Water Scarcity Quiz

PART A: Which of the following best describes the author's main claim in the text? (RN.2.2)

• Water scarcity is not something that humans have any control over, as it is caused by natural events.

• Humans can reverse the damage they have inflicted on the Earth's water supplies if they reduce their pollution output.

• Widespread water scarcity threatens the right that all humans should have to access clean drinking water, as it is essential to live.

• Water scarcity is an issue primarily caused by humans that needs to be addressed by humans.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that widespread water scarcity threatens the fundamental human right to access clean drinking water, emphasizing its essential role in survival.

PART B: Which detail from the text best describes the answer to Part A? (RN.2.1)

• "Droughts are a natural process that have occurred throughout history. The effects of prolonged drought often depend on both severity and how people react to them." (Paragraph 4)

• "In Ranipet, India, leather tanning wastes contaminate groundwater with the chemical hexavalent chromium, leading to water that residents say stings like an insect." (Paragraph 6)

• "Chernobyl, Ukraine, the infamous site of a nuclear meltdown, still has contaminated water because of that meltdown." (Paragraph 8)

• "Water is more important for survival than food, and global access to water is a fundamental human issue." (Paragraph 9)

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights the critical importance of water for survival and emphasizes global access to it as a fundamental human issue, directly addressing the significance of water in the context of the question.

How does physical water scarcity compare to economic water scarcity? (RN.2.3)

• Physical water scarcity is caused when there is naturally a lack of water in an area, while economic water scarcity is caused when humans alter a once useable water source.

• Physical water scarcity is caused solely by droughts, while economic water scarcity is caused by humans' contamination of water.

• Physical water scarcity is caused by a natural lack of water in an area, while economic water scarcity is caused by a region's inability to afford water.

• Physical water scarcity is caused by humans' contamination of a water source, while economic water scarcity is caused by the lack of natural water sources in an area.

Answer explanation

The correct choice explains that physical water scarcity arises from a natural lack of water, while economic water scarcity results from human actions that affect water availability, such as mismanagement or contamination.

How does the introductory quote "Consider yourself lucky whenever you pour yourself a glass of water" (Paragraph 1) contribute to the author’s purpose? (RN.3.3)

• It persuades readers to feel guilty about their access to water.

• It shows that most people take their drinking water for granted.

• It hints at a future in which people may not have access to drinking water.

• It encourages readers to reflect on their own access to water.

Answer explanation

The quote prompts readers to consider their own water access, fostering reflection on its value and scarcity. This aligns with the author's purpose of raising awareness about water accessibility.

What evidence does the author use to best support the idea that contaminated water can negatively impact people's health? (RN.4.1)

• Dzerzinsk, Russia has a contaminated water supply because it was the country’s primary chemical weapons manufacturing site throughout the Cold War. (Paragraph 8)

• The consequences of waterborne diseases are deadly. They can lead to bacterial infections, typhoid fever, cholera, skin trauma and even brain damage. (Paragraph 7)

• Without water, without that first thing, life slowly starts to shut down. (Paragraph 9)

• Others, like the 1900 drought in India, which had a death toll between 250,000 and 3.25 million, can lead to mass migration, famine, and humanitarian crisis. (Paragraph 4)

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights the severe health consequences of waterborne diseases, directly linking contaminated water to serious health issues like bacterial infections and cholera, thus supporting the idea of negative health impacts.