wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Hydro: Water Distribution

Total questions: 77

Worksheet time: 50mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Which represents the distribution of water on Earth?
a)
3% freshwater, 97% salt water
b)
97% freshwater, 3% salt water
c)
71% freshwater, 29% salt water
d)
29% freshwater, 71% salt water
2.
Most of the Earth's water is in
a)
salty oceans
b)
freshwater lakes
c)
freshwater ponds
d)
glaciers
3.

Approximately _____ percent of Earth's water is FRESH water

a)

97

b)

1

c)

3

d)

10

4.

Approximately what percent of Earth's water is SALT water?

a)

3

b)

70

c)

79

d)

97

5.

What percent of Earth's freshwater is available for humans to use?

a)

3

b)

less than 1

c)

97

d)

10

6.

There is about 2% of the Earth's freshwater frozen in icecaps and glaciers

a)

True

b)

False

7.

What percent of earth is covered with LAND?

a)

3

b)

29

c)

71

d)

97

8.

What percent of earth is covered with WATER?

a)

3

b)

29

c)

71

d)

97

9.
Where is most of earth's freshwater found?
a)
in lakes and rivers
b)
in the ground
c)
in the clouds
d)
in polar ice caps and glaciers
10.
Which represents the distribution of water on Earth?
a)
3% freshwater, 97% salt water
b)
97% freshwater, 3% salt water
c)
71% freshwater, 29% salt water
d)
29% freshwater, 71% salt water
11.
Where is most of the freshwater found on Earth?
a)
lakes
b)
glaciers
c)
oceans
d)
rivers
12.

Water underground is stored in ____________.

a)

aquifers

b)

reservoirs

c)

wells

d)

depositories

13.

Water moves through Earth's layers until it reaches a ______ layer.

a)

saturated

b)

water table

c)

impermeable layer

d)

permeable

14.

The diagram shows the distribution of water on the Earth. Which source is the most abundant supply of liquid surface water that is not salty?

a)

groundwater

b)

oceans

c)

lakes

d)

rivers

15.

The graphic shows that only 3% of the Earth's water is fresh water. The graphic also shows that of this 3%, almost all of it is contained in two reservoirs. What are the two reservoirs that contain almost all of Earth's fresh water?

a)

glaciers and groundwater

b)

streams and estuaries

c)

marshes and swamps

d)

lakes and rivers

16.

The diagram shows the distribution of water on the Earth. Based on the diagram, which is true?

a)

Most of Earth's water is fresh water.

b)

Most of Earth's fresh water is contained in glaciers and ground water.

c)

Most of Earth's water is contained in glaciers.

d)

Most of Earth's fresh water is contained in the oceans.

17.

The largest amount of Earth's water is found in ___________.

a)

rivers

b)

oceans

c)

the ground

d)

glaciers

18.

Most of the fresh water that is available for people to use is found ________________________.

a)

in lakes

b)

in glaciers

c)

in the ground

d)

in rivers

19.
There is about 2% of the Earth's freshwater frozen in icebergs.
a)
True
b)
False
20.
What percentage of water can be found in clouds? 
a)
2%
b)
1%
c)
25%
d)
0.1%
21.

How much of Earth's water is FRESH?

a)

70%

b)

30%

c)

97%

d)

3%

22.

The majority of Earth's FRESHWATER is

a)

saltwater

b)

in lakes and rivers

c)

underground

d)

frozen

23.

The majority of our DRINKING water comes from

a)

ice caps and glaciers

b)

groundwater

c)

lakes and rivers

d)

the ocean

24.
Which represents the distribution of water on Earth?
a)
3% freshwater, 97% salt water
b)
97% freshwater, 3% salt water
c)
71% freshwater, 29% salt water
d)
29% freshwater, 71% salt water
25.
Where is most of the freshwater found on Earth?
a)
lakes
b)
glaciers
c)
oceans
d)
rivers
26.

Approximately _____ percent of Earth's water is freshwater.

a)

97

b)

1

c)

3

d)

10

27.

Approximately what percent of Earth's water is salt water?

a)

3

b)

70

c)

79

d)

97

28.

About 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater.

a)

True

b)

False

29.

What are the two kinds of water that exist on Earth?

a)

Freshwater

b)

Saltwater

c)

Sugarwater

d)

Bluewater

30.

