GRE Reading Comprehension Practice Questions

Category - GRE Practice Test Reading Comprehension Questions

Although water covers approximately sixty-seven percent of the Earth’s surface, less than three percent is fresh water. Accounting for fresh water locked in glaciers, icecaps, or otherwise inaccessible, less than a tenth of a percent of the Earth’s water is available for human consumption. Pollution, population growth, and wasteful irrigation practices they are contributing to a worldwide water shortage. When the clear precious liquid becomes scarce, countries begin to assert claims on fresh water supplies. As a result, drinkable water has become a region of conflict that could eventually lead to greater hostilities between nations.

Some countries such as the United States, have ample sources of water. In other nations, such as China, water is less plentiful. As water resources dwindle, competition for available sources rose. Nations may claim rights to a particular body of fresh water or they may plan to build dams and other projects on rivers. If two or more nations which disagree on water rights or building projects, conflicts can emerge. In order to combat this issue many countries are adopting water conservation and security solutions. The United Nations has implemented programs to combat potential issues that could lead to violence.

Which is a reasonable inference based on this passage?
  1. The potential for hostilities between nations over water is increasing.
  2. The United States is likely to engage in conflict over water with another nation.
  3. China and the United States are currently disputing a shared water source.
  4. The nations of the world rely on the United Nations to determine water use policies.
Explanation
Answer [A]: A reasonable inference based on this passage is that the potential for hostilities between nations over water is increasing. The passage states that the United States has ample water supplies, so the potential for conflict is small. There is no mention of a specific conflict between the United States and China. While the U.N. is engaged in programs to aid the water scarcity crisis, the nations of the world are taking their own steps, with conservation and security policies.
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