GMAT Verbal Test Prep

Category - GMAT Verbal Practice Test 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.

What does the author’s tone suggest about the potential for future conflicts over water?
  1. The potential for future conflicts is small because of conservation efforts.
  2. The potential for future conflicts is high because there are times when two nations claim the same water source.
  3. The potential for future conflicts is much higher than it has ever been because there are many active, violent conflicts in the world today.
  4. There is no way to determine what the future will hold in terms of conflicts over water.
Explanation
Answer [B]: The author’s tone suggests that the potential for future conflicts is high because there are times when two or more nations claim the same water source. The author writes that disputes over water rights “could eventually lead to greater hostilities between nations,” meaning that the hostility will increase rather than decrease.
Was this helpful? Upvote!
Login to contribute your own answer or details

Top questions

Related questions

Most popular on PracticeQuiz