Question

The geographic regions in the world that will face water shortage by 2025 :

Questions 91 - 96: Read the following Question Numbers 91 to 120 passage and answer the questions that follow. The world is running short of freshwater. Populations are growing bigger and thirstier, with the result that freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce. Half the world's wetlands have disappeared during the last Century, while estimates suggest that water use will rise by 50 per cent in the next 30 years. The World Bank report estimates that as much as half of the world's population concentrated in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia will face severe water shortages by 2025. 'Local water conflicts and the loss of freshwater ecosystems loom in some regions.' Freshwater consumption is rising quickly, and the availability of water in some regions is likely to become one of the most pressing issues of the 21st Century. A third of the world population - around two billion people - live in countries that are experiencing moderate to high water shortages. That proportion could rise to half or more in the next 30 years unless institutions change to ensure better conservation and allocation of water. 'China is one country where the portents are gloomy. The most water stressed country in East Asia. China is exploiting 44 per cent of its usable water, a figure projected to rise to 60 per cent by 2020.

• A. Africa, China, India
• B. Africa, South America, Middle East
• C. Asia, South Korea, China
• D. Africa, Middle East, South Asia

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Africa, Middle East, South Asia

By 2025, the geographic regions most likely to face significant water shortages are:

1. Africa:
   Africa is projected to experience severe water scarcity, particularly in the northern and southern parts of the continent. Countries like Egypt, Sudan, and those in the Horn of Africa are already facing water stress due to low rainfall, over-reliance on groundwater, and growing populations. Climate change and desertification are expected to worsen these challenges, making access to fresh water even more limited.

2. Middle East:
   The Middle East, including countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen, is one of the most water-stressed regions in the world. Many of these countries rely heavily on non-renewable water sources, such as fossil water, and face decreasing freshwater availability due to factors like rapid population growth, low rainfall, and political tensions over shared water resources (e.g., the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates rivers). The region is expected to suffer from increasing water scarcity, which could exacerbate conflicts and displacement.

3. South Asia:
   South Asia, which includes countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, faces major water challenges. Over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation, the pollution of rivers, and changes in monsoon patterns are contributing to water shortages. The situation is particularly dire in countries like India and Pakistan, where the demand for water for agriculture, industry, and domestic use is far outstripping supply. Rapid urbanization and population growth will only intensify these challenges.

These regions are expected to be at the forefront of water crises by 2025, making it essential for governments and international organizations to prioritize water management, conservation, and infrastructure development to mitigate the impacts of water shortages.