What is an area of land that channels all the bodies of water within it to a common outflow point?
A: groundwater
B: river
C: watershed
D: leaching
C: watershed
The correct answer is C: watershed. A watershed is an area of land that channels all the bodies of water within it to a common outflow point, such as a river, lake, or ocean. It is defined by the topography of the land and determines the boundaries of a drainage basin.
The correct answer is C: watershed.
To arrive at this answer, we can break down the options and explain what they mean:
A: Groundwater refers to water that is stored beneath the Earth's surface in the spaces between soil particles and within geological formations. It doesn't specifically describe an area of land that channels bodies of water to a common outflow point.
B: A river is a natural flowing watercourse that usually carries water from an area of higher elevation to a lower elevation. While rivers are part of a larger watershed, they are not the specific term for an area of land that channels all bodies of water to a common outflow point.
C: A watershed is an area of land that channels all the bodies of water within it, such as streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands, to a common outflow point, such as a river mouth or a lake. It can be viewed as a "drainage basin" for an area, where all the water runoff and precipitation collects and converges towards a central location.
D: Leaching is the process where water removes soluble materials from the soil or another medium through percolation. It is not directly related to the concept of an area of land that channels bodies of water.
In summary, the correct answer is C: watershed, as it specifically refers to an area of land that channels all the bodies of water within it to a common outflow point.