erroneously adverse

inexhaustible alarming

scarce essential

grave critical

degradation
 Choose the word which does NOT have the
same meaning as the underlined word.

1. Joey erroneously circled another answer.

a. correctly c. mistakenly
b. inaccurately d. wrongly
2. There is an inexhaustible supply of coal
according to the researcher.
a. infinite c. immeasurable
b. abundant d. limited
3. Fresh vegetables and fruits were scarce
during the drought.
a. lacking c. plentiful
b. few d. insufficient
4. It will cause grave effects on the
environment.
a. insignificant c. terrible
b. serious d. threatening
5. Global climate change leads to an increasing
number of environmental degradation.
a. decline c. promotion
b. reduction d. deterioration
6. Drinking unsafe water has adverse effects
on one’s health.
a. harmful c. unfavorable
b. negative d. advantages
7. The crowd panicked when they heard the
alarming announcement.
a. shocking c. disturbing
b. frightening d. reassuring
8. Bring only the essential things in your bag.
a. necessary c. vital
b. unimportant d. indispensable
9. The President called for an emergency
meeting because the situation was critical.
a. serious c. grave
b. safe d. desperate
 When Water Becomes Scarce
Water, which we erroneously thought of as an
inexhaustible resource, is now becoming scarce in
many regions of the world. This reality has grave
effects and is believed to be getting worse due to
the rapid growth of population and industrialization.
Other aggravating factors include climate change
and man-made environmental degradation.
Are you aware of what is happening to people in
countries experiencing water scarcity.
 In some regions of India, women and young girls
bear the burden of fetching water. They carry
heavy jugs on their head and walk three to four
kilometers from home to fetch water. This plight
deprives them of opportunities for education and
livelihood.
The same is happening in some countries in
Africa. Sourcing water for drinking and household
chores falls on the shoulders of the female
population. Young girls and women whose ages
range from seven to forty years old
carry pots or jugs and walk for almost two
hours just to fetch water from a natural
spring to provide for their family’s daily
water needs. They actually walk several
miles three times a day for drinking water.
And this water that they obtain may not
even be safe to drink. Consequently, this
brings an adverse effect on their health.
 Water contamination is another
alarming situation related to the scarcity
of water. People have limited sources of
safe drinking water. The river, which is the
source of life for them, is also the bringer
of death as it can spread diseases. It is
not an unusual occurrence in Third World
Countries that people are brought to
hospitals in great numbers due to severe
diarrhea and high fever caused by unsafe
drinking water. In other places, toxic
wastes are dumped into rivers,
diminishing further those areas’
resources.
Indeed, water is a very important
commodity since it is essential for various
valuable processes and continuity of
human life.
It is no wonder that people residing in
places where water is scarce consider
water more valuable than gold. Thus, it is
necessary for them to think about how to
ensure its sustainability.
How about us? Should we wait until
situation becomes critical before we act
on conserving water?
 How Well Did You Read?
1. What is water scarcity?
2. What are the causes of water
scarcity?
3. Why do you think some people need
to fetch water from far places?
4. How is water scarcity related to water
contamination?
 ACTIVITY
Read each sentence and get the meaning of the
underlined word from the box below.

a. products that can be bought or sold

b. making something impure
c. preservation
d. Making something worse
e. difficult situation
1. My mom is always up to date on the
prices of most commodities in the
market.
2. People in countries that experience
water scarcity find themselves in a
sorry plight.
3. There are other aggravating factors
that make this problem of water
scarcity an important issue.
4. We must always be conscious of the
proper use of our natural resources
to prevent wastage and help ensure
their sustainability.
5. The contamination of the city’s water
plant was pointed as the reason for
the recent rise of hospitalizations.
4. We must always be conscious of the
proper use of our natural resources
to prevent wastage and help ensure
their sustainability.
5. The contamination of the city’s water
plant was pointed as the reason for
the recent rise of hospitalizations.