One of the biggest ironies around water is that a comes from rivers and other wetlands

One of the biggest ironies around water is that a comes from rivers and other wetlands. Yet it is seen as divorced from them. While water is used as a resource, public policy does not always grasp that it is a part of the natural ecosystem.

Efforts at engineering water systems are thus effort at augmenting water supply rather than strengthening the capacities of ecological systems.

Which one of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

  1. Rivers and other wetlands should be protected under Ramsar Convention.
  2. Engineering water systems should be modernized and further augmented.
  3. Wetlands need to be reinforced as more than just open sources of water.
  4. Water supply should not be free of cost so as to prevent its misuse or overuse.

Answer: C

Explanation

Option A is incorrect: The passage nowhere refers to or makes an implied reference to the Ramsar Convention.

Option B is incorrect: The passage is suggesting for the opposite as to what is mentioned in option B. Instead of focusing on modernizing and augmenting the water system (i.e. augmenting the water supply), policies must focus on the source of such water i.e. it must try to strengthen the capacity of ecological systems. However, as per the given passage, public policies are doing just the opposite.

Option C is correct: The first statement clearly states that "One of the biggest ironies, around water is that it comes from rivers and other wetlands. Yet it is seen as divorced from them. While water is used as a resource, public policy does not always grasp that is a part of the natural ecosystem." 

Option D is incorrect: While the statement given in option D is correct in its own merit, it is out of context with respect to the given passage, as the author does not state or indicate towards any such measure. Also, the statement is rather narrow in approach, as compared to the overall broader tone of the author.

  • Exam Year: 2020