted for growing well in ____ habitats.
a. newly exposed c. disturbed
b. Mature d. Both (a) and (c)

____ 12. Which of the following types of succession would most likely occur after a forest fire?
a. primary succession c. secondary succession
b. old field succession d. lake succession

____ 13. As you walk to school, you notice some moss growing in a crack in the sidewalk.
This is an example of
a. a pioneer species. c. secondary succession.
b. primary succession. d. Both (a) and (b)

____ 14. The second year after a farmer stops growing crops, weeds such as horseweed appear.
How did the new species of plants get there?
a. Their seeds may have blown into the field by the wind.
b. Insects may have carried their seeds.
c. Birds may have carried their seeds.
d. all of the above

____ 15. In the early stages of succession,

a. only a few species grow in an area. c. most species are small.
b. species grow rapidly. d. All of the above
____ 16. Which statement best describes a plant that is likely to be a pioneer species?
a. It grows slowly and needs a lot of light.
b. It grows quickly and prefers shade.
c. It grows quickly and thrives in bright sunshine.
d. It grows tall and produces few seeds.

____ 17. Water changes from a liquid to a vapor during

a. precipitation. c. evaporation.
b. respiration. d. decomposition.

____ 18. Bacteria are essential to

a. combustion. c. nitrogen fixation.
b. photosynthesis. d. evaporation.

____ 19. Which of the following statements about cycles of matter is true?
a. Matter is lost in each cycle.
b. Human activity has little or no impact on cycles.
c. Each cycle involves evaporation and condensation.
d. Matter is moved between the physical environment and living organisms.

Study the diagram below, and answer the questions that follow.

____ 20. The process represented by arrow 1 in the diagram above is

a. transpiration. c. condensation.
b. precipitation. d. evaporation.

____ 21. The process represented by arrow 3 in the diagram above is

a. transpiration. c. condensation.
b. precipitation. d. evaporation.

____ 22. Drinking after running on a hot day replaces water lost through
a. condensation. c. transpiration.
b. respiration. d. combustion.

____ 23. Approximately 91 percent of the Earth’s ____ falls on the ocean.
a. nitrogen c. water
b. carbon d. precipitation
____ 24. Water that seeps into the ground, where it is stored in underground caverns or in porous rock,
is called
a. runoff. c. ground water.
b. deposition. d. lakes.

____ 25. Organisms need nitrogen to

a. breathe. c. build proteins and DNA.
b. break down carbon molecules. d. build sugars.

____ 26. When fungi and bacteria decompose organic matter, they return ____ to the environment.
a. Oxygen c. nitrogen
b. Carbon d. Both (b) and (c)

____ 27. Which statement best describes succession?

a. It takes place only in communities affected by forest fires.
b. It occurs through predictable stages over time.
c. It usually happens in abandoned fields.
d. all of the above

____ 28. If you hold a jar over a lit candle, a dark residue forms on the inside of the jar. This residue is
a. oxygen. c. nitrogen.
b. carbon. d. water.

____ 29. In the later stages of succession,

a. only a few species grow in an area. c. many species are usually present.
b. species grow rapidly. d. a stable hardwood forest will grow.

____ 30. Approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere is nitrogen gas. How do we get this
nitrogen from the atmosphere to use for building proteins?
a. by breathing air c. by eating plants
b. by eating animals or their products d. Both (b) and (c)
Cycles in Nature (version A)
Answer Key

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: D
2. ANS: A
3. ANS: C
4. ANS: A
5. ANS: C
6. ANS: C
7. ANS: D
8. ANS: D
9. ANS: B
10. ANS: B
11. ANS: A
12. ANS: C
13. ANS: D
14. ANS: D
15. ANS: D
16. ANS: C
17. ANS: C
18. ANS: C
19. ANS: D
20. ANS: D
21. ANS: A
22. ANS: C
23. ANS: D
24. ANS: C
25. ANS: C
26. ANS: D
27. ANS: B
28. ANS: B
29. ANS: C
30. ANS: D
Cycles In Nature Pretest B Name - ________________________

Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Study the diagram below, and answer the questions that follow.

____ 1. The process represented by arrow 3 in the diagram above is

a. condensation. c. transpiration.
b. precipitation. d. evaporation.

____ 2. The process represented by arrow 1 in the diagram above is

a. transpiration. c. evaporation.
b. precipitation. d. condensation.

____ 3. Bacteria are essential to

a. evaporation. c. photosynthesis.
b. nitrogen fixation. d. combustion.

____ 4. Which of the following statements about cycles of matter is true?

a. Each cycle involves evaporation and condensation.
b. Matter is lost in each cycle.
c. Human activity has little or no impact on cycles.
d. Matter is moved between the physical environment and living organisms.

