14.2 - Carbon - Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Save My Exmas

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Carbon cycle &

Nitrogen cycle
Question Paper 2
Level GCSE
Subject Biology
Exam Board CCEA
Topic Ecological relationships and energy flow
Sub-Topic Carbon cycle & Nitrogen cycle
Booklet Question Paper
Time Allowed: 75 minutes
Score: /66
Percentage: /100
Save My Exams! – The Home of Revision
Higher Tier
1
1 Plants absorb nitrates from the soil through their roots.
(a) Explain why plants need nitrates.
[2]
(b) Name the process roots use to absorb nitrates.
[1]
In the winter months, the temperature is low and the soil is often
waterlogged.
In the summer, the temperature increases and the soil dries out.
These environmental conditions affect the bacteria of the nitrogen cycle

that are active in the soil.
The graph shows changes in the amount of nitrogen compounds in wheat

plants and the soil between November and August.
300
Amount of nitrogen compound/kg per hectare
250 wheat plants
200
150
100
50 soil
0
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
Time of year
© Crown copyright - DEFRA
2
(c) The graph shows that between November and January nitrogen
compounds in the soil drop from 95 to 65 kg per hectare.
The difference may be due to denitrification.
(i) Explain how this process could cause a fall in the amount of
nitrogen compounds in the soil.
[4]
(ii) Leaching may also cause a fall in the amount of nitrogen

compounds in the soil during these months.
Explain how.
[2]
3
Between May and August, the amount of nitrogen compounds in the soil
stays constant while the amount of nitrogen compounds in the wheat
plants increases steeply.
(d) Explain how the bacteria in the nitrogen cycle maintain this constant
amount of nitrogen compounds in the soil while the amount of nitrogen
compounds in the wheat plants increases.
In this question, you will be assessed on your written

communication skills, including the use of specialist scientific
terms.
[6]
4
2 The diagram shows part of the nitrogen cycle.
(a) (i) Name substances A and B.
A [1]
B [1]
(ii) Name process C.
C [1]
5
(iii) Explain in detail how the wheat absorbs nitrates through its roots.
[4]
(iv) Use the diagram to help explain why farmyard manure or artificial
fertilisers are added to the soil just before planting each crop of
wheat in the same field.
[4]
6
(b) The graph shows the results of an investigation into the amount of
nitrates taken up by wheat plants.
The plants were grown in containers in a laboratory and the fertiliser
was placed at four different depths below the soil surface.
The procedure was repeated ten times for each depth and an average
was calculated.
100
90
Average uptake of nitrates by wheat/arbitrary units
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
Depth of fertiliser below the surface of the soil/m
Adapted from: P. W. Freeland, Problems in Theoretical Advanced Level Biology,
Hodder and Stoughton,1985
7
One conclusion suggested from these results was that when growing
wheat, fertiliser should be placed just below the surface of the soil.
(i) Give evidence from the graph which
supports this conclusion.
[2]
suggests why this conclusion may not be justified.
[1]
(ii) Suggest one way of improving this investigation.
[1]
8
3 The diagram shows some of the processes of the carbon cycle.
Carbon
dioxide in
atmosphere
Process A
Decomposition
Organic Organic
Process C compounds in compounds in
animals plants
Dead plants
and animals
Process B
Coal and oil
(a) (i) Name processes A, B and C.
A [1]
B [1]
C [1]
(ii) Name the only process which decreases the carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.
[1]
9
(b) The graph shows the annual amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced by five
different sources in a city.
45
40
35
CO2 production/103 tonnes per year
30
25
20
15
10
0
living domestic industrial
vehicles others
organisms fuels fuels
Examiner Only
Marks Remark
(i) Calculate the percentage of the total carbon dioxide emissions

that is produced by domestic fuels.
Show your working.
Answer [2]
10
The pie chart shows the annual amount of carbon dioxide produced by
the same five sources in the countryside.
others
4%
industrial fuels 10%
vehicles 13%
living organisms
domestic fuels 8%
65%
(ii) Explain two differences between the carbon dioxide produced in

the city and the countryside.
[2]
11
4 he diagram shows part of the car on cycle
Carbon dioxide in air
A B C
Fossil fuels
© Hemera / Thinkstock
(a) ame processes B and
(b) Descri e how car on present in plant tissue ecomes a named car on
compound in an animal
(c) ame a fossil fuel 12

5 ( ) he diagram shows part of the nitrogen cycle.
Nitrogen in the air
Animal protein
Denitrification
Plant protein A
Death
B
Nitrogen compounds
in the soil
Anaerobic conditions
Aerobic conditions
(i) ame the processes and .
_____________________________ [1]
_____________________________ [1]
(ii) se the diagram to help suggest how flooding decreases the

concentration of nitrogen compounds in the soil.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [2]
13
n the soil ammonium compounds can be converted into nitrates.
(iii) ame this process.
___________________________ [1]
(iv) hy is nitrate content of the soil important to plants
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [2]
( ) he diagram shows some artificial fertili er.
© CCEA
(i) Explain why farmers apply fertili ers to their fields.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [2]
14
(ii) Give two reasons why some farmers use artificial fertili er instead
of natural fertili er.
1. ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [1]
2. ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [1]
pplication of excess fertili ers may cause water pollution.
(iii) Explain how fertili ers can enter river water.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [2]
15
(iv) Complete the diagram showing the effects of applying an excess of

fertili ers.
)HUWLOL]HUVLQULYHUZDWHU
$OJDHGLH
/HVVR[\JHQLQZDWHU
[ ]
(v) ame this type of water pollution.
___________________________ [1]
16
(vi) uggest t ree ways to reduce this type of pollution.
1. ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [1]
2. ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [1]
. ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [1]
(vii) uggest two ways in which natural fertili ers are beneficial to the
soil.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ [2]
17

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Carbon cycle &

Time Allowed: 75 minutes

1 Plants absorb nitrates from the soil through their roots.

(a) Explain why plants need nitrates.

(b) Name the process roots use to absorb nitrates.

These environmental conditions affect the bacteria of the nitrogen cycle

The graph shows changes in the amount of nitrogen compounds in wheat

250 wheat plants

The difference may be due to denitrification.

(ii) Leaching may also cause a fall in the amount of nitrogen

In this question, you will be assessed on your written

2 The diagram shows part of the nitrogen cycle.

(a) (i) Name substances A and B.

(ii) Name process C.

(i) Give evidence from the graph which

supports this conclusion.

suggests why this conclusion may not be justified.

(ii) Suggest one way of improving this investigation.

3 The diagram shows some of the processes of the carbon cycle.

Coal and oil

(a) (i) Name processes A, B and C.

(i) Calculate the percentage of the total carbon dioxide emissions

Show your working.

(ii) Explain two differences between the carbon dioxide produced in

4 he diagram shows part of the car on cycle

Carbon dioxide in air

(a) ame processes B and

(c) ame a fossil fuel 12

5 ( ) he diagram shows part of the nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen in the air

(i) ame the processes and .

(ii) se the diagram to help suggest how flooding decreases the

n the soil ammonium compounds can be converted into nitrates.

(iii) ame this process.

(iv) hy is nitrate content of the soil important to plants

( ) he diagram shows some artificial fertili er.

(i) Explain why farmers apply fertili ers to their fields.

pplication of excess fertili ers may cause water pollution.

(iii) Explain how fertili ers can enter river water.

(iv) Complete the diagram showing the effects of applying an excess of

(v) ame this type of water pollution.

(vi) uggest t ree ways to reduce this type of pollution.

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