wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Water Cycle

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 1hrs 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is it called when plants give off water vapor as a waste product?
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
sublimation
d)
transpiration
2.
What is water doing when it is changed to water vapor?
a)
evaporating
b)
condensing
c)
precipitating
d)
runoff
3.
What is water vapor doing when it changes to water?
a)
evaporating
b)
condensing
c)
precipitating
d)
runoff
4.

What is the process of water droplets or ice crystals falling from the sky?

a)

evaporation

b)

condensation

c)

precipitation

d)

runoff

5.
What is water that flows in rivers and streams into the oceans and lakes?
a)
evaporating
b)
condensing
c)
precipitating
d)
runoff
6.
Where does condensation occur in the water cycle?
a)
clouds forming
b)
ocean water changing to water vapor
c)
water flowing down a river
d)
underground water soaking into soil
7.
How can water vapor in the air return to Earth?
a)
evaporates and blown by the wind
b)
evaporates and forms clouds
c)
condenses then precipitates
d)
sticks to any warm surface 
8.
On which kind of day would you expect the most evaporation from the surface of a pond?
a)
cold, rainy
b)
cold, sunny
c)
warm, rainy
d)
warm, sunny
9.
The oceans absorb much of the sunlight reaching Earth.  When water in the oceans absorb sunlight and heat up, what process can happen to the water?
a)
accumulation
b)
condensation
c)
evaporation
d)
precipitation
10.
Which of the following causes all of the water on the planet to change its state (solid, liquid, gas) and move through the water cycle?
a)
amount of plant matter
b)
location of ice caps
c)
size of ocean
d)
temperature
11.

In which area would the rate of evaporation be the lowest?

a)

Over the ocean

b)

Over the mountains

c)

Over the rainforest

d)

Over the desert

12.

What would happen if the Sun is removed from the water cycle?

a)

The water cycle would not include precipitation but would continue with groundwater flow.

b)

The water cycle would no longer occur because the Sun provides the energy for evaporation and transpiration.

c)

The water cycle would no longer occur because the Sun provides energy for the formation of clouds.

d)

The water cycle would not include evaporation and transpiration but would continue with condensation.

13.

The image shows various stages in the water cycle. During which stage does water flow back towards the sea as runoff?

a)

W

b)

X

c)

Y

d)

Z

14.

Water forms on the outside of iced tea on a hot day. What process causes the water to form?

a)

Condensation

b)

Evaporation

c)

Precipitation

d)

Transpiration

15.
Condensation is when...
a)
A liquid turns to gas.
b)
A gas turns to liquid.
c)
A liquid turns to ice.
d)
All of the answers.
16.
Evaporation is...
a)
When water changes from a solid to a liquid.
b)
When water changes from a gas to a liquid.
c)
When water changes from a liquid to a gas.
d)
None of the answers.
17.
What is the water cycle?
a)
the 3 forms of water
b)
the movement of water on, above, or below the surface of the Earth
c)
when water melts
d)
when clouds form
18.

Is the temperature increasing or decreasing when liquid water changed to gas?

a)

temperature stayed the same

b)

temperature increased

c)

temperature decreased

19.

Is the temperature increasing or decreasing when gas (or water vapor) changes to liquid water?

a)

temperature stayed the same

b)

temperature increased

c)

temperature decreased

20.
After precipitation occurs, what can the water do?
a)
It will infiltrate the ground or runoff.
b)
It will freeze and melt.
c)
It will evaporate
d)
Nothing will happen to it.