Quiz: How Well Do You Know The Water Cycle?
How much do you remember about the water cycle? The process is vital to life on Earth, yet we often only think of the water cycle when weather gets in the way of our plans. The water cycle also plays a major part in long-term climate change and global economics.
To test your knowledge of the process, we put a little quiz together. And if you have little ones at home, you can take this quiz with them for added fun, especially since the water cycle is typically taught in elementary school.
FOR THE TITLE OF AQUA EXPERT:
1. WATER COVERS APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE?
a. The whole thing
b. One half
c. Three quarters
d. Two thirds
2. CLOUDS FORM DURING WHICH STEP OF THE WATER CYCLE?
a. Melting
b. Evaporation
c. Condensation
d. Fluffing
3. WHY IS OCEAN WATER SO SALTY?
a. So that boats can float
b. Salt cannot evaporate with water
c. A chef seasoned it that way
d. There are large natural salt blocks along the ocean floor
4. WHAT IS THE PROPER NAME FOR THE PROCESS OF WATER EVAPORATING FROM PLANTS?
a. Transpiration
b. Perspiration
c. A temperate tantrum
d. Sweating greens
5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A FORM OF PRECIPITATION?
a. Sleet
b. Drought
c. Rain
d. Snow
ANSWERS:
- (c) Three quarters. Water covers about 71 percent of Earth, or just under three quarters. It’s no wonder most evaporation occurs on ocean surfaces!
- (c) Condensation. Clouds form when water vapor condenses back into a liquid. The water droplets gather in the sky until they become too heavy, then fall back to earth as precipitation.
- (b) Salt cannot evaporate with water. Small amounts of salt are released into fresh water rivers that naturally flow out to oceans and seas. The salt is left behind when water evaporates or freezes. Therefore, the ocean is always getting saltier!
- (a) Transpiration. Humans lose water through breathing, and so do plants. In fact, 10 percent of water in the atmosphere is believed to come from transpiration.
- (b) Drought. Drought refers to a lack of precipitation. While drought doesn’t immediately threaten us like other natural disasters, it can be one of the most expensive weather-related events to affect an area.
How did you do? Which questions did you find simple or surprising? Let us know!
