Question

Modeling the Water Cycle
Read the passage and answer the following question(s).

Modeling the Water Cycle
Emma is building a model to show the processes that occur during the water cycle. The beginning of the model is shown below.

The illustration labeled 'Water Cycle Model' shows a closed plastic shoe box with a thin layer of water inside the box. On top of this box is a small, circular tray containing ice cubes. A lamp shines light onto the box from above.

Resize Columns
Question 3.



Starting with the shoe box in Emma's model, which of the following shows the correct order for how water changes?


evaporation → condensation → precipitation


condensation → crystallization → transpiration


precipitation → condensation → evaporation


transpiration → condensation → crystallization

Answer 1

Correct answer: evaporation → condensation → precipitation.

Explanation: The lamp warms the water in the shoebox so it evaporates into water vapor. The vapor cools when it reaches the cold tray/ice and condenses into droplets on the lid, which then fall back as precipitation (droplets). The other sequences list processes not occurring first (e.g., crystallization/transpiration) or are out of order.