Photosynthesis affects the carbon cycle by

• A. Removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing carbon in biomass.
• B. Releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
• C. Converting carbon into fossil fuels instantaneously
• D. Increasing atmospheric oxygen without affecting carbon

Answer: (C)

Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores carbon in plant biomass. By converting carbon dioxide into sugars, plants lock carbon into leaves, stems, roots, and eventually other organic matter, creating a reservoir of carbon in living tissue and soil. At the same time, oxygen is released as a byproduct. Fossil fuels, however, form from ancient biomass over millions of years, not instantly through photosynthesis, so they don’t describe a single, immediate effect of the process. Photosynthesis doesn’t release CO2 (that happens in respiration or combustion), and it does change carbon levels while increasing atmospheric oxygen.