Question detail
How did the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere change over geological time?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
Question
- A. It increased due to volcanic activity.
- B. It decreased due to photosynthesis.
- C. It remained constant.
- D. It fluctuated with temperature changes.
Answer
The correct option is It decreased due to photosynthesis.. This answer is correct because it matches the approved learning objective to link carbon dioxide removal to changes in the carbon cycle in the subtopic How carbon dioxide decreased.
Explanation
The correct option is It decreased due to photosynthesis.. It decreased due to photosynthesis. is correct because it directly supports the approved learning objective to link carbon dioxide removal to changes in the carbon cycle. This belongs to the subtopic How carbon dioxide decreased within The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, so the explanation must stay tied to that curriculum context. The other options are incorrect because they either do not answer this learning objective, use a vague statement, or move away from How carbon dioxide decreased.
Common mistake
Linking Carbon Dioxide Removal
Students often confuse the processes of carbon dioxide removal with unrelated environmental changes, failing to connect them to the carbon cycle.
Do not treat this as a general statement about carbon cycle. Instead, answer by clearly linking the correction to link carbon dioxide removal to changes in the carbon cycle in How carbon dioxide decreased. This keeps the response inside The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere and prevents a vague or off-topic GCSE answer. The mistake to avoid is: students often confuse the processes of carbon dioxide removal with unrelated environmental changes, failing to connect them to the carbon cycle.
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