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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. 1. 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
  2. 2. 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
  3. 3. What stage of the water cycle occurs when liquid water at the ocean surface warms and turns into water vapour: evaporation or precipitation?

    What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
  4. 4. 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
  5. 5. Is water in an open shallow pan on a sunny, breezy afternoon likely to evaporate faster or slower than water in a narrow bottle in the shade?

    Is water in an open shallo… · The water cycle & freshwater
  6. 6. What stage of the water cycle occurs when cloud droplets grow heavy enough to fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail: precipitation or evaporation?

    What stage of the water cy… · The water cycle & freshwater
  7. 7. What do we call an underground layer of permeable rock, sand or gravel that holds groundwater: an aquifer or a canopy?

    What do we call an undergr… · The water cycle & freshwater
  8. 8. 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
  9. 9. What do we call the upper level of underground rock or soil that is completely saturated with groundwater: the water table or the treeline?

    What do we call the upper … · The water cycle & freshwater
  10. 10. Does the water cycle create brand-new water or continuously recycle the same water molecules through different states?

    Does the water cycle creat… · The water cycle & freshwater
  11. 11. 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
  12. 12. 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
12 questions · Seed 50 · 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. 1. 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.

  2. 2. 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.

  3. 3. What stage of the water cycle occurs when liquid water at the ocean surface warms and turns into water vapour: evaporation or precipitation?

    Evaporation

    Evaporation changes liquid surface water into atmospheric water vapour.

  4. 4. 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.

  5. 5. Is water in an open shallow pan on a sunny, breezy afternoon likely to evaporate faster or slower than water in a narrow bottle in the shade?

    Faster

    Greater surface area, higher temperature and air movement all increase evaporation rate.

  6. 6. What stage of the water cycle occurs when cloud droplets grow heavy enough to fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail: precipitation or evaporation?

    Precipitation

    Precipitation returns water from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface.

  7. 7. What do we call an underground layer of permeable rock, sand or gravel that holds groundwater: an aquifer or a canopy?

    Aquifer

    Aquifers store groundwater that supplies wells and springs.

  8. 8. 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.

  9. 9. What do we call the upper level of underground rock or soil that is completely saturated with groundwater: the water table or the treeline?

    Water table

    The water table marks the top of the groundwater saturation zone.

  10. 10. Does the water cycle create brand-new water or continuously recycle the same water molecules through different states?

    Continuously recycles the same water molecules

    The hydrologic cycle is a closed system that circulates water between reservoirs.

  11. 11. 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.

  12. 12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 50 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification