Final answer:
No, water molecules do not always follow the same steps through the water cycle; they can enter and leave the cycle at various stages and change states in the process, driven by the sun's energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water molecules do not always follow the same steps through the water cycle. This cycle includes various processes driven by the sun's energy, where water changes states between gas (water vapor), liquid (water), and solid (ice). In the water cycle, evaporation turns liquid water from oceans and other bodies into water vapor, which then condenses into clouds. Precipitation in the form of rain or snow returns water to the Earth, where it can be involved in surface runoff, soak into the ground, or be taken up by plants and returned to the atmosphere through transpiration. No single molecule of water is guaranteed to pass through every stage in order or experience all processes.