Nutrient Cycling MCQs (Quiz 5) Posted on May 30, 2026Author agropublishers 0 1. Which of the following is an example of a nutrient source in the carbon cycle? A growing forest absorbing CO₂ Soil storing organic carbon A volcano releasing CO₂ into the atmosphere Ocean water dissolving atmospheric CO₂ 2. Why does the combustion of fossil fuels disrupt the natural carbon cycle? It transfers carbon from long-term geological storage to the atmosphere rapidly It prevents carbon fixation by plants It converts atmospheric nitrogen into carbon dioxide It permanently removes carbon from biological systems 3. Which substance is the starting material for nitrification? Urea Nitrogen gas (N₂) Nitrate (NO₃⁻) Ammonia / Ammonium (NH₃ / NH₄⁺) 4. Which of the following minerals is highly susceptible to solution weathering? Mica Rock salt Feldspar Quartz 5. Deforestation accelerates climate change primarily because it ____________ Decreases the capacity of ecosystems to absorb atmospheric CO₂ Enhances decomposition of carbonate rocks Increases nitrogen fixation in forest soils Reduces phosphorus weathering rates 6. In the context of nutrient cycling, leaching is best defined as ____________________ The downward movement of water through soil that carries dissolved nutrients away from the root zone The biological conversion of nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen gas The microbial breakdown of organic matter releasing inorganic nutrients The addition of mineral nutrients to soil through weathering of bedrock 7. A major perturbation of the carbon cycle by human activity is associated with _____________________ Release of carbon from fossil fuel deposits Removal of carbon from the atmosphere in fertilizer production Accelerated removal of carbon from the atmosphere by forests Respiratory production of CO₂ by the human population 8. Rust formation on rocks is an example of ______________ Hydrolysis Oxidation Exfoliation Carbonation 9. Which weathering agent is considered the most important overall? Temperature Wind Gravity Water 10. Hydrolysis of minerals involves _____________ Expansion of water in minerals upon freezing Reaction between oxygen and minerals Reaction of water with minerals to form new substances Physical fragmentation of minerals by wind Loading … Question 1 of 10
