Question

what about food and water?
you might expect oases—areas of water in the desert—to have a lot of water, but thats not always the case. in the gobi desert, for example, the water in some oases is so salty that it cant be used for drinking or farming. people who live near these oases often have to get water from far away, or they have to use water thats been treated to make it safe to drink.
food is also a problem in the desert. there arent many plants or animals that can survive in the harsh desert climate. so, people who live in the desert often have to rely on food thats been brought in from other places. this can be expensive, and it can also be difficult to get fresh food.
some deserts, like the gobi, are also very cold in the winter. the rivers and lakes in these deserts can freeze over, making it even harder to get water. and in the summer, the heat can make it difficult to grow crops or raise animals.
so, living in the desert isnt easy. but people who live there have found ways to adapt to the harsh conditions. they use technology to get water and food, and they also have traditions and cultures that help them survive.
based on the article, which is true?
a. the oases in the gobi desert produce a great amount of milk throughout the entire year.
b. the residents of the gobi desert are able to easily obtain fresh produce during the winter months.
c. the river in the gobi desert does not freeze because it is heated by an underground thermal spring.
d. the residents of the gobi desert rely heavily on their cars during the winter months.

Explanation:

• For Option A: The text states cows produce very little milk in cold months, so this is false.
• For Option B: The text says fresh vegetables/fruit are hard to get in winter, so this is false.
• For Option C: The text confirms the river doesn't freeze because of an underground thermal spring, so this is true.
• For Option D: The text says townspeople rely mostly on reindeer, fish, wild berries in winter, not cows, so this is false.

Answer:

C. The river in Oymyakon does not freeze because it is heated by an underground thermal spring.