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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 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
2. What combined term describes the total water vapour transferred to the atmosphere from both soil evaporation and plant transpiration: evapotranspiration or precipitation?
What combined term describ… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. What is the dry region on the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range called: a rain shadow or a delta?
What is the dry region on … · The water cycle & freshwater
7. 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
8. 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
9. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
What do we call water that… · The water cycle & freshwater
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 61 · 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 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.
2. What combined term describes the total water vapour transferred to the atmosphere from both soil evaporation and plant transpiration: evapotranspiration or precipitation?
Evapotranspiration
Evapotranspiration combines surface evaporation and plant transpiration.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. What is the dry region on the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range called: a rain shadow or a delta?
Rain shadow
Air descending the leeward slope warms and dries, creating a rain shadow.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
Surface runoff
Water that does not soak into the soil flows downhill as surface runoff.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 61 · 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 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
2. What combined term describes the total water vapour transferred to the atmosphere from both soil evaporation and plant transpiration: evapotranspiration or precipitation?
What combined term describ… · The water cycle & freshwater
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. What is the dry region on the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range called: a rain shadow or a delta?
What is the dry region on … · The water cycle & freshwater
7. 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
8. 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
9. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
What do we call water that… · The water cycle & freshwater
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 61 · 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 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.
2. What combined term describes the total water vapour transferred to the atmosphere from both soil evaporation and plant transpiration: evapotranspiration or precipitation?
Evapotranspiration
Evapotranspiration combines surface evaporation and plant transpiration.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. What is the dry region on the leeward (downwind) side of a mountain range called: a rain shadow or a delta?
Rain shadow
Air descending the leeward slope warms and dries, creating a rain shadow.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. What do we call water that flows over the land surface into streams, rivers and the sea after rainfall: surface runoff or sublimation?
Surface runoff
Water that does not soak into the soil flows downhill as surface runoff.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 61 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification