Question: Many bacteria are decomposer organisms. Which of the following statements best describes how these bacteria help make soil more fertile?
Answer: The bacteria break down plant and animal matter.
Hypothesis: bacteria causes soil to become more fertile by breaking down dead plants and animals
Supporting facts: sent1: decomposition is a stage in the nutrient recycling process sent2: fertile soil is better for the growth of plants than non-fertile soil sent3: green plants are a kind of producer sent4: an organism is made of organic matter sent5: an animal is a kind of organism sent6: returning something is a kind of method for transporting something sent7: organic matter is a source of nutrients in soil sent8: if some nutrients are in the soil then those nutrients are in the food chain sent9: decomposition is when a decomposer breaks down dead organisms sent10: as the amount of organic matter in soil increases , the soil will be better for the growth of plants sent11: to decompose means to separate sent12: algae is a kind of plant sent13: plant uptake is when plants absorb nutrients / water from soil into themselves through their roots sent14: decomposing is similar to separating sent15: nutrients / nitrogen is a part of dead organisms sent16: when something is transported to a place the amount of that something in that place increases sent17: green plants provide food for themselves / animals / consumers by performing photosynthesis sent18: to digest means to break down food sent19: decomposition is when a decomposer recycles / returns nutrients / nitrogen from dead organisms to the soil by eating those dead organisms sent20: a bacterium is a kind of decomposer sent21: a plant is a kind of organism sent22: decomposer is a kind of role in the food chain process / in an ecosystem sent23: renewing soil increases the nutrients in soil sent24: when something is broken down is is turned into the things it is made of sent25: helping means something can be done / completed more easily / better
Reasoning: [BECAUSE] as the amount of organic matter in soil increases , the soil will be better for the growth of plants [AND] fertile soil is better for the growth of plants than non-fertile soil [INFER] int1: as the amount of organic matter in soil increases, the soil will become more fertile [BECAUSE] a bacterium is a kind of decomposer [AND] decomposition is when a decomposer breaks down dead organisms [INFER] int2: bacteria break down dead organisms [BECAUSE] nutrients / nitrogen is a part of dead organisms [AND] decomposition is when a decomposer recycles / returns nutrients / nitrogen from dead organisms to the soil by eating those dead organisms [INFER] int3: a decomposer returns parts of dead organisms to the soil [BECAUSE] int2 [AND] int3 [INFER] int4: bacteria break down dead organisms and returns parts of dead organisms to the soil [BECAUSE] int4 [AND] when something is broken down is is turned into the things it is made of [INFER] int5: bacteria breaking down dead organisms turns those dead organisms into the things they are made of and returns it to the soil [BECAUSE] int5 [AND] an organism is made of organic matter [INFER] int6: bacteria breaking down dead organisms turns those dead organisms into organic matter and returns it to the soil [BECAUSE] when something is transported to a place the amount of that something in that place increases [AND] returning something is a kind of method for transporting something [INFER] int7: when something is returned to a place the amount of that something in that place increases [BECAUSE] int6 [AND] int7 [INFER] int8: bacteria increases the amount of organic matter in the soil by breaking down dead organisms [BECAUSE] int1 [AND] int8 [INFER] int9: bacteria causes soil to more become fertile by breaking down dead organisms [BECAUSE] a plant is a kind of organism [AND] an animal is a kind of organism [INFER] int10: plants and animals are kinds of organisms [BECAUSE] int10 [AND] int9 [INFER] int11: bacteria causes soil to become more fertile by breaking down dead plants and animals