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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. 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
2. 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
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. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
0 °C · The water cycle & freshwater
8. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
What do we call the releas… · The water cycle & freshwater
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 60 · 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. 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.
2. 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.
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. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
Snow
Snowflakes form by deposition of water vapour onto ice crystals in clouds.
8. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
Transpiration
Plants absorb soil water through roots and release water vapour from leaves via transpiration.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 60 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
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. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
0 °C · The water cycle & freshwater
8. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
What do we call the releas… · The water cycle & freshwater
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 60 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
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. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. What forms when cold air cools water vapour below 0 °C high in clouds so ice crystals grow into six-sided flakes: snow or dew?
Snow
Snowflakes form by deposition of water vapour onto ice crystals in clouds.
8. What do we call the release of water vapour into the air from plant leaves through their stomata: transpiration or condensation?
Transpiration
Plants absorb soil water through roots and release water vapour from leaves via transpiration.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 60 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification