To solve the given fill-in-the-blank question, we need to choose words that complete the sentence logically and contextually. The sentence is: "Research should be done on rainwater ________ and treatment of wastewater so that it might be recycled and made ________."
Let's analyze the options:
-
harvesting … potable:
- Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater for future use. This fits well in the context as it is a common technique used for water conservation.
- The word potable means suitable for drinking. It aligns with the treatment of wastewater, aiming for it to be clean and safe to drink.
-
preserving … available:
- Rainwater preserving is not a standard term compared to harvesting.
- Made available is very generic and doesn't specifically relate to making water drinkable.
-
controlling … possible:
- The term controlling doesn’t naturally apply to rainwater in this context.
- Possible doesn’t convey the idea of purification or making the water safe to drink.
-
maintaining … edible:
- Rainwater maintaining is not a common term.
- Edible applies to food, not water, and is therefore inappropriate here.
-
collecting … accessible:
- Collecting might fit, but accessible is too broad and doesn't specifically mean suitable for drinking.
By evaluating each pair, the most logical and relevant choice is harvesting … potable, as it correctly addresses the process and goal of the actions described in the sentence.
Therefore, the correct answer is: "Research should be done on rainwater harvesting and treatment of wastewater so that it might be recycled and made potable."