Tips: Separate what the speaker personally believes from the views of the other groups in the report.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Towns should upgrade old pipes early, starting with systems over 40 years old.: The age of 40 years comes from the Statistics Canada data. The speaker never says which systems should be upgraded first.
• Towns should upgrade old pipes early, so that boil-water advisories stop for good.: Boil-water advisories come up in Dr. Patel's point about confidence. The speaker never promises that upgrades will end them.
• Towns should upgrade old pipes early, as the water is already at risk today.: Saying the water is already at risk is the residents' view. The speaker agrees that the rules prevent most immediate dangers.

Correct Answer: drive families and investment away from small towns.

Why this is correct: The leaders worry that alarming language could drive people away from small communities. These towns already struggle to attract families and investment.

Tips: Notice which group raises each worry, and what they say could happen.

Why the other options are wrong:

• drive residents away from their taps to bottled water.: The bottled water story comes from the speaker's visit near Thunder Bay. The municipal leaders do not mention it.
• push towns to upgrade pipes before tests show any risk.: Upgrading before problems show is the speaker's own advice. The leaders worry about alarming language, not about early upgrades.
• drive up the long-term cost of repairing town pipes.: Rising long-term costs come from the FCM report on delayed maintenance. Alarming language is not linked to costs.

Correct Answer: To show that nearly 30% of small water systems are over 40 years old.

Why this is correct: The data show that nearly 30% of small municipal water systems are more than 40 years old. Residents use this to show how old the systems are.

Tips: Several sources support the same side. Check what each one actually measured.

Why the other options are wrong:

• To show that nearly 30% of small towns have had boil-water advisories.: Boil-water advisories come from Dr. Patel's point about confidence. The data are about the age of water systems.
• To show that nearly 30% of small water systems fail provincial tests.: The data say nothing about failed tests. Municipal leaders say most small towns meet provincial rules.
• To show that nearly 40% of small water systems are over 30 years old.: The numbers are swapped. Nearly 30% of systems are more than 40 years old.

Correct Answer: To argue that waiting for a crisis is risky, even when water seems fine.

Why this is correct: The report uses Walkerton to argue that waiting for a crisis is risky. This is true even if day-to-day water quality appears acceptable.

Tips: Ask yourself what lesson the comparison is meant to teach about the present.

Why the other options are wrong:

• To argue that old pipes can let in contaminants, even when tests are passed.: Contaminants entering old pipes is Dr. Patel's point. The FCM uses Walkerton to warn against waiting for a crisis.
• To argue that advisories can damage trust, even when the water is safe.: Advisories hurting trust is Dr. Patel's point. The Walkerton comparison is about the risk of waiting for a crisis.
• To argue that serious failures are rare, even when systems are fragile.: The FCM does say catastrophic failures are rare. But Walkerton is used to warn against waiting, not to show that failures are rare.

Correct Answer: Partly accepting, but uneasy about towns close to the edge.

Why this is correct: The speaker agrees to some extent. Then the speaker says the argument overlooks how close some towns are to the edge.

Tips: Listen for how far the speaker agrees, and notice what the speaker adds after that.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Fully accepting, since most small towns meet the provincial rules.: The speaker agrees only to some extent. The word 'however' adds a clear reservation.
• Mostly doubtful, since old pipes let contaminants in anyway.: The speaker does agree that the rules prevent most immediate dangers. The corrosion point is Dr. Patel's.
• Partly accepting, but more uneasy about scaring families away.: Scaring families away is the municipal leaders' worry. The speaker is uneasy about towns close to the edge.

Correct Answer: About $240,000 extra.

Why this is correct: The FCM report says deferred maintenance increases long-term costs by up to 60%. 60% of $400,000 is $240,000.

Tips: Note the exact figure in the cost finding, then apply it to the new amount.

Why the other options are wrong:

• About $160,000 extra.: $160,000 is 40% of $400,000. The number 40 is the age of the systems, not the cost increase.
• About $640,000 extra.: $640,000 is the full cost after a 60% rise. The question asks only for the extra amount.
• About $120,000 extra.: $120,000 is 30% of $400,000. The figure of nearly 30% describes old water systems, not costs.