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.

What was the author’s primary purpose for writing this essay?

  • A. To persuade the reader to conserve water
  • B. To persuade the reader that runoff is not the best way to collect water
  • C. To analyze different types of runoff
  • D. To inform the reader about the stages of the water cycle
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The author's primary purpose for writing the essay is to inform the reader about the stages of the water cycle. The essay discusses the different phases of the water cycle, including precipitation, runoff, evaporation, and condensation. The descriptions provided aim to educate the reader about how water moves through the environment in a continuous cycle, highlighting its importance in sustaining life on Earth. There is no explicit attempt to persuade the reader to conserve water or to argue against runoff as a way to collect water, making these choices incorrect. Choice C is also incorrect as the essay focuses on explaining the stages of the water cycle rather than analyzing different types of runoff.