The word desiccating in the passage is closest in meaning to:

Tropical peat swamp forests are unique wetland ecosystems characterized by waterlogged acidic soils where decomposed organic vegetation accumulates over millennia as thick peat beds. In Malaysia, undisturbed peat swamps act as immense terrestrial carbon sinks, sequestering more carbon per hectare than dry lowland dipterocarp rainforests. Also, peat swamps function as hydrological sponges: during the torrential northeast monsoon, they absorb torrential rainfall and mitigate downstream flash floods, slowly releasing stored freshwater during subsequent dry spells. However, extensive drainage for monoculture oil palm plantations lowers water tables, desiccating peat and rendering it susceptible to smouldering subterranean fires that generate hazardous transboundary haze.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. thoroughly drying out

  1. Step 1: Determine the etymology and context of "desiccating": derived from the Latin root desiccare (to make completely dry), the word appears in the context of drainage canals removing water from peat layers.
  2. Step 2: Select the accurate synonym: "desiccating" means removing moisture entirely or causing something to become thoroughly dried out.
Answer
thoroughly drying out.
Why not the others: "severely polluting" confuses physical dehydration with chemical contamination; "enriching with minerals" suggests soil fertilization, whereas peat is naturally acidic and nutrient-poor; "flooding completely" is the direct antonym (inundation rather than drying).

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