Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Providing stable…
2017
Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Providing stable freshwater supplies is a priority for every country in the world. Yet stable supplies are increasingly hard to come by in many countries, as water - related risks increase. For example, recent droughts threatened GDP growth in the United States. Monsoon floods killed hundreds and displaced thousands in India. Increased competition for water may impact energy production in China, and the list goes on.
Worlds Resource Institute’s Aqueduct project recently evaluated, mapped, and scored water risks like these in 100 river basins and 180 nations - the first such country - level water assessment of its kind. We found that 36 countries face “extremely high” levels of baseline water stress. This means that more than 80 percent of the water available is withdrawn annually by agricultural, domestic, and industrial users leaving businesses, farms, and communities vulnerable to scarcity. Such situations severely threaten national water security and economic growth - especially if a country does not have adequate water - management plans in place. This information is highly relevant for a country’s economy, environment, and communities.
It’s also important for countries to understand the underlying natural factors that drive their water - related risks and respond accordingly. Extremely high levels of baseline water stress, for example, don’t necessarily mean that a country will fall victim to scarcity. Armed with the right information, countries facing extremely high stress can implement management and conservation strategies to secure their water supplies.
Singapore, for example, has the highest water stress ranking. The country is densely populated and has no freshwater lakes or aquifers, and its demand for water far exceeds its naturally occurring supply. Yet the country is consistently held up as an exceptional water manager. Singapore invests heavily in technology, international agreements, and responsible management, allowing it to meet its freshwater needs. Advanced rainwater capture systems contribute 20 percent of Singapore’s water supply, 40 percent is imported from Malaysia, grey water reuse adds 30 percent, and desalination produces the remaining 10 percent of the supply to meet the country’s total demand. These forward - thinking and innovative management plans provide a stable water supply for Singapore’s industrial, agricultural, and domestic users - even in the face of significant baseline water stress.
In water stressed countries, which of the following consume most water according to the passage?
- A.
Industries
- B.
Farms
- C.
Communities
- D.
All of the above
Attempted by 5 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
In a reading-comprehension question, the answer must be drawn strictly from what the passage states, not from outside knowledge. When a passage names several distinct groups as together carrying out an activity, and each named group matches one of the choices, the answer the text supports is the one that accounts for all of those named groups.
Application
The passage describes how water is used in water-stressed countries: "more than 80 percent of the water available is withdrawn annually by agricultural, domestic, and industrial users." Each of these users maps to one of the choices:
Agricultural users correspond to farms.
Industrial users correspond to industries.
Domestic users correspond to communities (households).
The passage names agricultural, domestic, and industrial users together as withdrawing the bulk of the water, so farms, industries, and communities are all described as major consumers. The supported answer is therefore the one that accounts for farms, industries, and communities together.
Cross-check
Reading the answer as farms alone, industries alone, or communities alone would contradict the text, which names the three together rather than singling out one. So no single-group reading fits, while the reading that covers farms, industries, and communities matches the sentence exactly as written.