Question

a problem growing right under our feet

xeriscaping can reduce water used for landscaping by 50 to 80 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 $304,935.

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 citys 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.

select the correct answer.
what is the authors overall claim in the passage?

water is a valuable resource for people.
efforts must be taken to conserve energy.
efforts must be taken to conserve water.
water is often wasted on peoples yards.

Explanation:

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<reasoning>

Analyze the central thesis and supporting arguments

The passage focuses on the benefits of xeriscaping to reduce water usage, highlighting the community's high water consumption, the ongoing drought, and the financial and environmental savings. The author explicitly states: "The need for people to conserve water is crucial" and concludes with "Efforts to conserve water must begin now."

Evaluate the answer choices against the text

• "Water is a valuable resource for people": This is a general fact supported by the text, but not the active call to action or overall claim.
• "Efforts must be taken to conserve energy": Incorrect, as the passage focuses entirely on water conservation and xeriscaping, not energy.
• "Efforts must be taken to conserve water": This directly matches the author's primary thesis, the explicit call to action in the text, and the concluding sentence.
• "Water is often wasted on people's yards": This is a supporting detail used to justify the need for xeriscaping, not the overall claim.

</reasoning>

<answer>
<mcq-option>Water is a valuable resource for people.</mcq-option>
<mcq-option>Efforts must be taken to conserve energy.</mcq-option>
<mcq-correct>Efforts must be taken to conserve water.</mcq-correct>
<mcq-option>Water is often wasted on people's yards.</mcq-option>
</answer>

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Answer:

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<reasoning>

Analyze the central thesis and supporting arguments

The passage focuses on the benefits of xeriscaping to reduce water usage, highlighting the community's high water consumption, the ongoing drought, and the financial and environmental savings. The author explicitly states: "The need for people to conserve water is crucial" and concludes with "Efforts to conserve water must begin now."

Evaluate the answer choices against the text

• "Water is a valuable resource for people": This is a general fact supported by the text, but not the active call to action or overall claim.
• "Efforts must be taken to conserve energy": Incorrect, as the passage focuses entirely on water conservation and xeriscaping, not energy.
• "Efforts must be taken to conserve water": This directly matches the author's primary thesis, the explicit call to action in the text, and the concluding sentence.
• "Water is often wasted on people's yards": This is a supporting detail used to justify the need for xeriscaping, not the overall claim.

</reasoning>

<answer>
<mcq-option>Water is a valuable resource for people.</mcq-option>
<mcq-option>Efforts must be taken to conserve energy.</mcq-option>
<mcq-correct>Efforts must be taken to conserve water.</mcq-correct>
<mcq-option>Water is often wasted on people's yards.</mcq-option>
</answer>

<post_analysis>
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"question_type": "Multiple Choice",
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"Reading Comprehension"
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