Directions: In the questions given below, two blanks have been provided for each statement and needs to be filled with the appropriate words. Choose the best option among the given ones. India is the world’s largest consumer of groundwater resources with the _______ increase in population and urbanization putting even more stress on the country’s _______ replenishable water resources.

Step-by-step solution

As there is expected to be more stress on the resources, the first word can be either rapid or reckless . Tepid means slow/unenthusiastic and is incorrect. Similarly, option B can be eliminated. Now, the reason for worry would only arise if the resources were limited and this would be the correct word in the second blank. Thus, only option D fits in meaningfully. Hence, option D is correct.