APES Unit 1 FRQ question n answers rated A+ 2023/2024

APES Unit 1 FRQ4a) (i) Describe a biological process by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and converted to organic molecules. - correct answer Photosynthesis: the process by which plants/autotrophs take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into food/glucose/sugar/complex carbohydrates; plants/autotrophs fix carbon into food/glucose/sugar/complex carbohydrates. 4a2) Describe a biological process by which carbon is converted from organic molecules to a gas and returned to the atmosphere. - correct answer Decomposition of organic material by bacteria or fungi converts organic carbon into gases such as methane (4b) Oceans and terrestrial systems are also important carbon reservoirs. (i) Explain how atmospheric carbon is incorporated into two oceanic sinks. - correct answer • Carbon (CO2) can be taken up by organisms like phytoplankton for photosynthesis Carbon can react with other elements/compounds and form carbonates/limestone/sedimentary rocks (just "rocks" is too vague to earn a point) 4b2) Identify one terrestrial sink, other than fossil fuels, that stores carbon for thousands to millions of years. - correct answer Trapped/incorporated into ice caps/glaciers Limestone or sedimentary rocks The burning of fossil fuels has been shown to increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. Discuss TWO other human activities that increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. - correct answer Deforestation reduces carbon reservoirs. • Raising cows and/or other ruminant animals releases carbon-containing gases (methane) Identify an environmental problem that results from elevated atmospheric carbon concentrations. Discuss one consequence of the problem you identified. - correct answer Global warming-> melting ice caps; habitat destruction (e) Phosphorus is another element important to all organisms. (i) Describe one major way in which the phosphorus cycle differs from the carbon cycle - correct answer Phosphorus cycle has no gaseous phase Identify one reason that phosphorus is necessary for organisms - correct answer needed for dna and rna's sugar-phosphate backbone