The first five paragraphs lay the groundwork for the article by establishing context for two sides of a debate. They introduce the concept of shade balls, their intended benefits in the context of the California drought, and raise questions about the broader implications of this water-saving method, thus setting up a discussion on the potential trade-offs involved.
"Why 'Shade
Balls' May Not Save Water"
by Amanda Grennell
In 2015, the world watched as a video of 96 million "shade balls" getting dumped into the Los Angeles Reservoir went viral. The purpose of the balls: to improve water quality and save water.
But a new study raises an interesting question:
Could saving water in the Los Angeles Reservoir come at the cost of consuming water in other parts of world?
At the time, Californians faced a record-setting drought, and conserving water was on everyone's minds. Mandatory water restrictions led to brown lawns and shorter showers.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said the shade balls could keep contaminants out of the water and reduce the evaporation of the reservoir by 85 to 90 percent during a drought. The officials said the annual
Use the passage to answer the question.
How do the first five paragraphs lay the groundwork for the article?
(1 point)
By establishing the credibility of the author.
By explaining the underlying methodology used to ease droughts.
By explaining resource management issues in a major city.
By establishing context for two sides of a debate.
1 answer