Reading Comprehension Related

Review Reading Comprehension related questions and content

The Water Cycle
Water is needed to sustain practically all life functions on planet Earth. A single drop of this compound is composed of an oxygen atom that shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms.
The cycle starts when precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, descends from the sky onto the ground. Water that is not absorbed immediately from the precipitation is known as runoff. The runoff flows across the land and collects in groundwater reservoirs, rivers, streams, and oceans.
Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas. Water vapor returns to the air from surface water and plants.
Ultimately, condensation happens when this water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of liquid. In fact, the puffy, cotton clouds that we observe are formed by condensation. When the clouds become heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation ensues.

Knowing that the cooling of water vapor results in condensation, one could conclude that ___ is a factor in the evaporation process.

  • A. Humidity
  • B. Heat
  • C. Electrons
  • D. Runoff
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Heat is a crucial factor in the evaporation process. Evaporation occurs when liquid water changes into water vapor due to the input of heat energy, causing the water molecules to gain enough energy to escape into the air as vapor. When this vapor cools down, condensation occurs, leading to the formation of clouds and eventually precipitation. Therefore, the cooling of water vapor resulting in condensation is directly linked to the heat input required for the initial evaporation process.