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The water cycle & freshwater

Trace evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration and infiltration across the water cycle. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
97% · The water cycle & freshwater
2. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
How does paving over grass… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
When ocean water evaporate… · The water cycle & freshwater
4. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
What energy source drives … · The water cycle & freshwater
5. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
What happens to river disc… · The water cycle & freshwater
6. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
When snow and ice on a hig… · The water cycle & freshwater
7. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
What do we call the entire… · The water cycle & freshwater
8. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
9. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
What do we call the proces… · The water cycle & freshwater
10. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
What happens when moist ai… · The water cycle & freshwater
11. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
What role do trees play in… · The water cycle & freshwater
12. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
When spring temperatures w… · The water cycle & freshwater

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
In the oceans and seas
Salty ocean water accounts for roughly 97% of Earth’s total water.
2. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
It increases surface runoff
Impermeable surfaces prevent water from soaking into the ground, increasing rapid runoff.
3. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
Stays behind in the sea
Only pure water molecules evaporate; dissolved salts remain in the ocean, which is why rain is fresh water.
4. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
The Sun
Solar radiation provides the thermal energy for evaporation and transpiration.
5. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
River flow increases
Runoff and throughflow reach the river channel, raising its discharge.
6. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
Sublimation
Sublimation converts solid ice directly into water vapour.
7. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
Watershed (drainage basin)
A watershed or drainage basin collects all runoff feeding a river network.
8. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
Condensation
Cooling causes water vapour to condense into liquid droplets or ice crystals.
9. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
Infiltration (percolation)
Infiltration replenishes soil moisture and underground aquifers.
10. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
It cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side
Orographic (relief) lifting cools rising moist air, causing condensation and rainfall.
11. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
Their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil
Forest cover slows runoff and reduces soil erosion and flooding.
12. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
Snowmelt runoff
Seasonal snowmelt feeds rivers and reservoirs in spring.

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
97% · The water cycle & freshwater
2. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
How does paving over grass… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
When ocean water evaporate… · The water cycle & freshwater
4. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
What energy source drives … · The water cycle & freshwater
5. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
What happens to river disc… · The water cycle & freshwater
6. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
When snow and ice on a hig… · The water cycle & freshwater
7. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
What do we call the entire… · The water cycle & freshwater
8. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
9. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
What do we call the proces… · The water cycle & freshwater
10. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
What happens when moist ai… · The water cycle & freshwater
11. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
What role do trees play in… · The water cycle & freshwater
12. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
When spring temperatures w… · The water cycle & freshwater

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Where is the largest reservoir of water on Earth (about 97% of all Earth’s water) stored: in the oceans and seas, or in rivers?
In the oceans and seas
Salty ocean water accounts for roughly 97% of Earth’s total water.
2. How does paving over grassy soil with impermeable concrete affect rainwater during a storm: it increases surface runoff, or it increases infiltration?
It increases surface runoff
Impermeable surfaces prevent water from soaking into the ground, increasing rapid runoff.
3. When ocean water evaporates into the air, does the dissolved salt evaporate with the water vapour or stay behind in the sea?
Stays behind in the sea
Only pure water molecules evaporate; dissolved salts remain in the ocean, which is why rain is fresh water.
4. What energy source drives the global water cycle by warming ocean and land surfaces: the Sun or the Moon?
The Sun
Solar radiation provides the thermal energy for evaporation and transpiration.
5. What happens to river discharge shortly after heavy rainfall in its drainage basin: river flow increases, or river flow stops?
River flow increases
Runoff and throughflow reach the river channel, raising its discharge.
6. When snow and ice on a high mountain turn directly into water vapour in dry sunlight without melting first, that process is: sublimation or runoff?
Sublimation
Sublimation converts solid ice directly into water vapour.
7. What do we call the entire land area that drains rainfall and snowmelt into a single river system: a watershed (drainage basin) or an atoll?
Watershed (drainage basin)
A watershed or drainage basin collects all runoff feeding a river network.
8. What stage of the water cycle occurs when rising water vapour cools high in the atmosphere and forms tiny cloud droplets: condensation or infiltration?
Condensation
Cooling causes water vapour to condense into liquid droplets or ice crystals.
9. What do we call the process by which rainwater soaks downward into soil and porous rock layers: infiltration (percolation) or evaporation?
Infiltration (percolation)
Infiltration replenishes soil moisture and underground aquifers.
10. What happens when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range: it cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side, or it warms and dries?
It cools, condenses and drops rain on the windward side
Orographic (relief) lifting cools rising moist air, causing condensation and rainfall.
11. What role do trees play in a watershed during heavy rain: their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil, or they block all evaporation?
Their canopy intercepts rain and roots help water infiltrate soil
Forest cover slows runoff and reduces soil erosion and flooding.
12. When spring temperatures warm mountain snowpacks, the resulting liquid water flowing into streams is called: snowmelt runoff or condensation?
Snowmelt runoff
Seasonal snowmelt feeds rivers and reservoirs in spring.

12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification