Which of the following presents the stages of the water cycle in the correct order?

The correct order of the stages of the water cycle begins with evaporation, followed by condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and then runoff. The selected answer outlines this progression accurately.

In this case, the first stage is evaporation (5), where water from sources like oceans, lakes, and rivers turns into vapor due to heat from the sun. The next step is condensation (3), where the vapor cools and forms clouds. Following condensation, precipitation (1) occurs when the water droplets in the clouds combine and fall to the ground as rain, snow, or other forms of moisture. After precipitation, water either infiltrates the ground (4) to replenish groundwater or undergoes surface runoff (2) into bodies of water, completing the cycle.

This correct sequence captures the continuous movement of water in various forms, emphasizing the importance of each stage in sustaining ecosystems and the environment. Other answers misplace these stages, failing to represent the logical flow of the water cycle as it would occur in nature.