Question

Identify which statement is the MOST accurate:(1 point)
Responses

Carbon enters Earth's atmosphere when animals exhale, then moves into outer space where its amount steadily increases, and finally moves back into Earth's atmosphere to be used again.
Carbon enters Earth's atmosphere when animals exhale, then moves into outer space where its amount steadily increases, and finally moves back into Earth's atmosphere to be used again.

A fixed amount of carbon exists on Earth, and it moves through living and nonliving materials by way of the carbon cycle.
A fixed amount of carbon exists on Earth, and it moves through living and nonliving materials by way of the carbon cycle.

The amount of carbon in the universe cycles, gradually increasing as it moves up the food chain, and decreasing until the next phase of the cycle.
The amount of carbon in the universe cycles, gradually increasing as it moves up the food chain, and decreasing until the next phase of the cycle.

Carbon flows through the food chain as animals eat it, then decomposes and is permanently removed from the system when the food chain is complete.

Answer 1

The MOST accurate statement is:

**A fixed amount of carbon exists on Earth, and it moves through living and nonliving materials by way of the carbon cycle.**

This statement accurately describes the nature of carbon on Earth, emphasizing that carbon is recycled through various processes in the carbon cycle, rather than being created or destroyed. The other statements include inaccuracies about carbon moving into outer space or being permanently removed from the system.