DP IB Biology: SL

Topic Questions

IBBiology: SLDPTopic Questions4. Ecology4.2 Carbon Cycling & Climate Change

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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4.2 Carbon Cycling & Climate Change

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1
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Which of the following gases is not a greenhouse gas?

  • Methane

  • Sulfur dioxide

  • Carbon dioxide

  • Water vapour

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2
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The carbon cycle is represented by the diagram below.

Part of carbon cycle

Identify process Y.

  • Photosynthesis

  • Combustion

  • Respiration

  • Fossilisation

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3
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What is the total mass of carbon released into the atmosphere from respiration per year?

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  • 60 billion tonnes

  • 148 billion tonnes

  • 150 billion tonnes

  • 140 billion tonnes

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4
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A climate change sceptic made the following statement:

'There is no consensus amongst scientists that climate change is real, global warming is a natural and normal phenomenon which has occurred at other points in history'

Which of the following opposes the idea that global warming is a natural phenomenon?

  • The idea that many factors contribute towards global climate

  • Data produced by companies involved in global fossil fuel supply shows decreasing greenhouse gas production

  • Scientific research which links the combustion of fossil fuels with global warming

  • Published data which shows that rates of global warming have not been consistent over the last 50 years

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5
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Which process results in the production of methane gas?

  • Combustion of fossil fuels

  • Livestock farming

  • Deforestation

  • Ocean acidification

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1
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Which of the following chemical equations correctly represents one method for how carbon is made available for absorption by aquatic autotrophs?

  • straight H subscript 2 CO subscript 3 rightwards arrow straight H to the power of plus space plus space HCO subscript 3 to the power of minus

  • CH subscript 4 space plus space 2 straight H subscript 2 straight O space rightwards arrow space CO subscript 2 space plus 4 straight H subscript 2

  • CO subscript 2 space end subscript plus space straight H subscript 2 straight O space rightwards arrow straight H subscript 2 CO subscript 3

  • CH subscript 3 COOH space rightwards arrow space CH subscript 4 space plus space CO subscript 2

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2
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Some students were investigating the production of carbon dioxide from anaerobic respiration in yeast at different temperatures. They had access to the apparatus to carry out two different methods.

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Method 1: Using a gas syringe, students collected gas produced by yeast at different temperatures.

Method 2: Using limewater and a delivery tube, students counted the number of bubbles of gas produced by the yeast at different temperatures, and used limewater to show that it was carbon dioxide.

Which method should the students use and why?

  • Method 1 should be used because a statistical analysis can be carried out on method 1 but not method 2

  • Method 2 proves that the gas produced is carbon dioxide, this gives more valid results

  • Method 1 should be used because it provides quantitative measurements, which will be more accurate

  • Method 2 should be used because it gives qualitative and quantitative results so is more accurate

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3
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A company is advertising a peat-free compost with the statement below:

'Our peat-free compost is perfect for supporting growth in your plants whilst protecting the environment'

Which statement best justifies the use of this statement in the advertising of this peat-free compost?

  • Compost with peat in it may contain partially digested organisms

  • Peat-free compost will contain a lower proportion of fungi which may parasitise crop plants

  • Using peat-free compost reduces demand for the peat bogs which are an unsustainable resource

  • Peat-free compost contains more nutrients for maximum plant growth

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4
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The pH content of a water body in Australia was measured over a 10 year period. Scientists are concerned about the general downward trend of the data, which shows less alkali conditions than is characteristic.

Which of the statements suggests why the scientists may have cause for concern?

  1. Decreased rates of photosynthesis may occur at low pH
  2. Decreasing pH increases calcium carbonate solubility
  3. Some species of algae thrive in extreme pH levels

  • I and II only

  • II and III only

  • None of the above

  • II only

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5
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The graph below shows the daily fluctuations in pH in a freshwater pond over a 3 day period.

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Which statement correctly explains the fluctuations shown in the data?

  • pH decreases as a result of CO32- ions which are formed when carbon dioxide combines with water molecules

  • pH decreases when the rate of photosynthesis increases and CO2 is removed from the water by aquatic plants

  • pH decreases due to the presence of more H+ ions produced in the dissociation of carbonic acid

  • pH decreases during the day when more dissolved CO2 enters the water

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11 mark

Which of the following statements about the removal of carbon from the atmosphere are correct?

