The Water Cycle Worksheets | Worsheets library - Free Printable

Here’s the solution to the water cycle matching task, with clear explanations for each phase:

---

1. Water falls to the ground. → _Precipitation_

✔ Explanation: Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky to the Earth’s surface — this includes rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The image shows rain falling from clouds onto the land and ocean, which is a classic example of precipitation.

---

2. Water runs downhill to form lakes and oceans. → _Collection_

✔ Explanation: Collection (also called “runoff” or “accumulation”) is when water that has fallen as precipitation flows over the land, collects in rivers, streams, lakes, and eventually makes its way back to the oceans. This is shown in the diagram by arrows pointing from land into bodies of water.

---

3. The sun’s heat turns water into a gas called water vapor. → _Evaporation_

✔ Explanation: Evaporation occurs when the sun heats liquid water (in oceans, lakes, rivers, or even puddles) and turns it into water vapor — an invisible gas that rises into the air. The diagram shows arrows rising from the ocean and land toward the sky, indicating evaporation.

---

4. Water vapor gathers to form clouds. → _Condensation_

✔ Explanation: Condensation happens when water vapor in the air cools down and changes back into tiny liquid droplets, forming clouds. In the diagram, you can see clouds forming above the land and sea — this is where condensation takes place.

---

✔ Final Answer Key:

- Water falls to the ground. → precipitation
- Water runs downhill to form lakes and oceans. → collection
- The sun’s heat turns water into a gas called water vapor. → evaporation
- Water vapor gathers to form clouds. → condensation

This completes the water cycle:
Evaporation → Condensation → Precipitation → Collection → (back to Evaporation)

Let me know if you’d like a visual diagram or mnemonic to remember the steps! 🌧️💧☀️