The Water Cycle

During a sunny day at the beach, Mia noticed the water level decreasing. She learned that the sun provides

• energy for water to evaporate from oceans, lakes and rivers.

• water for evaporation to happen. 

• energy to produce electricity. 

• water for condensation to happen. 

Answer explanation

The sun provides energy for water to evaporate from oceans, lakes, and rivers, causing the water level to decrease.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

In observing the natural environment, Evelyn noted that the water cycle has

• a beginning and an end. 

• no beginning an no end. 

• only a beginning. 

• only an end. 

Answer explanation

In observing the natural environment, Evelyn noted that the water cycle has no beginning and no end.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

During a science class experiment, Noah, Ethan, and Kai observed water vapor cooling in a closed container. At which stage do clouds form in this scenario?

• condensation

• evaporation

• precipitation

Answer explanation

Clouds form during the condensation stage when water vapor cools and changes into liquid water droplets in the closed container.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

During a biology class, Elijah observed a plant closely and noticed water vapor around its leaves. What is this process called where plants give off water vapor as a waste product?

• condensation

• evaporation

• sublimation

• transpiration

Answer explanation

Transpiration is the process where plants release water vapor as a waste product through their leaves.

During a school project, Michael, Rohan, and Grace are investigating why the water from their local well is cleaner compared to the nearby river. Why does this groundwater usually require less treatment than surface water?

• The layers of Earth protect groundwater from pollutants.

• As groundwater sinks into the ground, the layers of rock act like a natural filter and remove pollutants from the water.

• Surface water has more exposure to pollutants in runoff and the atmosphere.

• All of the above.

Answer explanation

All of the above choices are correct because groundwater is protected by Earth's layers, filtered by rocks, and less exposed to pollutants compared to surface water.

During a field trip, Aiden, Maya, and Avery observe a model of a river system at a science museum. The model illustrates various stages in the water cycle. During which stage does water flow back towards the sea as runoff?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Answer explanation

During the runoff stage, water flows back towards the sea in the river system model, which is represented by choice Z.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

During a winter school trip, Lily noticed that while they were at higher altitudes, the precipitation was mostly snow, but as they descended to lower altitudes, it turned to rain. Ethan, curious about this change, asked why different forms of precipitation occur. What factor is responsible for these variations?

• Evaporation

• Run-off

• Temperature

• Transpiration

Answer explanation

Temperature is responsible for the variations in precipitation forms, with snow occurring at higher altitudes due to colder temperatures and rain at lower altitudes due to warmer temperatures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

When water on the grass outside Ethan's house _________, dew forms.

• Melts

• Evaporates

• Condenses

• Precipitates

Answer explanation

When water on the grass outside Ethan's house condenses, dew forms. Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air cools and changes into liquid form, leading to the formation of dew on surfaces like grass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

During a hot day at the beach, Olivia noticed that the water level in her bottle was decreasing even though it was sealed. This is an example of ________, where liquid water turns into water vapor due to heat from the sun.

• Condensation

• Transpiration

• Sublimation

• Evaporation

Answer explanation

During a hot day at the beach, Olivia noticed that the water level in her bottle was decreasing even though it was sealed. This is an example of evaporation, where liquid water turns into water vapor due to heat from the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

During a school field trip, Jackson noticed that water was being released from clouds in various forms. He described this phenomenon as _________. It could be in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail.

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Evaporation

• Sublimation

Answer explanation

Jackson described the phenomenon of water being released from clouds in various forms as precipitation, which includes rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5