Which term refers to water that falls to Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail?

• A. Evaporation
• B. Condensation
• C. Precipitation
• D. Runoff

Answer: (C)

Precipitation is the water that falls from the sky to Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. It marks the part of the water cycle where atmospheric moisture returns to the surface after forming clouds. Evaporation is water turning into vapor and rising; condensation is vapor cooling into liquid droplets that form clouds; runoff is water that flows over the land into bodies of water after rainfall. Because precipitation specifically describes the actual delivery of water to the surface in its various forms, it best fits the description.