AFOQT Practice Test

What is the term for the continual movement of water among Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface?

1. The water cycle

2. The carbon cycle

3. The nitrogen cycle

4. The rock cycle

The correct answer is: The water cycle

The term that describes the continual movement of water among Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface is known as the water cycle. This process involves various stages, including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Water transitions between different states—liquid, vapor, and ice—through these stages, facilitating the distribution of water across the planet. It's essential for maintaining ecosystems, regulating climate, and supporting all forms of life. The other cycles mentioned, such as the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and rock cycle, focus on different elements and processes—carbon deals with the movement of carbon through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere; nitrogen revolves around the conversion and movement of nitrogen in the environment; and the rock cycle involves the transformation of rocks through processes like erosion, sedimentation, and metamorphism. Each of these cycles plays a crucial role in Earth's systems, but the movement of water specifically pertains to the water cycle.