wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Hydrological Cycle (IB ESS Topic 4.1)

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 24mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the land into streams, rivers, and lakes is called...
a)
accumulation
b)
runoff
c)
ground water
d)
surface water
2.
The process by which plants release water through the pores in their leaves is called...
a)
accumulation
b)
dormancy 
c)
photosynthesis 
d)
transpiration
3.
Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail is called...
a)
surface water
b)
precipitation 
c)
ground water
d)
runoff
4.
All of the water we see in lakes, rivers, and oceans is called...
a)
runoff
b)
surface water
c)
ground water
5.
Soil and rock act as giant sponges because they are full of tiny pores and cracks that hold underground water.  These small pores allow the water to infiltrate and collect underground.   Rain and snowmelt that infiltrates the ground is called
a)
backflow
b)
groundwater
c)
spongate
d)
infiltrate
6.
3.5% of all the Earth’s water is contained within the oceans as salt water, while the remaining 96.5% is freshwater.
a)
True
b)
False
7.
Which sector requires a higher water consumption?
a)
Domestic use
b)
Agriculture
c)
Industries
8.

The continuous circulation of water through the atmosphere, the land and the ocean is called

a)

hydrologic cycle

b)

carbon cycle

c)

accumulation

d)

percolation

9.

Eutrophication is caused by

a)

excess nutrients building up in the water.

b)

industrial point-source pollution.

c)

unlined landfills and septic tanks.

d)

wastewater from homes mixing with drinking water.

10.

How does eutrophication cause the death of aquatic organisms

a)

the build up of carbon dioxide in the water

b)

the lack of nitrogen in the water

c)

the lack of carbon dioxide in the water

d)

the lack of oxygen in the water

11.

The two critical nutrients in eutrophication are... (select two)

a)

nitrates

b)

phosphates

c)

carbon dioxide

d)

dissolved oxygen

12.
Which of the following are environmental impacts of extensive aquaculture?
a)
spread of disease
b)
pollution
c)
introduced species
d)
all of the above
13.

What is the hydrological cycle?

a)

the transformation of water from liquid to solid, solid to liquid, gas to liquid and liquid to gas

b)

the movement of water between atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and pedosphere

c)

the movement of water through the soil as infiltration, into surface water as run-off and into the atmosphere as it evaporates and back as precipitation after condensing

d)

precipitation, run-off, evapotranspiration and oceans

14.

Where is most water found on the Earth?

a)

In Glaciers

b)

In Lakes

c)

In Rivers

d)

In the Ocean

15.

What is an underground store of water in permeable rock?

a)

sewage system

b)

aquifer

c)

precipitation

d)

irrigation

16.

Where is most of the freshwater found on Earth?

a)

lakes / rivers

b)

ice caps / glaciers

c)

oceans / seas

d)

rivers / streams

17.

Approximately what percentage of the water on Earth is freshwater?

a)

0.1%

b)

2.6%

c)

50%

d)

97%

18.

What is infiltration?

a)

How you get into clubs with fake ID

b)

Groundwater flow through permeable rocks into bodies of water

c)

The movement of water into the vegetation and into cells of living organisms

d)

water soaking into or being absorbed by the soil

19.

The warmer water currents are surface currents, this is because...

a)

The warmer water holds less carbon dioxide

b)

The warmer water is less dense

c)

The warmer water holds more carbon dioxide

d)

The warmer water is more dense

20.

The diagram shows currents distributing the temperature around the Earth but what is it called?

a)

The Great Ocean Roadway

b)

The thermocurrents redistribution

c)

The Great ocean conveyor belt

d)

The big temperature exchange

21.

Humans can affect the hydrological cycle by speeding up the flow of water, which of these activities has this effect?{Choose all that apply!}

a)

Building cities

b)

Straightening rivers into canals or pipes

c)

Making reservoirs by building dams

d)

Using water for irrigation

e)

Deforesting areas

22.

Increased flash flooding occurs because less water can infiltrate the soil after precipitation, which of these human activities makes this problem worse? {Choose all that apply!}

a)

Overgrazing and trampling soils

b)

Deforestation

c)

Burning fossil fuels

d)

Building roads and buildings of concrete

e)

Releasing pollutants into rivers

23.

What is advection?

a)

when water soaks into soils

b)

when water soaks through soil or rock into aquifers

c)

wind-blown movement of water in the atmosphere

d)

water which flows over the Earth's surface

24.

What is percolation?

a)

when water soaks into soils

b)

when water soaks through soil or rock into aquifers

c)

wind-blown movement of water in the atmosphere

d)

water which flows over the Earth's surface

25.

Which of these is an example of precipitation?

a)

snow

b)

run-off

c)

clouds

d)

vapor

26.
Which best explains why runoff is important?
a)
It returns water to other locations on Earth
b)
It increases the chance of flooding
c)
It makes evaporation occur faster
d)
It increases condensation
27.
What is the energy source for the water cycle?
a)
the sun
b)
the earth
c)
water
d)
the moon
28.
Which stage does the #2 show in the diagram?
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
precipitation
d)
run off
29.

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)

changes in coverage and type of plants

b)

geographic location of ice caps and ocean currents

c)

directional spinning of the Earth and wind currents

d)

changes in the amount of heat from the sun and gravity

30.
What percentage of the Earth’s fresh water is available for drinking?
a)
10%
b)
<1%
c)
3%
d)
15%
31.

All rivers flow to oceans or lakes because water

a)

can evaporate

b)

is pulled by gravity

c)

is clear

d)

can freeze

32.

The picture shows a glass of water. There are drops of water on the outside of the glass. Where did the water come from?

a)

It leaked through the glass

b)

It was sweat from a person

c)

The glass is tipped over by someone

d)

It condensed from the warmer air meeting the cold glass

33.

When water evaporates, it changes into a

a)

solid

b)

liquid

c)

gas

34.

How do plants affect the water cycle?

a)

They need water to grow, so they store it inside their bodies.

b)

They keep water from evaporating.

c)

They allow the water to percolate and also run off.

d)

They draw water up from the ground and release it into the air.

35.

During evaporation water goes from a _____ to a _____

a)

liquid, gas

b)

liquid, solid

c)

solid, gas

d)

liquid, plasma