Answer:
Adhesion
Step-by-step explanation:
Water is soaked up by a paper towel because the forces of adhesion exceeds the forces of cohesion.
The forces of adhesion binds the water molecule to the paper towel while the forces of cohesion binds the water molecules to each other.
Adhesion of water to the walls of the paper exerts an upward force that draws water molecules up the paper.
Hence, the movement of water up a paper towel occurs when the forces of adhesion to the walls of the paper is greater than the forces of cohesion acting between the water molecules.