Question

Choose the correct sequence of the steps involved in the water cycle:

• A. 1 $\to$ 3 $\to$ 2 $\to$ 6 $\to$ 5 $\to$ 4
• B. 2 $\to$ 3 $\to$ 4 $\to$ 5 $\to$ 6 $\to$ 1
• C. 1 $\to$ 2 $\to$ 6 $\to$ 3 $\to$ 5 $\to$ 4
• D. 1 $\to$ 2 $\to$ 3 $\to$ 4 $\to$ 5 $\to$ 6

Answer 1

The correct option is C 1 $\to$ 2 $\to$ 6 $\to$ 3 $\to$ 5 $\to$ 4

The continuous circulation of water between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere is known as the water cycle. The correct sequence of the steps involved in the water cycle is as follows:

• (1) Water from all the water bodies present on land evaporates due to heat and converts into water vapours. Plants also lose water in the form of water vapours from their leaves through the process of transpiration.
• (2) Therefore, water exists as water vapours in the atmosphere and keeps on rising upward in the atmosphere.
• (6) As these water vapours rise from the surface of the Earth, they get cooler.​
• (3) At sufficient heights, the air becomes so cool that the water vapours present in it get converted into tiny droplets of water due to the process of condensation. These tiny water droplets remain floating in the air and appear to us as clouds.
• (5) When the clouds become large and heavy, the water droplets fall as rain.
• (4) The rainwater flows back into the rivers, lakes and seas and some of it seeps into the soil and exists as groundwater.

Therefore, the correct sequence of steps is:
1 $\to$ 2 $\to$ 6 $\to$ 3 $\to$ 5 $\to$ 4