Nutrient Cycling MCQs (Quiz 8) Posted on May 30, 2026Author agropublishers 0 1. Which of the following best explains why root hair cells are well adapted for absorption in plants? They are covered in a thick waxy cuticle to prevent water loss They contain chloroplasts to produce energy for mineral uptake They are located above ground to access atmospheric moisture They have a large surface area and thin walls, facilitating efficient uptake of water and ions from soil 2. Heavy rainfall following fertilizer application often leads to nutrient loss because ______________ It promotes weathering of bedrock It converts nutrients into gases It increases nutrient fixation in soil It enhances leaching of soluble nutrients below the root zone 3. Which nutrient cycle is most dependent on weathering processes? Oxygen cycle Carbon cycle Nitrogen cycle Phosphorus cycle 4. Lichens are ecologically important because they _________________ Initiate rock weathering and soil development Reduce mineral release Prevent soil formation Immobilize nutrients permanently 5. During the decomposition of organic matter, bacteria break down proteins and nucleic acids. What nitrogenous product is directly released by this process? Ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) Nitrate ions (NO₃⁻) Nitrite ions (NO₂⁻) Urea 6. Which of the following best explains why life on Earth is sustainable over geological timescales despite a fixed supply of nutrients? Nutrients cycle repeatedly through biotic and abiotic components via biogeochemical cycles, whereas energy cannot be recycled, and is continuously supplied by solar input Nutrients are imported from space through meteorite impacts at a sufficient rate Solar energy drives the continuous synthesis of new nutrient molecules from atmospheric gases New nutrients are continuously generated through nuclear reactions in the Earth’s core 7. Biological weathering may contribute to chemical weathering through ________________ Lowering atmospheric pressure Reduction of humidity Increasing rock density Production of organic acids by organisms 8. Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are considered major carbon reservoirs because they ________________ Store carbon that was fixed by photosynthesis millions of years ago Contain only inorganic carbon compounds Are produced directly from atmospheric CO₂ each year Continuously absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide 9. Which statement best summarizes the ecological significance of weathering? It links geology and ecology by releasing nutrients and supporting soil formation It only alters landscape appearance It only affects geological formations It functions independently of ecosystems 10. Which of the following best describes nutrient turnover in an ecosystem? Nutrients are converted into rocks and stored underground Nutrients are continuously recycled through living organisms and the environment Nutrients are permanently removed from circulation by soil sediments Nutrients flow in one direction from producers to decomposers Loading … Question 1 of 10
