The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The water cycle, or hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. It is a biogeochemical cycle that circulates water through the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. The water cycle is not a one-way process; it is a continuous circulation. Water evaporates from the oceans into the atmosphere, precipitates onto land, and flows back to the oceans via rivers and groundwater (runoff). It involves a bidirectional exchange between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere.
- Statement 2 is Correct. The primary function of the water cycle is to replenish freshwater resources on land. Through precipitation (rain and snow), water is returned to the land, maintaining rivers, lakes, soil moisture, and groundwater tables essential for terrestrial life.
- Statement 3 is Correct. When water evaporates from the ocean, it changes from liquid to gas (water vapour). This process leaves dissolved salts and impurities behind in the ocean. Consequently, the water vapour generated is freshwater, which eventually condenses and falls as precipitation.
Key Takeaway: The water cycle is a closed system that continuously recycles water, converting saline ocean water into freshwater vapour through evaporation and redistributing it to land via precipitation.