Water Cycle and Atmospheric Processes

Which of the following best describes the atmosphere?

• The solid parts of Earth, like rocks and soil

• The layer of gases surrounding Earth, where gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen are cycled

• All living things on Earth, including plants and animals

• All of Earth’s water in oceans, rivers, and lakes

What is the process called when the Sun heats up water in oceans, lakes, or rivers and turns it into vapor?

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Evaporation

• Infiltration

Which process involves water vapor turning back into liquid droplets to form clouds?

• Runoff

• Condensation

• Percolation

• Transpiration

What is the combined process of evaporation and transpiration called?

• Infiltration

• Precipitation

• Evapotranspiration

• Runoff

Why are the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles important for living things?

• They help living things get water, nutrients, and gases needed to live, grow, and reproduce

• They only affect the weather

• They only move rocks and soil

• They only help plants grow

A student observes that after heavy rain, water flows over the land into streams and rivers because the ground cannot absorb more water. What is this process called?

• Infiltration

• Runoff

• Percolation

• Condensation

Explain how gravity is involved in the water cycle, specifically in the process of precipitation.

• Gravity causes water vapor to rise into the atmosphere

• Gravity pulls water back to Earth as rain or snow during precipitation

• Gravity helps water turn into vapor

• Gravity causes water to evaporate from oceans

Which process allows water to move deeper into the ground through rock and soil layers to reach underground reservoirs?

• Evaporation

• Percolation

• Transpiration

• Runoff

A plant releases water vapor from small openings in its leaves. What is this process called, and why is it important in the water cycle?

• Transpiration; it helps move water from plants to the atmosphere

• Infiltration; it helps water seep into the soil

• Condensation; it forms clouds

• Runoff; it moves water to rivers

What process do plants use to take carbon dioxide from the air to make food?

• Photosynthesis

• Respiration

• Combustion

• Decomposition