Which of the following is an example of surface water?

Surface water refers to any body of water that is found on the surface of the Earth, such as lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. Lakes specifically exemplify surface water as they are large inland bodies of standing water that can be either freshwater or saltwater. Since lakes are directly exposed to the atmosphere and are visible as part of the landscape, they fit the definition of surface water perfectly.

In contrast, wells are not classified as surface water because they tap into groundwater sources located beneath the Earth's surface. Oceans, while they are bodies of water, represent a vast expanse of saltwater that is typically regarded separately from freshwater sources like lakes. Springs also qualify as sources of water that emerge from underground but are not large bodies of standing water, hence they do not fit the broader category defined by the term "surface water" as well as lakes do.