Name the four stages of the water cycle.

The correct answer identifies the four main stages of the water cycle as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Understanding these stages is essential for comprehending how water moves through the environment.

Evaporation is the process where water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water transforms into water vapor due to heat from the sun. This water vapor then rises into the atmosphere.

Condensation occurs when the water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds. This transformation is crucial as it leads to the next stage of the cycle.

Precipitation is when the accumulated water droplets in clouds become heavy enough to fall back to Earth, either as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Lastly, collection refers to the gathering of this water in various bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans, where the cycle can then begin anew.

This set of stages succinctly outlines the continuous nature of the water cycle and its importance in supplying fresh water, regulating climate, and supporting all forms of life. The other options either include terms that are not standard nomenclature of the water cycle or do not comprehensively reflect the stages.