Question 1: Releases carbon or Absorbs carbon
| Releases carbon | Absorbs carbon | |-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Fossil fuels being burned | Carbon dissolves into ocean water | | An animal or plant dies and decays. | Carbon dioxide used during photosynthesis | | An animal breathes as part of its everyday activities. | | | A factory uses coal as an energy source. | |
Question 2: Fill in the blanks
The carbon cycle is a natural process that shows how carbon moves through the environment, connecting living organisms and their surroundings. It starts when plants use sunlight to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, turning it into energy and oxygen. Animals, including humans, then consume these plants, taking in carbon in the form of carbohydrates and proteins. When animals breathe out, they release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Additionally, when plants and animals die, decomposers break them down, returning carbon to the soil and air. Through these processes, carbon is continuously recycled among the atmosphere, living organisms, and the earth, highlighting the importance of carbon in maintaining life and energy flow in ecosystems.