Question

plants and animals also release carbon into the environment.
during respiration, plants and animals break down glucose and release carbon dioxide (co₂) into the atmosphere. plants release co₂ and other gases through small holes in their leaves. animals release co₂ and other gases when they breathe out.
when a plant or animal dies and decomposes, or breaks down, some of the carbon from its body is either released underground or into the atmosphere as co₂.
diagram of carbon cycle with tree, squirrel, coyote, sun, labels like photosynthesis, respiration, food consumption, death and decomposition
use the diagram to complete the sentences.
squirrels, coyotes, and plants dropdown co₂ during respiration, but only plants dropdown co₂ during photosynthesis. when a plant or animal dies, co₂ is dropdown as it decomposes.

Explanation:

1. For the first blank: From the text and diagram, during respiration, plants (like the tree), squirrels, and coyotes release \( \text{CO}_2 \). The process of respiration in organisms (plants and animals) involves breaking down glucose and releasing \( \text{CO}_2 \), so the action here is "release".
2. For the second blank: Photosynthesis is the process where plants take in \( \text{CO}_2 \) (along with water and sunlight) to make glucose. The diagram shows an arrow from \( \text{CO}_2 \) to the plant labeled "Photosynthesis", indicating that plants absorb \( \text{CO}_2 \) during photosynthesis, so the action is "absorb" (or "take in", but in the context of carbon cycle and photosynthesis, "absorb" or "use" - but more accurately, plants "absorb" or "take in" \( \text{CO}_2 \) for photosynthesis, and the reverse of release for respiration here would be that plants "absorb" \( \text{CO}_2 \) during photosynthesis while they release during respiration. Wait, actually, the first part: squirrels, coyotes (animals) and plants release \( \text{CO}_2 \) during respiration. Then, only plants (since animals don't do photosynthesis) absorb \( \text{CO}_2 \) during photosynthesis. So the first blank: release; second blank: absorb (or take in, but "absorb" is more precise for photosynthesis's \( \text{CO}_2 \) uptake); third blank: when a plant or animal dies and decomposes, \( \text{CO}_2 \) is released (as per the text: "some of the carbon from its body is either released underground or into the atmosphere as \( \text{CO}_2 \)").

Answer:

First blank: release
Second blank: absorb (or take in)
Third blank: released

(Note: Depending on the exact vocabulary expected, but based on the text and diagram:

• Respiration (plants and animals) releases \( \text{CO}_2 \), so first blank "release".
• Photosynthesis (only plants) absorbs \( \text{CO}_2 \), so second blank "absorb".
• Decomposition releases \( \text{CO}_2 \), so third blank "released".)