Visual explanation of how photosynthesis and cellular respiration work together in plants.

Let’s go step by step to fill in the blanks correctly.

We’re talking about how plants make food (photosynthesis) and then use that food for energy (cellular respiration). These two processes are connected — one makes what the other needs.

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First blank:
> “before it can perform cellular respiration, it must make food through ________________.”

Plants make their own food using sunlight — that’s called photosynthesis. So first blank = photosynthesis

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Second blank:
> “Photosynthesis transforms light energy into ________________ energy.”

Light energy from the sun is turned into chemical energy stored in sugar. So second blank = chemical

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Third, fourth, fifth blanks:
> “To do this, it needs ________________ from the air, ________________ from the soil, and ________________.”

For photosynthesis, plants need:
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air → third blank = carbon dioxide
- Water (H₂O) from the soil → fourth blank = water
- And they also need sunlight (but that’s already mentioned as “energy from sunlight” in the diagram) — but the sentence says “and ________________” after listing air and soil inputs. The third thing needed is actually sunlight, but since it was already mentioned earlier, maybe they mean chlorophyll? Wait — no, standard answer here is usually just those three: CO₂, water, and sunlight. But let’s check the flow.

Actually, looking at typical textbook phrasing:
“needs carbon dioxide from the air, water from the soil, and sunlight.”
But sunlight was already mentioned before (“transforms light energy...”). Hmm.

Wait — re-read:
“To do this, it needs ________________ from the air, ________________ from the soil, and ________________.”

The “and ________________” likely refers to something else — perhaps chlorophyll? No, that’s inside the leaf. Or maybe it’s just completing the trio: CO₂, H₂O, and sunlight — even though sunlight was mentioned earlier. In many worksheets, they still list all three here.

But let’s think logically: Photosynthesis equation is:

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

So inputs: carbon dioxide (air), water (soil), and light (sun).

Since “light energy” was already mentioned in the previous sentence, maybe the last blank is meant to be sunlight again? Or perhaps it’s a trick?

Wait — look at the next part:

> “The chemical energy is stored in the food it produces - ________________.”

That’s glucose or sugar. So sixth blank = glucose (or sugar)

Then:

> “With the ________________ formed from photosynthesis, it can then break that molecule down...”

Again, referring to glucose/sugar. Seventh blank = glucose (or sugar)

Then:

> “The ________________ (food) and ________________ from the air, combine in aerobic cellular respiration.”

In cellular respiration, glucose reacts with oxygen. Oxygen comes from the air. So eighth blank = glucose, ninth blank = oxygen

Then:

> “This process releases gaseous ________________, liquid ________________ and energy in the form of ________________.”

Products of cellular respiration: CO₂ (gas), H₂O (liquid), and ATP (energy).

So tenth blank = carbon dioxide, eleventh blank = water, twelfth blank = ATP

Now back to the third set of blanks — we had:

“needs ________________ from the air, ________________ from the soil, and ________________.”

If we say:
- from air: carbon dioxide
- from soil: water
- and ???

What’s missing? Sunlight? But it was already mentioned. Maybe they expect “sunlight” here too? Or perhaps “chlorophyll”? But chlorophyll isn’t taken from outside — it’s made by the plant.

Actually, in many elementary/middle school texts, they say:

“Plants need carbon dioxide from the air, water from the soil, and sunlight to make food.”

Even if sunlight was mentioned earlier, they might repeat it here for completeness.

Alternatively, sometimes they say “and minerals” — but minerals aren’t directly used in photosynthesis; they’re for growth.

Best fit: sunlight

But let’s double-check with logic.

Another possibility: the third item could be “chloroplasts” — but that’s not an input, it’s where it happens.

No — safest answers based on standard curriculum:

Third blank: carbon dioxide
Fourth blank: water
Fifth blank: sunlight

Yes.

Also, note: the diagram shows “Energy from Sunlight” pointing to the leaf, so it’s emphasized.

So let’s compile all answers:

1. photosynthesis
2. chemical
3. carbon dioxide
4. water
5. sunlight
6. glucose (or sugar)
7. glucose (or sugar)
8. glucose
9. oxygen
10. carbon dioxide
11. water
12. ATP

Some teachers accept “sugar” instead of “glucose”, but “glucose” is more precise.

Also, for #12, “ATP” is correct — that’s the energy currency of cells. Sometimes they say “usable energy” but ATP is best.

Let me verify each line:

Original text with blanks filled:

Cellular respiration and photosynthesis are interdependent. In a plant, before it can perform cellular respiration, it must make food through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis transforms light energy into chemical energy. To do this, it needs carbon dioxide from the air, water from the soil, and sunlight. The chemical energy is stored in the food it produces - glucose. With the glucose formed from photosynthesis, it can then break that molecule down through the process of cellular respiration. The glucose (food) and oxygen from the air, combine in aerobic cellular respiration. This process releases gaseous carbon dioxide, liquid water and energy in the form of ATP.

Perfect — matches biology facts.

Final Answer:
photosynthesis, chemical, carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, glucose, glucose, glucose, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, ATP