Question

question 23 of 25
which statement describes the movement of carbon dioxide in the carbon
cycle?

a. the gas enters the cryosphere as ice sheets melt.

b. the gas leaves the atmosphere as plants use it to make sugar.

c. the gas enters the hydrosphere as sugar dissolves in water.

d. the gas leaves the biosphere as animals breathe in air.

Explanation:

• Option A: The cryosphere consists of ice - related components. Ice sheet melting releases water, not carbon dioxide entering the cryosphere. Carbon dioxide doesn't enter the cryosphere in this way, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it, along with water and light energy, to produce glucose (sugar) and oxygen. So, carbon dioxide leaves the atmosphere as plants use it for photosynthesis to make sugar. This statement is correct.
• Option C: Sugar dissolving in water has nothing to do with carbon dioxide entering the hydrosphere. Carbon dioxide enters the hydrosphere mainly by dissolving directly from the atmosphere into water bodies, not through sugar dissolution. So C is incorrect.
• Option D: Animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. So carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere (and thus to the biosphere - atmosphere interaction) when animals respire, not leaving the biosphere as animals breathe in air. So D is incorrect.

Answer:

B. The gas leaves the atmosphere as plants use it to make sugar.