VII. Read the passage and choose the correct answer to complete the passage.

A drought is a period or condition of unusually dry weather within a geographic area where rainfall is normally present. During a drought there is a ___(1)___ of precipitation. Droughts occur in all climatic zones. However, its characteristics vary significantly ___(2)___ one region to another.

Its ___(3)___ depends on the degree of the water shortage, size of area affected, and the duration and warmth of the dry period. In many underdeveloped countries, such as India, people place a great demand on water supply. During a drought period ___(4)___ is a lack of water, and thus many of the poor die.

___(5)___ drought cannot be reliably predicted, certain precautions can be taken in drought-risk areas. These include construction of reservoirs to hold emergency water supplies, education to avoid over cropping and overgrazing, and programs to limit settlement in drought-prone areas.