Question

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: Many have had to leave their homes behind, with more than 1.3 million people being displaced due to the drought.
Passage: Somalia has been dealing with an enormous humanitarian catastrophe, driven by the longest and most severe drought the country has experienced in at least 40 years. ___(1)___. Five consecutive rainy seasons have failed, causing more than 8 million people - almost half of the country’s population – to experience acute food insecurity. ___(2)___. More than 43,000 people are believed to have lost their lives, with half of the lives lost likely being children under five. The damage the drought has caused is far-reaching. ___(3)___. Farmers have lost all their agricultural income, while pastoralists have lost more than 3 million livestock, impoverishing entire communities, and leaving them on the brink of famine. ___(4)___. Some, like the pastoralists, may never be able to go back as their livelihoods have been irreversibly wiped out.

• A. Option 4
• B. Option 2
• C. Option 1
• D. Option 3

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the best placement for the sentence, we'll analyze how it fits with the logical flow and content of the existing text. Let's look at each option:

• Option 1: "Somalia is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to the longest and most intense drought in 40 years. Over 1.3 million people have been displaced by the drought..." Inserting the sentence here disrupts the initial explanation of the drought's humanitarian impact, which is crucial context for the rest of the passage.
• Option 2: "...Five consecutive rainy seasons have failed, leaving nearly half of the population (over 8 million people) facing acute food insecurity. Over 1.3 million people have been displaced by the drought..." Placing the sentence here interrupts the flow from the widespread issue of food insecurity to details about casualties and infrastructure damage.
• Option 3: "...Over 43,000 lives are estimated to have been lost, with nearly half of them being children under five. The drought's damage is extensive. Over 1.3 million people have been displaced by the drought..." Adding the sentence here duplicates information about casualties and damage, potentially disrupting the coherence.
• Option 4: "...Farmers have lost all their income, and pastoralists have lost over 3 million livestock, impoverishing communities and pushing them towards famine. Over 1.3 million people have been displaced by the drought. Some, like the pastoralists, may never be able to return as their livelihoods are permanently destroyed." This position logically follows the discussion of livelihood loss and precedes the consideration of permanent community impact, thus maintaining a coherent flow.

Therefore, the sentence fits best after the discussion of agricultural and livestock losses, and before the mention of the long-term consequences for communities. Option 4 is the most suitable placement.