|Question 10Verbal

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A student is writing a research paper on the history of irrigation in the southwestern United States, situating the development of Searsville Lake (a man-made body of water created in San Mateo County, California, in 1890) in a larger historical context. The student claims that some modern-day irrigation methods used in southwestern states, such as California, Arizona, and New Mexico, have a lineage that long predates the completion of Searsville Lake.
Which quotation from a historian best supports the student’s claim?
“The irrigation system developed by the Hohokam people in what is now central Arizona in the 7th century CE was simple but made use of hydraulic engineering design principles that are still utilized by today’s engineers.”
A
“The importance of the development of irrigation infrastructure in the American Southwest today cannot be overstated, since it is the most common means of conveying water for food production.”
B
“In the decades following the Second World War, irrigation of arid areas for agriculture increased to such a degree that it now accounts for roughly 70% of the world’s water usage.”
C
“Sprinkler irrigation systems, which were developed in the late 20th century, are a convenient technique of irrigating that makes use of machinery in order to spray water in all directions. Many areas of the Southwestern United States are currently irrigated by this method.”
D