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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 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
2. 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
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 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
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. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 68 · 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 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.
2. 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.
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 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
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. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 68 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9

The water cycle & freshwater

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. 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
2. 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
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 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
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. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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

12 questions · Seed 68 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9

The water cycle & freshwater

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. 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.
2. 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.
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 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
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. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.

12 questions · Seed 68 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification