If prolonged drought reduces river water levels, what is the likely effect?

• A. Drought
• B. Flooding
• C. Lower river levels
• D. Increased rainfall

Answer: (C)

Prolonged drought means the river receives much less water from rainfall and runoff, so the amount of water flowing downstream drops. A river’s level sits at the point where inflows (precipitation, runoff, groundwater) balance outflows (downstream flow, evaporation, withdrawal). When inflows shrink and losses continue, the surface falls, leading to lower river levels.

This aligns with the real-world effect: drought reduces water inputs, not increases them or causes flooding. So the outcome is simply that the river level becomes lower.