Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Rapid population growth increases demand for food, which pushes farmers to expand irrigated agriculture, especially during dry seasons. To meet irrigation needs, farmers dig more wells and tube-wells, leading to over-exploitation of groundwater. As more water is extracted than is recharged, groundwater levels fall steadily. This depletes underground aquifers, reducing water availability for future use and threatening food security. Thus, growing population → greater food demand → expanded irrigation → over-extraction of groundwater → falling water table → water scarcity.

Source: Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Management, Chapter 3

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• The examiner expects a cause-and-effect chain, not just isolated facts.
• Key link: population growth → food demand → irrigated agriculture → groundwater over-exploitation → depletion.
• Mention "tube-wells/wells," "dry-season agriculture," and "falling groundwater levels" — these are textbook terms that fetch marks.
• A chain/flow format (even in prose) clearly shows logical progression, which is what a 3-mark chain-of-consequences question rewards.