Water Distribution Exam Questions and
Answers
Hydrologic (water) cycle - ANSWER-collects, purifies, and distributes the earth's
fixed supply of water
Polarity of water - ANSWER-water is a polar molecule meaning it has opposite
charges on opposite ends. This causes hydrogen bonds to form causing water to
stick together.
Watershed - ANSWER-An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single
body of water
River Basin/Drainage Basin - ANSWER-All the land that drains to a major river and
its tributaries
Condensation - ANSWER-The change of state from a gas to a liquid
Hydrosphere - ANSWER-All the water at and near the surface of the earth, 97% of
which is in oceans
Transpiration - ANSWER-the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
Infiltration - ANSWER-Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface.
Percolation - ANSWER-The downward movement of water through soil and rock due
to gravity.
Aquifer - ANSWER-a body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit
groundwater.
Tributary - ANSWER-A stream or river that flows into a larger river
Permeable - ANSWER-penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through
Precipitation - ANSWER-the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail
or sleet or mist)
run off - ANSWER-water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into
the ground
water scarcity - ANSWER-not having access to enough clean water
evaporation - ANSWER-The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas
Answers
Hydrologic (water) cycle - ANSWER-collects, purifies, and distributes the earth's
fixed supply of water
Polarity of water - ANSWER-water is a polar molecule meaning it has opposite
charges on opposite ends. This causes hydrogen bonds to form causing water to
stick together.
Watershed - ANSWER-An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single
body of water
River Basin/Drainage Basin - ANSWER-All the land that drains to a major river and
its tributaries
Condensation - ANSWER-The change of state from a gas to a liquid
Hydrosphere - ANSWER-All the water at and near the surface of the earth, 97% of
which is in oceans
Transpiration - ANSWER-the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
Infiltration - ANSWER-Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface.
Percolation - ANSWER-The downward movement of water through soil and rock due
to gravity.
Aquifer - ANSWER-a body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit
groundwater.
Tributary - ANSWER-A stream or river that flows into a larger river
Permeable - ANSWER-penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through
Precipitation - ANSWER-the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail
or sleet or mist)
run off - ANSWER-water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into
the ground
water scarcity - ANSWER-not having access to enough clean water
evaporation - ANSWER-The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas
