Which of the following cycles involves the process of precipitation and transpiration?

1. Analyze the question The question asks which natural cycle includes both precipitation and transpiration.

2. Explain the concepts

• Precipitation is water falling from the atmosphere to the earth as rain, snow, hail or sleet.
• Transpiration is the loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of plants, mainly through the stomata of the leaves.

Both are steps in the movement of water through the environment.

3. Work through the options

• A. Water cycle: Water evaporates from oceans, rivers and soil. Plants lose water by transpiration. The vapour condenses into clouds and falls as precipitation. The water then runs off or soaks into the ground, and the cycle continues. This option includes both processes.
• B. Carbon cycle: This involves photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition and combustion. It does not involve precipitation or transpiration.
• C. Nitrogen cycle: This involves nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification and decay. These are processes carried out by bacteria, not precipitation or transpiration.
• D. Oxygen cycle: This involves oxygen released in photosynthesis and used in respiration and combustion.

4. Answer The correct option is A. water cycle.

5. Tip Match the key words to the cycle:

• Precipitation, transpiration, evaporation and condensation belong to the water cycle.
• Photosynthesis, respiration and combustion belong to the carbon cycle.
• Nitrogen fixation, nitrification and denitrification belong to the nitrogen cycle.