Which of the following sequences lists the major stages of the water cycle in the correct order?

Which of the following sequences lists the major stages of the water cycle in the correct order?

• A. Condensation, evaporation, precipitation, collection
• B. Precipitation, evaporation, condensation, collection
• C. Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection
• D. Collection, evaporation, condensation, precipitation

Answer: (C)

The major stages of the water cycle occur in a specific flow: water from oceans and other bodies of water is turned into vapor through evaporation, then the vapor rises and cools to form clouds through condensation, droplets in the clouds grow and fall as precipitation, and the fallen water collects in bodies of water or runs off to continue the cycle. This order—evaporation first, followed by condensation, then precipitation, then collection—matches how water moves from liquid to air, back to liquid, and back to liquid storage. Why this order fits best: evaporation provides the source of water vapor that condenses into clouds, so condensation must come after evaporation. Precipitation depends on cloud formation, so it comes after condensation. Finally, collection happens after precipitation to start the cycle again, gathering water in bodies or on the land to feed streams, rivers, and oceans. The other sequences skip or misplace steps. Condensation before evaporation wouldn’t occur without water vapor already in the air. Precipitation before evaporation or condensation isn’t possible because there’s no cloud formation or vapor to drop as rain yet. Collection before any precipitation would imply water gathering without the cycle starting, which doesn’t reflect how the cycle replenishes itself.

The major stages of the water cycle occur in a specific flow: water from oceans and other bodies of water is turned into vapor through evaporation, then the vapor rises and cools to form clouds through condensation, droplets in the clouds grow and fall as precipitation, and the fallen water collects in bodies of water or runs off to continue the cycle. This order—evaporation first, followed by condensation, then precipitation, then collection—matches how water moves from liquid to air, back to liquid, and back to liquid storage.

Why this order fits best: evaporation provides the source of water vapor that condenses into clouds, so condensation must come after evaporation. Precipitation depends on cloud formation, so it comes after condensation. Finally, collection happens after precipitation to start the cycle again, gathering water in bodies or on the land to feed streams, rivers, and oceans.

The other sequences skip or misplace steps. Condensation before evaporation wouldn’t occur without water vapor already in the air. Precipitation before evaporation or condensation isn’t possible because there’s no cloud formation or vapor to drop as rain yet. Collection before any precipitation would imply water gathering without the cycle starting, which doesn’t reflect how the cycle replenishes itself.