Final answer:
Fossilization is part of the carbon cycle that results in carbon being stored away from the immediate reach of the cycle for millions of years within the Earth in the form of fossil fuels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of fossilization is related to the carbon cycle because it involves the long-term storage of carbon within the earth. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are formed from the anaerobic decomposition of dead plant and animal matter over millions of years. When these fossil fuels are left in the ground, carbon is effectively removed from the cycle for extended periods, often millions of years. However, when humans extract and burn these fuels, the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question: 'How is the process of fossilization related to the carbon cycle?' is Option D, which states that fossilization removes carbon from the cycle for thousands of years. It is the process by which carbon is stored in a non-bioavailable form in the Earth's sediments, thereby making it temporarily inaccessible in the carbon cycle.