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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. 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. 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. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 67 · 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. 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. 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. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 67 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

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. 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. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 67 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

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. 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. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 67 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification