Question

What according to the passage results in the scarcity of freshwater?

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. Rise in population
• B. Deforestation
• C. Lack of rain
• D. Urbanisation

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Rise in population

According to the passage, the rise in population is one of the key factors contributing to the scarcity of freshwater. As populations grow, the demand for water increases, making freshwater resources more scarce. This increased demand, coupled with the loss of wetlands and poor water management, further exacerbates the situation. The passage suggests that unless there is better water conservation and allocation, water shortages will worsen, especially in certain regions like Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.