The water cycle

Scientists use diagrams to explain how things happen. Look at this diagram
of the water cycle and answer the questions below.

1. Which direction are you supposed to read the flow of events? Left to right, right to left, clockwise
or anti-clockwise? ______________________________________________________________
2. How do you know what order the events happen? ____________________________________
3. Why is the diagram drawn as a round circle rather than from left to right? ___________________
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4. Label these parts on the diagram: sea, mountain, clouds, rain.
5. What features of the diagram show that it is not a realistic picture of scenery you can see in real life?
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6. Evaporation is when the sun makes water rise as water vapour. Draw a circle around the arrows
that show evaporation. Add a picture of the sun near the clouds. Why do think the artist drew four
thin arrows, not one thick arrow, to show evaporation? __________________________________
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7. Water from rain flows to the sea and this is called rainwater run-off. Label rainwater run-off.
8. If you want to explain the water cycle, what do you think is the easiest place to start? Why?
____________________________________________________________________________
9. Write a paragraph describing the sequence of events in the water cycle. Use the diagram and these
linking words: first, when, then, next.
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