Answer:
(a) X: Producers undergo photosynthesis. Y: Decomposers return carbon to the soil and release waste.
Explanation:
<em>(a) X: Producers undergo photosynthesis. Y: Decomposers return carbon to the soil and release waste. </em>
<em>(b) X: Decomposers return carbon to the soil and release waste. Y: Producers undergo photosynthesis. </em>
<em>(c) X: Decomposers take in carbon dioxide. Y: Producers absorb carbon through their roots. </em>
<em>(d)X: Producers absorb carbon through their roots. Y: Decomposers take in carbon dioxide. </em>
<u>Box 2 (X) would be the process through which producers fix carbon dioxide to produce their own food, the carbohydrate. T</u>he process is otherwise known as photosynthesis and can be represented by the following equation:
<u>Box 4 (Y) would be the process of decomposition.</u> Both producers and consumers eventually die and decompose in the soil. During this process, some of the carbon returns to the soil as organic matters while the process of microbial decomposition releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The correct option would be (a).