Most of the sunlight that reaches Earth __________.

• A. is used by plants for photosynthesis
• B. is continually recycled by ecosystems
• C. is trapped by greenhouse gases
• D. is used by algae for photosynthesis
• E. is not captured for use by living things

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that sunlight is the primary source of energy for Earth's ecosystems, but not all of it is utilized by living organisms.
2. Recognize that photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight into chemical energy. However, only a small fraction of sunlight is captured for this purpose.
3. Consider the role of greenhouse gases, which trap some of the sun's energy in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect, but this is not a direct use by living organisms.
4. Acknowledge that ecosystems recycle energy and nutrients, but this process does not involve capturing new sunlight; it involves the transfer of energy already captured.
5. Conclude that the majority of sunlight that reaches Earth is not captured for use by living things, as most of it is either reflected back into space or absorbed by non-living components of the Earth.