Final answer:
Surface water can become groundwater through a process known as C. infiltration, where it soaks into the soil, filling aquifers and contributing to the underground water reserves.
Step-by-step explanation:
One way surface water becomes groundwater is through a process called infiltration. Infiltration occurs when water on the ground surface enters the soil and percolates down through the soil and rock layers to be stored as groundwater. This is a critical component of the hydrologic cycle, as it helps to recharge aquifers, which are underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock or sediment. Groundwater can then move through these aquifers until it reaches a point where it may seep out into springs or bodies of water like lakes or oceans, or is taken up by plant roots through the soil.