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Grade 10 · unit review

Review: Carbon, Climate and Ecosystems

Connect carbon stores, energy balance and conditional impact evidence.

Download reviews and answer keys

Bring the unit skills together

Use these 4 new cases to check your reasoning. Choices are temporary and are not saved to an account, sent to staff or recorded as school grades. Download your current review choices before leaving or reloading.

Unit review questions
1. Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Algae take up carbon during photosynthesis.
Need a hint?
  • Look for the described feature: carbon dioxide enters biological sugar production.
  • Compare the given mechanism with the other labels; do not infer unmentioned events.
2. Supplied case 5: initial carbon stock (model units)=120; annual inflow (same units)=25; annual outflow (same units)=20, using the explicitly named quantities. Final carbon stock equals starting stock plus inflow minus outflow. What result follows?
Need a hint?
  • Final carbon stock equals starting stock plus inflow minus outflow.
  • Do not confuse stock with yearly flow.
3. Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Thermal radiation leaves Earth’s surface.
Need a hint?
  • Look for the described feature: Earth emits thermal radiation.
  • Compare the given mechanism with the other labels; do not infer unmentioned events.
4. Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Single storm observed.
Need a hint?
  • Look for the described feature: one specified occurrence.
  • Compare the given mechanism with the other labels; do not infer unmentioned events.

The download contains your current choices and any checked feedback. Keep the separate transfer-task work in your own document; downloading its instructions does not mark it complete.

Use the skills in a new task

Create a four-panel explanation for “Carbon, Climate and Ecosystems” using one supplied case from each lesson. Include the observation, scientific mechanism or calculation, result and a limitation. You may draw and speak your explanation; all inputs are supplied.

Work on paper or in your own document. Explain the choices you made.

  • Use one supplied case from each of the four lessons.
  • Name the relevant structure, quantity or process in every panel.
  • Show calculations with units or a causal evidence chain.
  • Distinguish source facts from fictional classroom data.
  • State a model limit or a condition that would change the result.
Compare with a model response

Panel 1: A leaf takes carbon from CO₂ and incorporates it into organic molecules. What is conserved? Which inference or prediction is best supported? Result: Carbon atoms persist while their molecular connections change.. Reasoning: Photosynthesis transfers/rearranges matter using energy; light is not the carbon source. Model limitation: only the stated classroom boundary and supplied observations are established; unmeasured real-world performance remains unverified. Panel 2: Supplied case 1: initial carbon stock (model units)=100; annual inflow (same units)=15; annual outflow (same units)=10, using the explicitly named quantities. Final carbon stock equals starting stock plus inflow minus outflow. What result follows? Result: 105 model carbon units. Reasoning: Substitute the supplied values: (100)+(15)-(10) = 105 model carbon units. Use the same interval for flows. Real accounting may include unmeasured pathways. Model limitation: only the stated classroom boundary and supplied observations are established; unmeasured real-world performance remains unverified. Panel 3: A model keeps incoming solar energy fixed while an infrared-absorbing gas increases. Which pathway is directly affected? Which inference or prediction is best supported? Result: Outgoing thermal-radiation interactions can change.. Reasoning: Greenhouse interactions alter the outgoing pathway; full response depends on balance and feedbacks. Model limitation: only the stated classroom boundary and supplied observations are established; unmeasured real-world performance remains unverified. Panel 4: Matched long-term records warm while damage also rises after exposure doubles. What claim needs care? Which inference or prediction is best supported? Result: Damage change cannot be assigned wholly to climate without separating exposure/vulnerability.. Reasoning: Impacts combine hazard, exposed assets and susceptibility; attribution needs those boundaries. Model limitation: only the stated classroom boundary and supplied observations are established; unmeasured real-world performance remains unverified.

A different response can also meet the criteria. Compare the evidence and reasoning, rather than copying the wording.