Question

xeriscaping can reduce water used for landscaping by 50 to 60 percent. this reduction of water usage can be astonishing when one considers the amount of water our community uses—about 265 million gallons per year on landscaping at a cost of $304,335. if we cut water use in half, we will save 132.5 million gallons and $150,000. the second and best reason for xeriscaping our downtown district is the drought that we are presently experiencing. the need for people to conserve water is crucial. our city leaders need to set an example by reducing the city’s own water consumption. it is time that our community leaders take the qualities that they hope to instill in their citizens and put them to practice. i propose that members of our city council add xeriscaping to their future landscaping plans as well as areas that have already been landscaped. grassy areas are only needed in the park where children play and families picnic. replacing 200 of the 400 acres of grass will also save the city endless hours of mowing, pounds of fertilizer, and approximately $20,000 of maintenance costs per year, on top of the $150,000 saved by reduced water consumption. surely the city council can spend $170,000 per year on something more useful to our community than grass. water conservation has been ignored too long. efforts to conserve water must begin now. 14 select the correct answer. what is the author’s overall claim in the passage? a. efforts must be taken to conserve water b. water is a valuable resource for people. c. efforts must be taken to conserve energy d. water is often wasted on people’s yards.

Explanation:

The passage focuses on xeriscaping to cut water use, notes a current drought, argues city leaders should model conservation, and concludes water conservation efforts must start now. Option A directly matches this overarching claim. Option B is a general truth not the author's specific push. Option C is incorrect (the focus is water, not energy). Option D is a narrow detail, not the overall claim.

Answer:

A. Efforts must be taken to conserve water.