Humans can only consume (drink)

a)

Freshwater

b)

Saltwater

31.
Why do we need to conserve water?
a)
It is an unlimited resource. 
b)
It is a limited resource. 
c)
There is a lot of water. 
d)
There is no need to conserve water.
32.

What percent of the Earth is water?

a)

23.5%

b)

3.5%

c)

71%

d)

97%

33.

What percent of Earth is fresh water?

a)

3%

b)

71%

c)

97%

d)

23.5%

34.

What percent of Earth is salt water?

a)

71%

b)

97%

c)

3.5%

d)

3%

35.

Where is all of the freshwater locked up at?

a)

Lakes

b)

Rivers

c)

Acquifiers

d)

Glaciers

36.

Only 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater. About 60% of that water is not available for man's use. Why is this?

a)

it is frozen

b)

it is polluted

c)

it is too salty

d)

it is in aquifers

37.

Which best describes why Earth is often called the "Blue Planet"?

a)

Most of Earth is covered in water causing it to appear blue from space.

b)

Most of Earth is covered in land causing it to appear blue from space.

c)

The blue from Earth's sky causes it to appear blue from space.

d)

The blue color in space causes it to appear blue.

38.

The graph shows the distribution of water on Earth's surface.

a)

Most of the freshwater on Earth is found in oceans.

b)

Most of the water available on Earth is not drinkable.

c)

Most of the water available on Earth is drinkable.

d)

Most of the freshwater on Earth is found as groundwater.

39.

Which part of the ocean would have the lowest salinity?

a)

in areas near melting glaciers

b)

in areas where there is little rainfall

c)

in areas near the equator

d)

in areas with the highest temperatures

40.

Where is most of the Earth's freshwater located?

a)

in the ocean

b)

in icecaps and glaciers

c)

in rivers and streams

d)

in aquifers

41.

Place the amounts of water on Earth in order from greatest to least.

a)

saltwater, liquid freshwater, frozen freshwater

b)

liquid freshwater, frozen freshwater, saltwater

c)

saltwater, frozen freshwater, liquid freshwater

42.

Water that is suitable for human use is called--

a)

ice caps and glaciers.

b)

potable water.

c)

saltwater.

d)

unfiltered- groundwater.

43.

A slow moving mass of ice usually made from compacted snow on mountains.

a)

glaciers

b)

marine biologist

c)

water quality

d)

algae

44.
Why is most of Earths freshwater is not available for human use.  
a)
because it's in the ground
b)
because it's frozen in ice caps and glaciers
c)
because of pollution
d)
because of global warmin
45.
Which represents the distribution of water on Earth?
a)
3% freshwater, 97% salt water
b)
97% freshwater, 3% salt water
c)
71% freshwater, 29% salt water
d)
29% freshwater, 71% salt water
46.

Which graph best represents the total distribution of water on Earth?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

47.

Which graph best represents the distribution of freshwater on Earth

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

48.
Approximately 75 percent of the Earth's surface is covered in water. So why is water considered such a precious resource?
a)
The greenhouse effect is causing most of the world's freshwater to be trapped in the atmosphere
b)

Most of the water is salt and not safe to drink. Of the freshwater most is unavailable because its frozen, hard to get or polluted

c)
Each year, more freshwater is being trapped in icecaps located at the North and South Poles
d)
Global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions will likely cause Earth's oceans to evaporate
49.

Water that is a safe to drink and use for cooking, showering, etc. is called

a)

pathogen

b)

potable

c)

clarified

d)

bonifide

50.
Where most freshwater is stored is in _________.
a)
Groundwater
b)
pH
c)
Glaciers
d)
Sea water
51.

What is a water footprint?

a)

the amount of water that falls onto Earth

b)

a calculation of the amount of direct and indirect water used to make products we use

c)

the amount of water that is on our footprint

d)

the amount of water used to plant crops

52.
Repeated movement of water through the environment in different forms
a)
Wheels
b)
Water cycle
c)
Hydrosphere
d)
Reservoir
53.

Water underground is stored in ____________.

a)

aquifers

b)

reservoirs

c)

wells

d)

depositories

54.

