Where is most of the Earth's freshwater stored?

• A. In rivers
• B. In oceans
• C. In lakes
• D. In glaciers and ice caps, atmosphere, soil, or deep underground

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how freshwater is distributed among Earth’s reservoirs. Most freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice caps on land, with a large portion also locked underground as groundwater, and smaller amounts in soil moisture and the atmosphere. Rivers and lakes hold only a small fraction, and the oceans contain the vast majority of Earth's water but in salt water, not freshwater. The choice that lists glaciers and ice caps along with other freshwater storage locations best captures where the majority is found. It recognizes the dominant pool in land ice while also acknowledging other significant, smaller stores.