Select the phrasal verb meaning to originate or derive from:
Environmental economists argue that chronic urban flash flooding ________ inadequate drainage infrastructure and rampant deforestation in the upper river catchment.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. stems from
Answer: stems from. Why not the others: 'brings about' means causes (which reverses the grammatical subject-cause relationship here); 'gives off' means emits a smell or light; 'sets aside' means reserves or annuls.
- Step 1: Analyze the causal link: the flash flooding has its source, origin, or cause in the poor drainage and deforestation.
- Step 2: 'Stem from' means to originate in, arise from, or be caused by an underlying factor.
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