METU EPE Reading Exam Practice 9-Water Scarcity and Global Conflict/ ODTÜ İYS (Okuma Sınav Alıştırması)

Reading Practice: Text 9

A B2-C1 interactive reading practice on Water Scarcity and Global Conflict for students preparing for METU EPE (İYS) and for academic English learners. Includes multiple-choice questions. For extra practice, some questions may vary slightly.

B2-C1 seviyesinde interaktif okuma sınav alıştırması. ODTÜ İYS ve diğer üniversitelerin hazırlık atlama sınavları için hazırlanmıştır. Ekstra pratik olması için bazı sorular farklılık gösterebilir.

Target: B2-C1 / EPE

A Water, once considered an abundant and renewable resource, is rapidly becoming one of the most contested commodities in the modern world. While global attention has long focused on fossil fuels, the availability of clean and accessible freshwater is emerging as a more immediate and severe concern. According to the United Nations, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population experience water scarcity for at least one month each year, and this number is expected to rise as climate change accelerates and populations grow. Many governments are already facing pressure to secure reliable water sources, not only for domestic use but also for agriculture and industry, which together account for the majority of global water consumption.

1. According to paragraph A, which sector uses the most water globally?

B As water supplies dwindle, competition among neighboring regions and countries is intensifying. Shared river basins, such as the Nile, the Tigris-Euphrates, and the Indus, have become geopolitical hotspots where tensions over water rights have sparked diplomatic disputes and, in some cases, armed conflict. For instance, upstream countries may build dams or divert water for their own use, reducing the flow to downstream nations and provoking accusations of water hoarding or economic sabotage. Though international agreements exist to promote cooperation, enforcement is often weak, and trust between parties can erode quickly when water security is at stake.

2. According to paragraph B, what is a likely consequence when upstream countries build dams on shared rivers?

C The threat of conflict over water is not limited to developing nations. Even in industrialized countries, competition over water can lead to internal strife. A) In the United States, states like California and Arizona have clashed over rights to the Colorado River, while Australia has experienced disputes between farmers and urban centers during prolonged droughts. B) These conflicts are often exacerbated by legal ambiguity and a lack of comprehensive water governance policies. C) Moreover, water scarcity disproportionately affects marginalized communities, exacerbating existing inequalities and sparking protests over environmental justice.

3. Which sentence in paragraph C disrupts the logical flow of ideas?

D Technological innovations offer some hope in addressing water scarcity, yet they are not without limitations. Desalination plants, which remove salt from seawater, have provided freshwater for arid regions like the Middle East and parts of southern Europe. However, these facilities are expensive to build and operate, consume large amounts of energy, and pose environmental risks due to the discharge of concentrated brine into marine ecosystems. Other solutions, such as wastewater recycling and rainwater harvesting, are more sustainable but require significant public investment and long-term policy support to become viable on a large scale. Without political will, even the most promising technologies may fail to make a meaningful impact.

4. What is the main idea of paragraph D?

E Climate change adds a volatile layer of uncertainty to water availability. Rising temperatures increase evaporation rates and alter precipitation patterns, leading to more frequent and severe droughts in some areas and floods in others. Melting glaciers, which serve as natural reservoirs in regions like the Himalayas and Andes, are shrinking rapidly, threatening the long-term water supply for millions. The unpredictability of these changes makes it difficult for policymakers to plan ahead, leaving societies vulnerable to sudden disruptions in water access. This environmental instability further complicates diplomatic negotiations, as countries struggle to agree on water-sharing strategies that are both fair and flexible.

5. What does paragraph E suggest about climate change’s impact on policymaking?

F Given the centrality of water to human survival, its scarcity poses not only an environmental and economic risk but also a profound threat to peace and stability. Experts warn that water stress can act as a “threat multiplier,” intensifying pre-existing social, political, and ethnic tensions. In regions where governance is weak, the struggle over water resources may be exploited by extremist groups or lead to mass migration, heightening regional insecurity. To avoid such outcomes, global cooperation is essential. This includes not only diplomatic efforts but also investments in education, infrastructure, and climate resilience. The future of water security will depend as much on international solidarity as on technological progress.

6. What is the writer’s tone in paragraph F?

Vocabulary Practice

7. What is the meaning of the word “dwindle” in paragraph B?

8. What is the meaning of “volatile” in paragraph E?

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