Water moves from the surface through the ground and into what by the process of percolation?

• A. Percolation
• B. Condensation
• C. Evaporation
• D. Transpiration

Answer: (A)

Downward movement of water through soil is called percolation. When surface water or infiltrated rain moves through the soil, gravity and the pore spaces carry it downward until it reaches the saturated zone, becoming groundwater. The other terms describe different processes: condensation is a gas turning into a liquid, evaporation is liquid turning into vapor and rising away from the surface, and transpiration is water loss from plants. Percolation specifically captures the downward seepage through soil toward groundwater, so it’s the best fit for what happens in this scenario.