Meaning: To 'endure' means to suffer patiently or to withstand something difficult over time.

Wrong options:

• supported: The word 'supported' is the past tense of 'support,' which does not convey the sense of suffering or experiencing hardship that is required in this context.
• failed: While 'failed' is a verb, it does not fit the context of describing what Cape Town has experienced over the drought period; it refers to an unsuccessful attempt rather than an ongoing condition.
• deserted: 'Deserted' is an adjective that describes something abandoned, which does not relate to the experience of enduring a drought.
• suffer: 'Suffer' is a verb that indicates experiencing pain or distress, but it does not fit grammatically as it would require a different structure in this sentence.

Correct answer: failed

Explanation: The word 'failed' is the past tense of the verb 'fail,' which is appropriate here as it describes the unsuccessful attempts of winter rains to alleviate the drought. This aligns with the context of the sentence, which discusses the lack of sufficient rainfall.

Meaning: To 'fail' means to be unsuccessful in achieving a desired outcome, in this case, the rains not providing enough water.

Wrong options:

• supported: 'Supported' does not fit as it implies providing assistance or backing, which is not relevant to the context of rain not fulfilling its purpose.
• endured: 'Endured' is the past participle of 'endure,' which does not fit here as it does not describe the action of the rains; it refers to the experience of suffering.
• deserted: 'Deserted' is an adjective that means abandoned, which does not relate to the action of rain and is not appropriate in this context.
• suffer: 'Suffer' is a verb that indicates experiencing pain, but it does not fit grammatically or contextually as it does not describe the action of the rains.

Correct answer: conserve

Explanation: The word 'conserve' is a verb that fits grammatically as it indicates the action of saving or preserving resources, which is the intended action in the context of the sentence regarding water supplies. It aligns with the urgency of the situation described.

Meaning: To 'conserve' means to protect something from loss or harm, particularly in terms of resources like water.

Wrong options:

• supported: 'Supported' does not fit as it implies providing assistance rather than taking action to save resources, which is not the intended meaning here.
• failed: 'Failed' is a verb that indicates an unsuccessful attempt, which does not relate to the action of saving water supplies.
• forced: 'Forced' is a past participle that indicates being compelled to do something, which does not fit the context of actively saving water.
• queue: 'Queue' is a verb that means to line up, which does not relate to the action of conserving water.

Correct answer: forced

Explanation: The word 'forced' is the past participle of the verb 'force,' which fits grammatically as it describes the necessity imposed on officials to take action due to the water crisis. It aligns with the context of being compelled to make difficult decisions.

Meaning: To be 'forced' means to be compelled to do something against one's will or due to circumstances.

Wrong options:

• supported: 'Supported' does not fit as it implies providing assistance rather than being compelled to act, which is not the intended meaning in this context.
• failed: 'Failed' does not fit as it does not describe a state of being compelled; it refers to an unsuccessful attempt.
• deserted: 'Deserted' is an adjective that means abandoned, which does not relate to the necessity of taking action in this context.
• suffer: 'Suffer' indicates experiencing pain or distress, which does not fit the grammatical structure or context of being compelled to act.

Correct answer: queue

Explanation: The word 'queue' is a verb that fits grammatically as it describes the action families will need to take in response to the water crisis. It aligns with the context of waiting in line for water collection, which is the main action described in this part of the sentence.

Meaning: To 'queue' means to line up or wait in line for something, in this case, water.

Wrong options:

• supported: 'Supported' does not fit as it implies providing assistance rather than describing the action of waiting in line for water.
• failed: 'Failed' does not fit as it does not describe an action related to waiting; it refers to an unsuccessful attempt.
• deserted: 'Deserted' is an adjective that means abandoned, which does not relate to the action of waiting in line.
• suffer: 'Suffer' indicates experiencing pain or distress, which does not fit the context of the action families will take.