Carbon cycle: past paper questions
Real questions on carbon cycle
The newest 5 of 5 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0653/32 · February/March 2024 · Q7a(iii)[1]
The combustion of fossil fuels has an effect on the carbon cycle. Tick (3) one box that describes an undesirable effect of combustion. less carbon is available for animals the rate of food production in plants decreases the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere increases more carbon is available for plants
See it on the paper → - 0653/11 · October/November 2022 · Q13[1]
Which gas increases in the atmosphere as a result of deforestation?
See it on the paper → - 0653/33 · October/November 2021 · Q7a(iv)[1]
Decomposition of the lion’s body returns carbon to the atmosphere as part of the carbon cycle. State the part of the carbon cycle that removes carbon from the atmosphere.
See it on the paper → - 0653/42 · February/March 2021 · Q4b[3]
Fig. 4.2 shows the percentage of gases in the atmosphere inside the forest. carbon dioxide 0.04% other gases oxygen 21% nitrogen 78% Fig. 4.2 Explain how cutting down and burning the forest would affect the concentration of carbon dioxide in Fig. 4.2.
See it on the paper → - 0653/11 · May/June 2020 · Q10[1]
Which statement about the carbon cycle is correct?
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates answered this correctly. Where candidates chose an incorrect option, they most often selected methane or nitrogen as the gas that increased as a result of deforestation.
— Examiner report, October/November 2022, 0653/11 Q13 (Cambridge)
Many candidates identified photosynthesis as the part of the carbon cycle that removes carbon from the atmosphere. A common incorrect response was respiration. Although acid rain does involve taking carbon from the atmosphere, precipitation is part of the water cycle and not the carbon cycle and so was not given credit.
— Examiner report, October/November 2021, 0653/33 Q7(a)(iv) (Cambridge)
Candidates needed to explain both of the processes leading to increased carbon dioxide. A common omission was the release of carbon dioxide during combustion. Some candidates did not make it clear enough that removal of trees would decrease the removal of carbon dioxide. A typical answer illustrating this was “because there are no trees there won’t be any photosynthesis”. A small number of candida...
— Examiner report, February/March 2021, 0653/42 Q4(b) (Cambridge)
Past papers, syllabus and examiner reports © UCLES (Cambridge University Press & Assessment). Questions are matched to topics from the official syllabus. AssessPro is independent and not endorsed by Cambridge.