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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 7-9

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
Where is most of Earth’s f… · The water cycle & freshwater
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
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. 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. 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. 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

12 questions · Seed 63 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
In glaciers and polar ice caps
Around two-thirds of Earth’s fresh water is frozen in ice sheets and glaciers.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.

12 questions · Seed 63 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
Where is most of Earth’s f… · The water cycle & freshwater
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
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. 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. 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. 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

12 questions · Seed 63 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water locked up: in glaciers and polar ice caps, or in clouds?
In glaciers and polar ice caps
Around two-thirds of Earth’s fresh water is frozen in ice sheets and glaciers.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.

12 questions · Seed 63 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification