Which of the following statements about the circulation of water in nature is not correct? Water

Analyze the question: We are asked to find the statement about the water cycle that is NOT correct. So three statements are true and one is false.

Concept: The water cycle (hydrological cycle) is the continuous movement of water between the oceans, the atmosphere, and the land. Water is never permanently lost; it is recycled.

Key processes:

• Evaporation: Heat from the sun turns water from seas, rivers, lakes and soil into vapour.
• Condensation: The vapour rises, cools, and forms clouds.
• Precipitation: Water returns to earth as rain, dew, hail or snow.
• Transpiration: Plants lose water vapour through their leaves.
• Run-off and infiltration: Water flows back to rivers, seas and underground.

Checking each option:

• A. Water constantly evaporates from seas, rivers, lakes and soil. This is correct, since evaporation is a continuous process.
• B. Vapour rises, cools, condenses and precipitates as rain and dew. This is correct, and it describes condensation and precipitation.
• C. Water removed from the ocean is permanently lost. This is not correct. Water evaporated from the ocean returns as rain, flows through rivers, and ends up back in the ocean. It is only recycled, never permanently lost.
• D. Water is lost in plants by transpiration and decay. This is correct. Plants release water vapour by transpiration, and decay of plant and animal matter releases water back to the environment.

Answer: The statement that is not correct is C.

Exam tip: In "which is NOT correct" questions, look for extreme words like "permanently," "never," or "always." In the water cycle, nothing is permanently lost because the cycle is continuous. Also remember that a "not correct" question means you are hunting for the one false statement, so don't pick the first true one you see.