Question

Find the odd one out and give an explanation for your choice.
a) Evaporation
b) Condensation
c) Salination
d) Precipitation

Answer 1

Instructions: It is a straight forward question.

Solution: Here, salination is the odd one out because all the other three processes except salination are the stages of the hydrological cycle.

The hydrological cycle is categorized into six stages:

1. Evaporation
2. Condensation
3. Transportation
4. Precipitation
5. Run-off
6. Percolation

All the stages are dependent on each other. Water in the form of vapour gets evaporated from the various sources of water like rivers, lakes, etc. Then the water vapour is transported into the atmosphere, condenses, and becomes clouds. When the clouds are unable to hold water, it precipitates and fills up the rivers, lakes, etc. Thus the cycle continues.

Evaporation: It is the process by which water changes from liquid to gaseous form. Solar radiation heats up and evaporates the water from various water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, oceans, seas, etc. Plants also lose water to the air through transpiration that is also known as evapotranspiration.
Condensation: In this process, the gaseous form of water changes to a liquid form. Water vapour in the atmosphere condenses to form clouds.

Precipitation: In this process, water falls from the cloud and reaches the earth's surface. When the cloud loses its capacity to hold water, it falls in the form of rain, sleet, or snow.