Water Cycle MCQs Quiz Multiple Choice Questions & Answers

1. 95% of the Earths water is stored in its

1. rivers
2. oceans
3. glaciers
4. underground aquifers

2. After water vapor is carried high into the atmosphere, what happens to it?

1. It forms clouds, and air currents move them around
2. It keeps rising until it goes into outer space
3. It sublimates into ice
4. It magically changes back into water

3. Because water can dissolve many things, it is called

1. the great dissolver
2. the universal solvent
3. the biggest loser
4. the winner

4. Because water continuously changes states from solid, liquid, and gas

1. We have the water cycle
2. We have oceans that are salty
3. We have rivers and lakes
4. We have different temperatures

5. Freshwater running underground are called

1. rivers
2. streams
3. creeks
4. aquifers

6. How much of Earths water is fresh water that people and animals can drink?

1. 1- 1.5%
2. 1-2%
3. 71%
4. 97%

7. Precipitation is another word for

1. breathing
2. ice melting
3. rain and snow
4. plants giving off water

8. The water cycle also has another name. What is it?

1. the nitrogen cycle
2. the carbon cycle
3. the hydrologic cycle
4. the moon cycle

9. The water cycle always starts in the

1. oceans
2. clouds
3. plants and animals
4. It has no starting place or ending place

10. The water cycle is driven by the

1. sun
2. moon
3. clouds
4. oceans

11. Water is

1. a chemical compound
2. constantly moving
3. sometimes a solid, liquid, or a gas
4. all of the above

12. Waters chemical symbol is

1. N
2. O2
3. H2O
4. Wa

13. What are the three states of matter that water can exist in on Earth?

1. solid, gas, and plasma
2. solid, liquid, and gas
3. Bose-Einstein condensate, plasma, and liquid
4. liquid, solid, and frozen

14. What happens to the water after precipitation brings it to land?

1. Five different things can happen to it
2. Nothing; thats the end of that water
3. It becomes the universal solvent
4. It always goes into the ocean

15. What is a solvent?

1. any chemical compound
2. a substance that can dissolve a solid or gas
3. a substance that can turn into water
4. a substance that can explode

16. What is groundwater?

1. water that is stored in the ground
2. water that supplies wells
3. water that is part of the water table
4. all of the above

17. When ice or snow changes directly into water vapor, it is called

1. sublimation
2. condensation
3. evaporation
4. precipitation

18. When people and animals breathe out water vapor into the air from their lungs, it is called

1. transpiration
2. respiration
3. sublimation
4. precipitation

19. When water changes from a liquid into a gas, it is called

1. sublimation
2. condensation
3. evaporation
4. precipitation

20. When water droplets get large enough to fall from the clouds, its called

1. condensation
2. transpiration
3. sublimation
4. precipitation

21. When water evaporates directly from glacial ice, its called

1. condensation
2. transpiration
3. sublimation
4. precipitation

22. When water evaporates from plants, its called

1. condensation
2. transpiration
3. sublimation
4. precipitation

23. When water is released through a plants leaves, this process is called

1. transpiration
2. condensation
3. evaporation
4. precipitation

24. When water turns to vapor and rises into the atmosphere its called

1. evaporation
2. transpiration
3. sublimation
4. precipitation

25. When water vapor changes from a gas into a liquid, we call it

1. sublimation
2. condensation
3. evaporation
4. precipitation

26. Where does the heat come from that turns ocean water into water vapor?

1. the sun
2. volcanoes
3. magma
4. people

27. Where is most of the water on Earths surface found?

1. in the ground as groundwater
2. in the oceans
3. in lakes, rivers, and streams
4. in glaciers and icepacks

28. Why are the oceans salty?

1. because water dissolves minerals and salts from rocks and soil
2. because too much water evaporates and leaves salt behind
3. because ocean animals sweat
4. because its always been that way

29. When water vapor cools into a liquid, its called

1. condensation
2. transpiration
3. sublimation
4. precipitation

30. About how much of the Earths surface is covered with water?

1. two-third
2. three-fourth
3. 71%
4. 75%