During the drought, the farmers had to be very conservative with their water usage. Every drop was precious, and they couldn't afford to squander any resources on non-essential activities. The community learned to adapt their habits to preserve what little water remained.
Based on the passage, what does 'conservative' mean?
- Firmly loyal to established political traditions and opposed to sudden social change
- Careful and restrained in order to prevent waste or avoid unnecessary risk (correct answer)
- Committed to familiar old-fashioned methods rather than adopting newer approaches
- Unwilling to lend or divide supplies among nearby struggling communities
Explanation: In this passage, the farmers must guard every drop of water and cannot afford to lose any during a drought. That tells you 'conservative' describes being careful and restrained so nothing is wasted or risked—which fits the answer about preventing waste and avoiding unnecessary risk. The choice about loyalty to political traditions uses a real meaning of 'conservative,' but nothing in the passage is about politics or social change. The choice about sticking to old-fashioned methods also names a possible meaning, yet the farmers are actually changing their habits, not clinging to old ways. The choice about being unwilling to share supplies confuses 'conservative' with being selfish; the passage praises careful use of water, not refusing to help neighbors. Only the meaning about careful, restrained use to prevent waste matches how the word is used here.