The water cycle is best described by which of the following statements?
Water in the atmosphere must be converted to another chemical before animals can use it.
The water on earth changes forms as it moves from one reservoir to another.>----- My answer
As water moves through an ecosystem, its energy is lost between trophic levels.
To determine the best description of the water cycle, we can analyze the given statements and identify the most accurate one. Let's evaluate each statement to find the correct answer.
1. "Water in the atmosphere must be converted to another chemical before animals can use it." This statement is not true. Animals can use water in its natural form, and it doesn't need to be converted into another chemical.
2. "The water on earth changes forms as it moves from one reservoir to another." This statement accurately describes the water cycle. The water on Earth goes through various stages, such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, as it moves between oceans, rivers, lakes, atmosphere, and groundwater. It changes forms but remains as water throughout the cycle. Therefore, this statement correctly describes the water cycle.
3. "As water moves through an ecosystem, its energy is lost between trophic levels." This statement is not related to the water cycle. It describes the energy flow within an ecosystem, specifically how energy decreases as it passes from one organism to another through consumption. It does not explain the process of the water cycle.
Based on our evaluation, the second statement, "The water on earth changes forms as it moves from one reservoir to another," accurately describes the water cycle.