In the sentence 'There is a scarcity of fresh water in arid regions,' the opposite of scarcity is best expressed by:

• A. Abundance
• B. Drought
• C. Ample supply
• D. Shortage

Answer: (C)

This item tests how to find the opposite of scarcity and fit it into the same sentence pattern. Scarcity means there isn’t enough, so the opposite should describe a plentiful amount. The natural way to express that in the sentence structure There is ... of is There is an ample supply of. Ample means more than enough, and supply frames water as the available quantity, making the phrase a direct and clear counter to scarcity. This keeps the sentence smooth and idiomatic: There is an ample supply of fresh water. While abundance also signals plenty, ample supply mirrors the original construction most closely. Drought and shortage describe lack or dryness, which do not convey the opposite concept.