4.3 Carbon cycling - IB Questionbank | RevisionDojo

4.3 Carbon cycling Questionbank

Practice 4.3 Carbon cycling with authentic IB Biology exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1A, 1B, 2 structure, covering key topics like cell biology, genetics, and ecology. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.

Paper

Level

Question 1

HLPaper 1A

How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?

Question 2

SLPaper 1A

Which conditions favor the formation of peat?


A.	Dry	Aerobic	Acidic
B.	Wet	Anaerobic	Acidic
C.	Dry	Anaerobic	Basic
D.	Wet	Aerobic	Acidic

Question 3

SLPaper 1A

The diagram shows a simplified carbon cycle.

Which processes are taking place at X and Y?

	X	Y
A.	photosynthesis	fossilization
B.	respiration	fossilization
C.	photosynthesis	combustion
D.	respiration	combustion

Question 4

HLPaper 1A

The table shows the monthly CO2 concentrations in mgL-1 taken at two monitoring stations.

Month	Jul 2011	Aug 2011	Sept 2011	Oct 2011	Nov 2011	Dec 2011	Jan 2012	Feb 2012	Mar 2012	Apr 2012	May 2012	Jun 2012
Cape Grim, Australia	388	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	390
Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA	392	390	389	389	390	392	393	394	394	396	397	396

What is directly indicated by the data?

Question 5

SLPaper 2

Draw and label a diagram of the carbon cycle.

[6]

Outline the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis and how this can be measured by carbon dioxide uptake.

[4]

Explain how carbon dioxide is produced in anaerobic and in aerobic respiration.

[5]

Question 6

SLPaper 1A

The diagram shows a simplified carbon cycle.

Which processes are taking place at X and Y ?

	X	Y
A.	photosynthesis	fossilization
B.	respiration	fossilization
C.	photosynthesis	combustion
D.	respiration	combustion

Question 7

SLPaper 1A

Carbon sinks are any reservoirs that absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Which process increases the size of the carbon sink in oceans?

Question 8

HLPaper 1A

In the diagram, which of the processes labelled A to D transfers the largest mass of carbon per year in a woodland ecosystem?

Question 9

SLPaper 2

All organisms take in and also release carbon compounds. Draw a labelled diagram of the carbon cycle.

[5]

Describe how the rate of photosynthesis can be measured.

[6]

Explain the mechanism of ventilation in humans.

[7]

Question 10

SLPaper 1A

The table shows the monthly $CO_2$ concentrations in $mgL^{-1}$ taken at two monitoring stations.

Month	Jul 2011	Aug 2011	Sept 2011	Oct 2011	Nov 2011	Dec 2011	Jan 2012	Feb 2012	Mar 2012	Apr 2012	May 2012	Jun 2012
Cape Grim, Australia	388	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	390
Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA	392	390	389	389	390	392	393	394	394	396	397	396

What is directly indicated by the data?

Paper

Level

Question 1

HLPaper 1A

How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?

Question 2

SLPaper 1A

Which conditions favor the formation of peat?


A.	Dry	Aerobic	Acidic
B.	Wet	Anaerobic	Acidic
C.	Dry	Anaerobic	Basic
D.	Wet	Aerobic	Acidic

Question 3

SLPaper 1A

The diagram shows a simplified carbon cycle.

Which processes are taking place at X and Y?

	X	Y
A.	photosynthesis	fossilization
B.	respiration	fossilization
C.	photosynthesis	combustion
D.	respiration	combustion

Question 4

HLPaper 1A

The table shows the monthly CO2 concentrations in mgL-1 taken at two monitoring stations.

Month	Jul 2011	Aug 2011	Sept 2011	Oct 2011	Nov 2011	Dec 2011	Jan 2012	Feb 2012	Mar 2012	Apr 2012	May 2012	Jun 2012
Cape Grim, Australia	388	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	390
Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA	392	390	389	389	390	392	393	394	394	396	397	396

What is directly indicated by the data?

Question 5

SLPaper 2

Draw and label a diagram of the carbon cycle.

[6]

Outline the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis and how this can be measured by carbon dioxide uptake.

[4]

Explain how carbon dioxide is produced in anaerobic and in aerobic respiration.

[5]

Question 6

SLPaper 1A

The diagram shows a simplified carbon cycle.

Which processes are taking place at X and Y ?

	X	Y
A.	photosynthesis	fossilization
B.	respiration	fossilization
C.	photosynthesis	combustion
D.	respiration	combustion

Question 7

SLPaper 1A

Carbon sinks are any reservoirs that absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Which process increases the size of the carbon sink in oceans?

Question 8

HLPaper 1A

In the diagram, which of the processes labelled A to D transfers the largest mass of carbon per year in a woodland ecosystem?

Question 9

SLPaper 2

All organisms take in and also release carbon compounds. Draw a labelled diagram of the carbon cycle.

[5]

Describe how the rate of photosynthesis can be measured.

[6]

Explain the mechanism of ventilation in humans.

[7]

Question 10

SLPaper 1A

The table shows the monthly $CO_2$ concentrations in $mgL^{-1}$ taken at two monitoring stations.

Month	Jul 2011	Aug 2011	Sept 2011	Oct 2011	Nov 2011	Dec 2011	Jan 2012	Feb 2012	Mar 2012	Apr 2012	May 2012	Jun 2012
Cape Grim, Australia	388	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	389	390
Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA	392	390	389	389	390	392	393	394	394	396	397	396

What is directly indicated by the data?