What characterizes a lake?

A lake is defined as a significant body of water that is entirely surrounded by land. This characteristic of being fully enclosed distinguishes lakes from other bodies of water, such as ponds, which might not be as large or might have varying degrees of land surrounding them. The defining feature of a lake is the lack of direct connection to other bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, which differentiates it from flowing bodies of water. Understanding this definition helps clarify why the other choices do not accurately represent what a lake is.

For instance, the first choice describes a body of water that is partially enclosed, which could refer to a lagoon or a bay rather than a lake. The third choice describes rivers or streams that flow and often connect to larger bodies of water such as oceans, indicating movement rather than being static bodies of water. The last choice portrays a large puddle, which lacks the permanence and size of a true lake. Thus, the correct answer highlights the essential characteristic of a lake being completely surrounded by land.