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Learning objective

Students should be able to explain and analyze the water cycle, including processes such as precipitation, surface run-off, interception, infiltration, through-flow, groundwater flow, transpiration, evaporation, and condensation.

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  • Practise with linked questions.
Cambridge IGCSE Environmental ManagementWater and its management

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Quick explanation

Students should be able to explain and analyze the water cycle, including processes such as precipitation, surface run-off, interception, infiltration, through-flow, groundwater flow, transpiration, evaporation, and condensation

  • This point belongs to The water cycle, especially The water cycle outcomes.
  • You need to be able to students should be able to explain and analyze the water cycle, including processes such as precipitation, surface run-off, interception, infiltration, through-flow, groundwater flow, transpiration, evaporation, and condensation.
  • The key ideas to know are Describe, Explain, and Analyse.
  • Use the linked flashcards and practice questions to check recall, then practise applying the idea in an exam-style answer.

Key concepts

DescribeExplainAnalyseIdentify

Why it matters

This objective helps connect The water cycle outcomes to exam-style questions, flashcards, and revision notes for The water cycle.

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Paper 1 structured question: The water cycle

Paper 1Theory2 marks

Diagram Description

Simplified Water Cycle Diagram

The diagram shows precipitation falling onto a forested area. Some water is caught by leaves (interception), some soaks into the soil (infiltration), some flows sideways through soil (through-flow), some moves underground (groundwater flow), and some runs over the surface (surface run-off). Plants release water vapor (transpiration), and water evaporates from surfaces. Water vapor condenses to form clouds.

  1. a

    Explain Explain the process of interception in the water cycle.

    Aim for approximately 2 distinct marking points.

    [2]
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