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The Water Cycle and Weather

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A student places a bowl of water in the sun. Three hours later, there is less water in the bowl. Which process caused the water level to go down?

a)

Condensation

b)

Precipitation

c)

Evaporation

d)

Freezing

2.

During the water cycle, water vapor rises into the atmosphere, cools down, and turns back into liquid droplets to form clouds. What is this process called?

a)

Condensation

b)

Evaporation

c)

Runoff

d)

Transpiration

3.

In a classroom water cycle model using a sealed plastic bag, what could a student add to the outside of the bag to speed up the formation of "rain" droplets inside?

a)

A heat lamp to warm the bag

b)

Ice cubes to cool the bag

c)

A layer of dry sand

d)

Aluminum foil

4.

Which of these is the primary energy source that drives the entire water cycle, including evaporation from the ocean?

a)

Gravity

b)

The Moon

c)

Wind

d)

The Sun

5.

Water can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas. In which state is water when it is in the form of "water vapor" in the air?

a)

Solid

b)

Liquid

c)

Gas

d)

Plasma

6.

Which statement best describes the ocean's role in the water cycle?

a)

The ocean is a small reservoir that does not affect the water cycle.

b)

The ocean is a major source of water vapor through evaporation.

c)

The ocean only receives water and never loses any to the air.

d)

The ocean is where most condensation happens.

7.

If rain falls on a mountain and flows downhill into a river, which part of the water cycle is being demonstrated?

a)

Evaporation

b)

Runoff

c)

Condensation

d)

Transpiration

8.

On a weather map, what does a large "H" symbol represent, and what kind of weather is usually associated with it?

a)

High Pressure and clear, fair weather

b)

High Pressure and stormy weather

c)

Heavy rain and low temperatures

d)

Humidity and thunderstorms

9.

Which type of cloud is tall, dark, and often associated with thunderstorms and heavy rain?

a)

Cirrus

b)

Stratus

c)

Cumulonimbus

d)

Fog

10.

A weather instrument shows that the air pressure is dropping quickly. What is the most likely change in the weather?

a)
  • The weather will become clear and sunny.

b)

A storm or precipitation may be approaching.

c)

The temperature will definitely increase.

d)

The wind will stop blowing.

11.

How do "updrafts" inside a cumulonimbus cloud affect precipitation?

a)

They push water droplets up into freezing air, potentially forming hail.

b)

They prevent rain from ever falling.

c)

They turn snow into rain before it hits the ground.

d)

They create light mist.

12.

During the day at the beach, the sun heats the land faster than the water. This causes the warm air over the land to rise and the cool air over the ocean to move in. What is this called?

a)

A land breeze

b)

A sea breeze

c)

Condensation

d)

Precipitation

13.

Which of the following forms of precipitation only occurs when the air temperature is below freezing from the cloud all the way to the ground?

a)

Rain

b)

Hail

c)

Snow

d)

Dew

14.

If you see thin, wispy Cirrus clouds high in the sky, what kind of weather can you typically expect?

a)

An immediate hurricane

b)

Fair weather for now, but a change may be coming.

c)

Heavy snowfall

d)

A tornado

15.

Which two weather factors are most important for determining the "humidity" of a specific area?

a)

Wind speed and wind direction

b)

Air temperature and the amount of water vapor in the air

c)

Cloud type and barometric pressure

d)

Elevation and soil type