In August, the desert city of Rojo saw greater rainfall than in any other August on record. However, by September, city officials became alarmed that the city's water supply was critically low, prompting the city to issue water restrictions for all residents.
Which one of the following, if true, helps explain why the city's water supply was so low even after August's rainfall?
A)Rojo residents have always been careful about their use of water due to their location in the desert.
B)The heavy rains in August prompted residents to use more water than they had in previous years.
C)The city had instituted a more moderate quota on water usage in February.
D)People had less need to water their lawns than is normally the case because of the heavy rains in August
E)August is a popular time for Rojo residents to take a vacation, and the city's population actually decreased temporarily.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A possible explanation for the city's water supply becoming low even after August's rainfall is that the heavy rains prompted residents to use more water than they had in previous years. The passage describes a situation where the results are opposite than most would expect: more rainfall resulted in a lower supply of water. The correct answer must explain how that could be the case. B is the only answer that provides an explanation. If people used more water due to the heavy rainfall, then the water supply could have fallen despite the additional rain.

In August, the Desert City of Rojo Saw Greater Rainfall