The regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist.

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Multiple Choice

The regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist.

The concept here is the biosphere—the global system that includes all living organisms and the environments that support them. The biosphere spans life found on land, in water, and in the air, from bacteria in soil and oceans to plants, animals, and organisms in the atmosphere. The other terms describe physical layers: the hydrosphere is all water, the lithosphere is the rocky outer shell, and the atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding the planet. While life touches all those layers, the question points to the realm where living organisms exist as a connected system, which is the biosphere.

The concept here is the biosphere—the global system that includes all living organisms and the environments that support them. The biosphere spans life found on land, in water, and in the air, from bacteria in soil and oceans to plants, animals, and organisms in the atmosphere. The other terms describe physical layers: the hydrosphere is all water, the lithosphere is the rocky outer shell, and the atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding the planet. While life touches all those layers, the question points to the realm where living organisms exist as a connected system, which is the biosphere.

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