How many questions are in this quiz?

This quiz has 118 questions on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in ecosystems.

No. Every question is untimed, so you can work through each process step-by-step.

How many answer choices does each question have?

Each question includes 4 options, with one best answer.

Can I choose the difficulty or question count?

Yes. You can select how many questions to play and adjust difficulty; Mixed blends easy, medium, and harder items.

What topics are covered beyond basic definitions?

Expect reservoirs vs. fluxes, key transformations (like fixation and denitrification), limiting nutrients, and human impacts such as eutrophication and emissions.

Nutrient Cycles: C, N & P Quiz

About this quiz

What you’ll practice

Move beyond memorizing definitions by linking processes to places: where nutrients are stored, how they transfer, and what limits productivity in different ecosystems.

You’ll also compare cycles side by side—spotting what makes the nitrogen cycle biologically driven, the phosphorus cycle sedimentary, and the carbon cycle tightly tied to climate.

Quiz format and difficulty

Each question has 4 options and there’s no timer, so you can reason through steps like fixation → nitrification → denitrification without rushing.

Set your question count before starting, and pick an easier or harder run depending on whether you want a quick review or a deeper challenge; the mixed setting blends straightforward recall with application questions.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Mixing up nitrogen processes (e.g., nitrification vs. denitrification) and the organisms involved
Forgetting that phosphorus has no major atmospheric phase in the classic cycle
Confusing reservoirs (stocks) with fluxes (rates of movement)
Overlooking limiting nutrients and how they differ between freshwater and marine systems
Missing human impacts like fertilizer runoff, fossil fuel combustion, and eutrophication

How scoring stays fair

Questions are balanced to include core concepts (terms and pathways) alongside scenario-style items (ecosystem changes, nutrient limitation, and pollution effects). The variety keeps the quiz approachable while still rewarding careful thinking and cycle-to-cycle comparisons.