The passage below has gaps numbered 16 to 25. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap. Each question carries 2 marks.  Drought is a word that invokes strong emotions. This is not surprising as the...16...[A. ideology B. phenomenon C. idea D. component] is usually accompanied by a number of unpleasant developments. These developments have ........17.....[A. feedback B. results C. implication D. outcomes] for all citizens, starting from the peasant farmers to the state and federal governments which may be plunged into emergency and crisis situation which, if not successfully ......18.....[A. managed B. manipulated C. examined D. studied] could result in social unrest.
  The timeliness of the onset of the rains in various regions of the country and their adequate distribution thereafter have become.....19.....[A. objects B. subjects C. issues D. topics] of considerable anxiety to all people. The fact, however, is that periodic reduction in the normal.....20.....[A. amount B. supply C. size D. flood] of rainfall in the country is not new.
  Since large areas of the country are drought prone, the consequence are ......21.....[A. effective B. disastrous C. evident D. inevitable]. Dry spells could be very severe. There are two aspects of coping with drought. One has to do with emergency measures and the other with ......22.....[A. routine B. organized C. urgent D. delayed] measures. An immediate consequence of any drought would be famine. In addition, where whole populations are forced to abandon their lands or pastures in search of food, there are bound to be other lasting and.....23.....[A. longitudinal B. objective C. simultaneous D. parallel] consequences such as distress, sales of cattle by livestock owners in order to buy food.
  Government should provide farmers with agricultural inputs and ensure that they have easy access to these inputs under the relief.....24.....[A. action B. process C. scheme D. plan]. Emergency measures will be much more......25.....[A. normal B. correct C. idealistic D. effective] if a mechanism is established to ensure adequate preparedness and defence against the occurrence of drought.


In question number 20 above, choose the best option from letters A-D that best completes the gap.

A. amount  
B. supply
C. size
D. flood

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Correct Answer: A