In the water cycle, in which direction does evaporation move water?

Correct answer: From surface to atmosphere

Correct answer: A. Evaporation is the process in which liquid water at a surface changes into water vapour and enters the atmosphere. The source may be an ocean, lake, river, wet soil, or another moist surface. Solar energy and other heat provide the energy needed for this change. Therefore, in the water cycle, evaporation generally moves water upward from Earth’s surface into the atmosphere; later, condensation and precipitation return water downward. Option A is correct because it states this direction clearly. Option B is wrong because evaporation does not move water toward Earth’s core. Option C is not the normal definition of evaporation. Option D is wrong because water moving from clouds into soil is precipitation or infiltration, not evaporation. Memory cue: evaporation goes up; precipitation comes down.