The Water Cycle
Only 3% of the Earth's water is fresh, and most of that is in the form of ice! Luckily, the tiny percentage
of water suitable for drinking and keeping plants and animals alive is continuously recycled in a series of
processes known as the water cycle. Through evaporation, water in the sea rises as vapour into the sky.
Condensation then causes droplets to form and these become clouds. Rain (precipitation) falls from the
clouds and onto the ground. Here the water runs downhill until it reaches a river. It then flows along the
river and into the sea, where the whole process starts again.
1. What happens to water vapour when it cools?
A. It evaporates
B. It precipitates
C. It transpires
D. It condenses
It condenses
You can see water condensation after you've had a shower - the water vapour in the air condenses as it cools down,
leaving water droplets on the walls, windows and bathroom mirror .
2. Which of these is condensation in the atmosphere?
A. Tornadoes
B. Clouds
C. Lightning
D. Hurricanes
That's why some clouds bring rain - the water vapour condenses and then falls to earth.
3. Plants draw water out of the ground and release water vapour into the atmosphere. What is this
process known as?
A. Transpiration
B. Evaporation
C. Condensation
D. Precipitation
Transpiration: Plants release water vapour through tiny pores (holes) in their leaves - these pores are called
'stomata'
4. What stage of the water cycle directly follows water's condensation in the atmosphere?
A. Evaporation
B. Transpiration
C. Precipitation
D. None of the above
Precipitation follows condensation - and the whole water cycle begins again!
5. Water on the surface of roads and pavements disappears over time. What has happened to the
water?
A. It has precipitated
B. It has condensed
C. It has evaporated
D. It has stopped existing
Surface water evaporates and returns to the atmosphere as water vapour
6. Some of the water from rain, hail, sleet or snow collects in streams, rivers, lakes and the sea. Where
does most of the rest of the water go?
A. Storage tanks
B. Reservoirs
C. Into the ground
D. In gutters
Groundwater is stored in soil and in underground layers of sand and permeable stone known as aquifers
7. What do we call fresh water falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface?
A. Condensation
B. Precipitation
C. Evaporation
D. Transpiration
Precipitation: Fresh water can fall as rain, hail, sleet or snow
8. What do we call water that is in the form of a gas?
A. Liquid
B. Water vapour
C. Ice
D. None of the above
Another name for water vapour is steam
9. When a kettle is boiling, it produces visible steam. What does this steam contain?
A. Gas and liquid water
B. Water as a solid and a gas
C. Water in its liquid and solid forms
D. Water as gas, liquid and solid
Gas and liquid water
Steam is invisible water vapour (gas). When we see steam from a kettle or shower, the steam also contains tiny
water droplets (liquid), making it visible
10. What do we call water that is in a solid state?
A. Liquid
B. Water vapour
The correct answer is Ice
Water freezes and becomes a solid (ice) at 0o Celsius
C. Ice
D.None of the above