The Water Cycle — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word on the line.
1. When clouds get very heavy, water falls to Earth. This is called precipitation.
Precipitation is the stage of the water cycle where water falls from heavy clouds to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
2. Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are all types of precipitation.
Hail is a type of precipitation made of small balls of ice that form during strong storms.
3. In cold weather, precipitation falls as snow instead of rain.
In cold weather, precipitation falls as snow because the air temperature is cold enough to freeze the water drops into ice crystals.
4. After rain falls, water flows downhill into rivers and lakes.
After rain falls, water flows downhill into rivers and lakes as part of the collection stage of the water cycle.
5. Water flowing over the ground into streams is called runoff.
Runoff is water that flows over the surface of the ground into streams and rivers after it rains.
6. The stage where water gathers in oceans, lakes, and rivers is called collection.
Collection is the stage of the water cycle where water gathers in oceans, lakes, and rivers before the cycle starts again.
7. Some rainwater soaks into the ground and is stored underground.
Some rainwater soaks into the ground and is stored underground, where it can feed plants or slowly flow to rivers and lakes.
8. The water cycle repeats over and over, so Earth never runs out of water.
The water cycle repeats endlessly, so Earth never runs out of water because the same water is recycled over and over.
9. Most of Earth's water collects in the oceans.
Most of Earth's water collects in the oceans, which hold about 97 percent of all water on the planet.
Part B: Match the Water Cycle Stage
Draw a line from each example to the correct water cycle stage.
1.
A puddle drying up on a sunny day
→ Evaporation
Precipitation
Drops forming on a cold window
→ Condensation
Collection
Rain falling from dark clouds
→ Precipitation
Evaporation
Water flowing into a lake
→ Collection
Condensation
A puddle drying up on a sunny day → Evaporation because the sun's heat turns the puddle water into vapor. Drops forming on a cold window → Condensation because warm air cools on the cold glass and turns into water drops. Rain falling from dark clouds → Precipitation because water is falling from the sky. Water flowing into a lake → Collection because the water is gathering in a body of water.