Name: __________________________________ Grade: _______________

1. Some astrobiologist talk about the importance of finding CHONPS on other planets. This is
because…

a. It is important to develop a space-race.

b. It might be evidence of previous seismic activity in an exoplanet.
c. It might be evidence of the presence of life in an exoplanet.
d. It can be used as fuel for the space-ships.

2. A good definition of reservoir could be

a. A place that contains every drop of a particular element.

b. The place that contains a significant amount of a particular substance.
c. The last parade of a cycle.
d. The place where the biogeochemical cycles begin.

3. Carbon is vital for the living things because

a. Is the gas that fills the lungs and give us energy.

b. Because the body of a living thing is made mostly by carbon fiber.
c. Because carbon is a flammable substance that we can use to get energy.
d. Because carbon constitutes the backbone of the molecules that make up the living things.

4. Nitrogen is important for the living things because...

a. We need to study it for its effects on the ozone layer of the planet.
b. Because its a greenhouse gas, and heats up the planet.
c. Because nitrogen makes up most of the aminoacids, the building blocks of proteins.
d. Because nitrogen is the most common fertilizer for crops on the planet.

5. Phosphorus is often referred to as a “limiting nutrient”, this is because

a. Phosphorus is highly volatile, and tends to fugue to the atmosphere very easily.
b. Its a rare nutrient on some soils, and determine the growth rate and limit of some crops.
c. It can be dangerous in high concentrations.
d. It tends to halt the growth of plants in an ecosystem.

6. The water cycle is widely known because of its influence on weather. Nonetheless, it has an special
relationship with the rest of the biogeochemical cycles because

a. Its the driver of the process of weathering, turning the igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks, and
carrying nutrients to following steps on the cycles.
b. Because every nutrient travels through the water.
c. Because nutrients nutrients move thanks to change on the weather.
d. Because water constitutes the universal solvent for most of the nutrients, taking each one of them to
their respective reservoirs.

7. We call the cycles in question “biogeochemical cycles” because

a. They involve every corner on Earth.

b. They are planetary movements of mass.
c. The energy flows, but matter is recycled.
d. They involve living things, geological processes and specific substances.

8. The process within the carbon cycle that “fixes” the atmospheric carbon is called

a. Decomposition
b. Carbonization
c. Photosynthesis
d. Photoassimilation

9. Which of the following can be considered carbon reservoirs

a. Living things.
b. The atmosphere.
c. The fossil fuels.
d. All the previous options.

10. Which of the following can be considered a nitrogen reservoir

a. Living things.
b. The atmosphere.
c. The fossil fuels.
d. All the previous options.

11. In the nitrogen cycle, what is the role of the nitrogen fixing bacteria.

a. Liberate the nitrogen in the form of N2

b. Assimilate the nitrogen, turning it into aminoacids and proteins.
c. Getting nitrogen and other nutrients from the corpses of organisms.
d. Convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen rich compounds that can be used by plants.

12. In the nitrogen cycle, what is the role of the denitrifying bacteria.

a. Liberate the nitrogen in the form of N2

b. Assimilate the nitrogen, turning it into aminoacids and proteins.
c. Getting nitrogen and other nutrients from the corpses of organisms.
d. Convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen rich compounds that can be used by plants.

13. Why is the rock cycle important?

a. Because its associated with other cycles, and explains the formation of soil and rock formations.
b. Because it describes the cycling of matter through the Earth.
c. Because it explains the way in which a Volcano works.
d. Because volcanoes have a relationship with the fertility of the ground.

14. How do the animals get nitrogen?

a. Through the respiratory system, specially the lungs.

b. Only from other animals.
c. From the little particles of dust in the food.
d. From plants.

15. The phosphorus cycle is heavily influenced by other cycle, which of the following?

a. The water cycle.

b. The nitrogen cycle.
c. The rock cycle.
d. The carbon cycle.

16. What is the biggest reservoir of phosphorus on Earth?

a. The soil.
b. Underground waters.
c. The atmosphere.
d. Living things.

17. What is the biggest reservoir of water on the planet?

a. The underground water.

b. Lakes and rivers.
c. The ocean.
d. Glaciers and permafrost.

18. What is the biggest reservoir of freshwater on the planet?

a. The underground water.

b. Lakes and rivers.
c. The ocean.
d. Glaciers and permafrost.

19. What is a biodiversity hotspot and its characteristics?

20. What is a conservation strategy?

21. What is the difference between “species” and “individuals”.

1. Having in mind the biodiversity of the planet, write an essay (half a page at least) speaking about a
particular group within plants or animals (remember the exposition)
2. Choose three systems of the body, and answer the following questions.

1. What characteristic of the living beings can be related to your system?

2. What are the main organs and their functions?
3. What illness can be related to those organs or systems?
4. Remembering the concept of cellular organization, why do we call them "systems"?
5. What happens if your system suddenly stopped to work?
3. Use a scheme to illustrate the biggest generalities about the biogeochemical cycles.
 4. Write a little text (at least, half a page) speaking about an endangered colombian species.

Answer’s sheet

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C
D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D