Water Cycle — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Water vapor cooling down and forming drops is called condensation.
Condensation is when warm vapor loses heat and changes back into liquid water drops, like the drops on a cold glass.
2. Puddles dry up because of evaporation.
Evaporation means the sun heats puddle water until it turns into vapor and floats away into the air.
3. Snow and rain are both types of precipitation.
Any water that falls from clouds — whether frozen like snow or liquid like rain — is called precipitation.
4. After rain falls it flows into streams and rivers.
Rainwater moves downhill along the ground and joins little streams that lead into bigger rivers.
5. The water cycle has no beginning and no end.
Because the same steps keep repeating in a loop, the water cycle never starts or stops — it has no end.
6. Warm air makes water evaporate faster.
Warm air gives water drops extra energy to turn into vapor, so puddles dry up more quickly on hot days.
7. Gray clouds often mean rain is coming.
Gray clouds are thick and full of water drops, which is why they usually bring rain soon after you see them.
8. Water on the ground can soak into the soil.
Soil has tiny spaces between its bits of dirt, so water seeps down into it and helps plants grow.
9. The water cycle keeps water moving on Earth.
The water cycle is the name for the nonstop journey water takes through oceans, sky, and land on Earth.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
sun heats water
→ evaporation starts
evaporation starts
vapor rises high
→ clouds form
clouds form
cloud gets heavy
→ precipitation falls
precipitation falls
rain hits ground
→ collection happens
collection happens
Each action leads to the next: the sun begins evaporation, rising vapor becomes clouds, heavy clouds release precipitation, and fallen rain is collected.