  1. Atmospheric carbon is converted into carbohydrates during photosynthesis.
  2. Carbon enters the cells of aquatic plants by diffusing directly from the surrounding water.
  3. Carbon combines with water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates to form hydrogen carbonate ions, raising the pH of water.

  • I only

  • I and II only

  • I and III only

  • I, II, and III

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21 mark

What can be concluded about levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide from the graph shown?wx0jijoF_1

A

Carbon dioxide levels fluctuate yearly due to seasonal changes in photosynthesis

Average carbon dioxide levels are increasing

Average yearly carbon dioxide level increases vary from year to year

B

Carbon dioxide levels fluctuate yearly

Average carbon dioxide levels increased between 1960-2010

Average yearly carbon dioxide level increases vary from year to year

C

Carbon dioxide levels fluctuate yearly

Average carbon dioxide levels are increasing

Average yearly carbon dioxide level increases vary from year to year

D

Carbon dioxide levels fluctuate yearly due to seasonal changes in photosynthesis

Average carbon dioxide levels increased between 1960-2010

Average yearly carbon dioxide level increases are linear

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31 mark

What is the benefit of collecting accurate, quantitative data on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

  • Scientists can identify the sources of greenhouse gases such as methane.

  • Scientists can directly assess the impact of deforestation.

  • Scientists can prove that climate change is caused by human activities.

  • Scientists can identify trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

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41 mark

The graph below shows the predicted effect on global warming of the continued draining of peat bogs.  Warming effect is measured on the kelvin (K) scale.

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How does peat drainage lead to the effect on warming seen in the graph?

  • Drainage allows saprotroph activity to increase, releasing carbon dioxide when the organic matter stored in the peat is broken down.

  • Water seals the stored carbon dioxide underground, so the loss of water allows the gas to escape.

  • The removal of water from the peatland allows herbivores to move in and consume the vegetation growing on the peat bog, eventually leading to the release of carbon stored in the vegetation into the atmosphere

  • Drained land can be used for crop growth, removing carbon from the soil.

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51 mark

The graph below shows the differences between the radiation reaching the earth from the sun and the radiation re-emitted by the earth.g~NDX832_3

How does this radiation cause the greenhouse effect?

  • Greenhouse gases absorb mainly low intensity radiation.

  • Greenhouse gases absorb mainly shortwave radiation.

  • Greenhouse gases absorb mainly UV radiation.

  • Greenhouse gases absorb mainly longwave radiation.

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61 mark

Different greenhouse gases have different global warming potential, or GWP.

Gas GWP over 100 years
Carbon dioxide 1
Methane 21
Nitrous oxide 310
Sulfur hexafluoride 23,900

 Which factors contribute to the global warming potential of greenhouse gases?

  • Atmospheric concentration only.

  • Atmospheric concentration and ability to absorb radiation.

  • Atmospheric concentration, ability to absorb radiation, and atmospheric lifetime.

  • Ability to absorb radiation only.

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71 mark

Which of the following are impacts of global warming?

  1. Increased UV radiation reaching earth due to depletion of ozone gas in the atmosphere
  2. Ocean acidification
  3. An increase in the number of extreme weather events

  • I and II only

  • II and III only

  • III only

  • I, II, and III

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81 mark

What can be concluded from the graph shown?

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  • Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration causes an increase in average global temperatures

  • Increasing average global temperatures cause an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide

  • There is a correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and average global temperature

  • The industrial revolution that began in the mid 1700s has caused an increase in average global temperatures

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91 mark

Which factors should be considered when assessing scientific claims about climate change?

A

Whether those making the claim have a financial interest

Whether or not a particular extreme weather event supports the claim

Whether or not journalists have read the research and believe it to be of high quality

B

Whether those making the claim have a financial interest

Whether or not a particular extreme weather event supports the claim

Whether or not other scientists have reviewed the research and believe it to be high quality

C

Whether those making the claim have a financial interest

Whether those making the claim have taken all the evidence into account

Whether or not other scientists have reviewed the research and believe it to be high quality

D

The wealth of those making the claim

Whether those making the claim have taken all the evidence into account

Whether or not journalists have read the research and believe it to be of high quality

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101 mark

The diagram below shows the stages of the carbon cycle.

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Which processes are shown in the diagram?

 

I

II

III

IV

A

Fossilisation

Photosynthesis

Respiration

Decomposition

B

Decomposition

Absorption

Photosynthesis

Combustion

C

Decomposition

Absorption

Photosynthesis

Decomposition

D

Decomposition

Photosynthesis

Respiration

Combustion

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