Directions : Two paragraphs with a blank space are provided in each of the…
2023
Directions : Two paragraphs with a blank space are provided in each of the following questions. Fill in the blank space with the most appropriate one out of the four options given below, taking into consideration the consistency and compatibility of the two paragraphs. If none of the given options seems appropriate to fill in the blank space, choose option (e) as your answer choice.
Q. (I) ___________________
(II) As the demand for freshwater resources rises due to population growth and industrialization, agriculture finds itself in a precarious position.
(III) In the face of this challenge, the agricultural sector's resilience and productivity rely on the implementation of inventive solutions and sustainable practices.
- A.
Crops like rice, which require substantial amounts of water, are particularly vulnerable.
- B.
Water scarcity may prompt farmers to change their crop choices, favoring more drought-resistant varieties.
- C.
Water, the lifeblood of agriculture, has always played a pivotal role in the success of farming practices. However, the world is facing a growing challenge: water scarcity.
- D.
Implementing water-efficient techniques like drip irrigation, mulching, and precision agriculture can significantly reduce water usage while maintaining crop productivity.
- E.
None of the above
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
In a coherent paragraph the opening sentence is the topic sentence: it states the controlling idea in broad terms and sets up the sentences that follow. Every later sentence either develops that idea or refers back to it. A correct opener must therefore introduce the subject at a general level, not jump straight into a narrow example, a consequence, or a specific solution.
Application
Reading the paragraph from sentence (II) onward fixes what the opener must establish:
Sentence (II) begins "As the demand for freshwater resources rises ... agriculture finds itself in a precarious position." The word As treats the link between water and agriculture as already introduced — so the opener must have named that link first.
Sentence (III) begins "In the face of this challenge ...". The pointer "this challenge" needs an antecedent challenge that the opener has already named.
The only sentence that does both — introduces water as central to agriculture and names the challenge — is "Water, the lifeblood of agriculture, has always played a pivotal role ... However, the world is facing a growing challenge: water scarcity." It is the general topic sentence; (II) then develops the demand pressure and (III) refers back to it as "this challenge."
Contrast
"Crops like rice ... are particularly vulnerable" — a narrow supporting example; it presumes the water-scarcity problem has already been stated, so it cannot open the paragraph.
"Water scarcity may prompt farmers to change their crop choices ..." — a consequence that follows from the problem; placed first it leaves "this challenge" in (III) with nothing to point back to.
"Implementing water-efficient techniques like drip irrigation ..." — a specific solution; it belongs after the challenge is framed (it overlaps the "inventive solutions" already mentioned in (III)), not as the opener.
"None of the above" — not needed, since a fully appropriate opening sentence is present among the choices.
Hence the topic sentence introducing water's pivotal role and the growing challenge of water scarcity is the correct fill for blank (I).