Question

Difficulty: MediumDrawing Conclusions and Making Inferences

Read the following excerpt from a journalistic article about water conservation in Peru:

In the arid hills of Bellavista, a settlement on the outskirts of Lima, Peru, residents have long faced severe water scarcity, relying on expensive, unregulated water trucks. To address this, a local environmental cooperative installed a series of 'fog catchers' (large mesh nets hung between poles) along the ridge lines where the dense coastal fog, known as the *garúa*, rolls in. As the fog passes through the nets, water droplets condense on the mesh and flow into storage tanks. Over the past three years, this system has provided the community with thousands of liters of water daily, enabling them to sustain small-scale community gardens. While the water is not currently certified for human consumption without boiling, it has significantly reduced the community's reliance on external trucks for irrigation and sanitation. However, the system's yield remains highly seasonal, dropping by up to 80% during the summer months when the fog dissipates, forcing residents to supplement their needs with traditional sources. Local organizers are now seeking funding for advanced filtration systems and larger reservoirs to store the winter surplus.

Based on the article, what conclusion can be drawn about the impact of the fog-catchers on the community of Bellavista?

  1. Although the fog-catching system has reduced the community's immediate reliance on water trucks, it cannot currently serve as a standalone, year-round water source.Answer
  2. B
    The successful implementation of the fog catchers will soon allow the community to completely eliminate their connection to external water delivery services.
  3. C
    The project's main success is that it has successfully resolved the agricultural irrigation challenges faced by the entire metropolitan area of Lima.
  4. D
    The seasonal fluctuation in water yield proves that fog-catching technology is an inefficient and impractical method for coastal desert regions.

Answer

Although the fog-catching system has reduced the community's immediate reliance on water trucks, it cannot currently serve as a standalone, year-round water source.
The correct answer accurately reflects the passage's description of the system's performance: it has reduced the community's reliance on water trucks, but because the yield drops by 80% in the summer, it cannot yet serve as a standalone, year-round water source.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage's description of water production and its limitations.
The text states that fog catchers provide thousands of liters daily, helping with irrigation and sanitation, but the yield drops by 80% in summer.
This establishes the scope of the system's output and its seasonal vulnerability.
2
Evaluate the claims in the options against the seasonal limitations.
Since the community must supplement their water needs during the summer, the system is not yet a complete standalone replacement.
This rules out options claiming complete independence from other water sources and identifies the correct inference.

Key Concept

Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences
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