____ 5. Which statement best describes succession?

a. It takes place only in communities affected by forest fires.
b. It occurs through predictable stages over time.
c. It usually happens in abandoned fields.
d. all of the above

____ 6. Carbon from the nonliving environment becomes a part of living organisms through
a. respiration. c. absorption.
b. photosynthesis. d. transpiration.

____ 7. Water changes from a liquid to a vapor during

a. precipitation. c. evaporation.
b. respiration. d. decomposition.
____ 8. Which statement best describes a plant that is likely to be a pioneer species?
a. It grows quickly and thrives in bright sunshine.
b. It grows slowly and needs a lot of light.
c. It grows quickly and prefers shade.
d. It grows tall and produces few seeds.

____ 9. Drinking after running on a hot day replaces water lost through
a. transpiration. c. condensation.
b. combustion. d. respiration.

____ 10. During nitrogen fixation, nitrogen gas is converted into a form that ____ can use.
a. plants c. fungi
b. animals d. All of the above

Examine the diagram below, and answer the questions that follow.

____ 11. How do the living organisms in the diagram return carbon to the atmosphere?
a. by way of precipitation
b. by breaking down inorganic molecules during transpiration
c. by breaking down sugar molecules during respiration
d. through the process of photosynthesis
____ 12. Carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere in increasing quantities, causing it to

hold heat. This causes

a. the temperature of land to rise. c. global warming.
b. the temperature of the ocean to rise. d. All of the above

____ 13. What step(s) could be taken to help reduce the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
a. Decrease combustion. c. Cut fewer trees.
b. Plant more plants. d. All of the above
____ 14. What is the source of carbon in fossil fuels?
a. carbon dioxide in ground water
b. carbon captured during nitrogen fixation
c. combustion and respiration
d. the buried remains of long-dead organisms

____ 15. Which of the following processes produces carbon dioxide?

a. decomposition c. combustion
b. respiration d. all of the above

____ 16. Approximately 91 percent of the Earth’s ____ falls on the ocean.
a. precipitation c. nitrogen
b. carbon d. water

____ 17. Which of the following types of succession would most likely occur after a forest fire?
a. primary succession c. lake succession
b. old field succession d. secondary succession

____ 18. Pioneer species are adapted for growing well in ____ habitats.
a. newly exposed c. disturbed
b. mature d. Both (a) and (c)

____ 19. Organisms need nitrogen to

a. break down carbon molecules. c. build proteins and DNA.
b. breathe. d. build sugars.

____ 20. Carbon dioxide and water are released as byproducts of

a. combustion. c. decomposition.
b. photosynthesis. d. respiration.

____ 21. Approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere is nitrogen gas. How do we get this nitrogen
from the atmosphere to use for building proteins?
a. by breathing air c. by eating plants
b. by eating animals or their products d. Both (b) and (c)

____ 22. Water that seeps into the ground, where it is stored in underground caverns or in porous rock,
is called
a. runoff. c. ground water.
b. deposition. d. lakes.

____ 23. As you walk to school, you notice some moss growing in a crack in the sidewalk. This is an
example of
a. a pioneer species. c. secondary succession.
b. primary succession. d. Both (a) and (b)

____ 24. In the later stages of succession,

a. only a few species grow in an area. c. species grow rapidly.
b. a stable hardwood forest will grow. d. many species are usually present.
____ 25. The second year after a farmer stops growing crops, weeds such as horseweed appear.
How did the new species of plants get there?
a. Their seeds may have blown into the field by the wind.
b. Insects may have carried their seeds.
c. Birds may have carried their seeds.
d. all of the above

____ 26. If you hold a jar over a lit candle, a dark residue forms on the inside of the jar. This residue is
a. nitrogen. c. oxygen.
b. carbon. d. water.

____ 27. In the early stages of succession,

a. only a few species grow in an area. c. most species are small.
b. species grow rapidly. d. All of the above

____ 28. When fungi and bacteria decompose organic matter, they return ____ to the environment.
a. oxygen c. nitrogen
b. carbon d. Both (b) and (c)

____ 29. Which of the following substances must be chemically transformed before it can be used
by plants?
a. nitrogen gas c. oxygen
b. carbon dioxide d. Water

____ 30. Most animals get the nitrogen they need by

a. breathing. c. "fixing" nitrogen.
b. eating other organisms. d. drinking water.
Cycles in Nature (version B)
Answer Key

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: C
2. ANS: C
3. ANS: B
4. ANS: D
5. ANS: B
6. ANS: B
7. ANS: C
8. ANS: A
9. ANS: A
10. ANS: A
11. ANS: C
12. ANS: D
13. ANS: D
14. ANS: D
15. ANS: D
16. ANS: A
17. ANS: D
18. ANS: A
19. ANS: C
20. ANS: D
21. ANS: D
22. ANS: C
23. ANS: D
24. ANS: D
25. ANS: D
26. ANS: B
27. ANS: D
28. ANS: D
29. ANS: A
30. ANS: B