Approximately _____ percent of Earth's water is freshwater.

a)

97

b)

1

c)

3

d)

10

55.

What percent of Earth's freshwater is available for humans to use?

a)

3

b)

less than 1

c)

97

d)

10

56.
Where does runoff end up?
a)
ponds
b)
streams
c)
rivers
d)
all of the above
57.
What is runoff?
a)
the excess water that isn't absorbed into the ground after it rains
b)
the vapor that is created when the sun's heat warms the Earth's surface
c)
water that is absorbed into the ground and collects in rocks and soil
d)
water droplets that combine to form clouds
58.
Which source of freshwater is not easily available for human use?
a)
oceans
b)
freshwater lakes
c)
rivers
d)
icecaps/glaciers
59.

In general, surface water always flows

a)

from south to north

b)

toward the equator

c)

from north to south

d)

downhill

60.

How are evaporation and transpiration similar?

a)

Both processes occur immediately before precipitation in the water cycle.

b)

They are both processes in which liquid water is changed into water vapor.

c)

They both occur in the biosphere.

d)

They both process water in its solid state.

61.

Evaporation and transpiration are two processes included in the water cycle. The energy source that drives these processes is

a)

the burning of fossil fuels.

b)

the Sun.

c)

convection within Earth's mantle.

d)

nuclear fission.

62.

The Sun heats the Earth's water. This warm water turns into a vapor, and rises into the atmosphere, where it cools off. What happens to this water vapor?

a)

The water vapor evaporates and escapes into space. New water is formed by precipitation.

b)

The water vapor only rises for a very short time, then settles back into the ocean unnoticed.

c)

The water vapor pushes clouds out of the way as it rises. This causes overcast conditions to clear.

d)

The water vapor condenses as it cools, then it forms clouds. It later returns to the Earth as precipitation.

63.
What is the energy source for the water cycle?
a)
the sun
b)
the earth
c)
water
d)
the moon
64.

The diagram shows the distribution of water on the Earth. Which source is the most abundant supply of liquid surface water that is not salty?

a)

groundwater

b)

oceans

c)

lakes

d)

rivers

65.

The graphic shows that only 3% of the Earth's water is fresh water. The graphic also shows that of this 3%, almost all of it is contained in two reservoirs. What are the two reservoirs that contain almost all of Earth's fresh water?

a)

glaciers and groundwater

b)

streams and estuaries

c)

marshes and swamps

d)

lakes and rivers

66.

The diagram shows the distribution of water on the Earth. Based on the diagram, which is true?

a)

Most of Earth's water is fresh water.

b)

Most of Earth's fresh water is contained in glaciers and ground water.

c)

Most of Earth's water is contained in glaciers.

d)

Most of Earth's fresh water is contained in the oceans.

67.

The measure of the amount of salt in water.

a)

Freshwater

b)

Saltwater

c)

Salinity

d)

Saltiness

68.

The surface of the earth is covered in approximately how much water?

a)

3 %

b)

50%

c)

70%

d)

97%

69.

Approximately how much of all the water on earth is saltwater?

a)

3%

b)

60%

c)

70%

d)

97%

70.

Approximately how much of all the water on the earth is frozen?

a)

1%

b)

2%

c)

65%

d)

97%

71.

Approximately how much of all the water on earth is available to humans for consumption?

a)

1% or less

b)

3%

c)

70%

d)

97%

72.

How much of the freshwater is frozen?

a)

2%

b)

30%

c)

68%

d)

97%

73.

How much of the freshwater is considered groundwater?

a)

1%

b)

2%

c)

30%

d)

68%

74.

MOST freshwater is located where?

a)

Seas and Oceans

b)

Oceans and Glaciers

c)

Glaciers and Groundwater

d)

Groundwater, Lakes, and Rivers

75.

If there is high evaporation in an sea, the salinity of the water will increase or decrease?

a)

Decrease

b)

Increase

c)

Stay the same

d)

Both

76.

If there is lots of precipitation in a salty water lake, the salinity of the water will increase or decrease?

a)

Decrease

b)

Increase

c)

Stay the same

d)

Both

77.

If lots of sea water becomes frozen what will happen to the remaining water left behind?

a)

It will become less salty

b)

It will become more salty

c)

It will remain just as salty as ever.

d)

I thought salty meant something else.