Question

which characteristic best distinguishes runoff and infiltration?
○ runoff involves condensation and infiltration involves evaporation.
○ runoff occurs over land and infiltration occurs underground.
○ runoff occurs during floods and infiltration occurs during drought.
○ runoff describes water movement and infiltration describes water storage.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: Runoff doesn't involve condensation, and infiltration doesn't involve evaporation. So this option is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: Runoff is the flow of water over the land surface, while infiltration is the process of water entering the soil (underground - into the subsurface). This accurately describes their main distinction.
3. Analyze the third option: Runoff can occur in non - flood situations (like normal rainfall runoff), and infiltration also occurs during non - drought times (e.g., when it rains). So this option is incorrect.
4. Analyze the fourth option: Both runoff and infiltration are related to water movement. Infiltration is not mainly about water storage (though it can contribute to groundwater storage, but the main process of infiltration is water moving into the soil). So this option is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Runoff occurs over land and infiltration occurs underground.