Best 15+ Hydrosphere MCQs – General Science Competitive Exam
The hydrosphere refers to _________.
Correct Answer: The total quantity of water found on a planet
The hydrosphere means all forms of water present on Earth, including oceans, rivers, glaciers, groundwater, and water vapour.
Water covers approximately what percentage of Earth’s surface?
Correct Answer: 71%
About 71% of Earth’s surface is covered by water, mainly in the form of oceans and seas.
Water exists on Earth in how many states?
Correct Answer: Three
Water exists in three states on Earth: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapour).
The total amount of water on Earth is approximately ________.
Correct Answer: 1386 million cubic km
The total volume of water on Earth is about 1386 million cubic kilometers, covering all water bodies.
Oceans contain approximately what percentage of Earth’s total water?
Correct Answer: 96.5%
About 96.5% of Earth’s total water is stored in oceans, making them the largest water reservoir.
Freshwater accounts for approximately _____ of Earth’s total water.
Correct Answer: 2.5%
Freshwater means water without salt, and it forms only about 2.5% of Earth’s total water.
Other saline water makes up approximately _____.
Correct Answer: 0.9%
Apart from oceans, about 0.9% of Earth’s water exists as other saline water such as saline lakes.
In freshwater, the largest share is stored in _____.
Correct Answer: Glaciers and ice caps
Glaciers and ice caps store the largest share of freshwater, locking water in frozen form.
Groundwater accounts for approximately _____ of freshwater.
Correct Answer: 30.1%
Groundwater means water stored beneath Earth’s surface and forms about 30.1% of freshwater.
Surface water makes up approximately _____ of freshwater.
Correct Answer: 1.2%
Surface water includes rivers, lakes, and wetlands and forms only about 1.2% of freshwater.
In surface water, ground ice and permafrost account for _____.
Correct Answer: 69%
Ground ice and permafrost form the largest share of surface water storage, accounting for about 69%.
Rivers, lakes, swamps, soil moisture, and atmosphere together form about ______.
Correct Answer: 31%
Rivers, lakes, swamps, soil moisture, and atmospheric water together contribute about 31% of surface water.
Which of the following is NOT a component of the hydrosphere?
Correct Answer: Lithosphere
Lithosphere refers to the solid outer layer of Earth and is not part of the hydrosphere.
The frozen part of the hydrosphere is called ___________.
Correct Answer: Cryosphere
The cryosphere includes all frozen water on Earth such as glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost.
Water stored beneath Earth’s surface is called ______.
Correct Answer: Groundwater
Groundwater is water found in underground soil and rock layers called aquifers.
Freshwater found in rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands is known as ______.
Correct Answer: Surface water
Surface water refers to freshwater available on Earth’s surface such as rivers and lakes.
The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation is called ________.
Correct Answer: Hydrological cycle
The hydrological cycle describes the constant circulation of water through Earth’s systems.
The water cycle is also known as the _______.
Correct Answer: Hydrological cycle
The water cycle and hydrological cycle are two names for the same continuous water movement process.