Question

the carbon dioxide absorbed by plants is returned to the atmosphere when:
plants break down the sugar for energy.
animals eat the plants and break down the sugar for energy.
plants die and decompose.
all of these choices are correct.

Explanation:

1. When plants break down sugar (cellular respiration), they produce \(CO_2\) which is released into the atmosphere.
2. When animals eat plants and break down the sugar (cellular respiration in animals), they also release \(CO_2\).
3. When plants die and decompose, decomposers break down the organic matter, and this process also releases \(CO_2\) into the atmosphere. So all these processes return the carbon dioxide absorbed by plants (during photosynthesis) back to the atmosphere.

Answer:

D. All of these choices are correct