Concept:Deforestation disrupts the water cycle, resulting in lower rainfall and therefore drought.
Explanation:Trees release water vapour into the atmosphere through transpiration, which is necessary for cloud formation and rain.
When forests are cleared, this natural moisture supply is removed, and the region receives much less rain.
A prolonged lack of rain dries the soil, reduces water sources, and creates drought conditions.
Deforestation also raises the ground temperature and contributes to global warming, which can worsen dry spells.
The other options, such as surface mining, sand winning, and quarrying, mainly damage the land or remove natural resources, but they are not direct causes of drought.
Therefore, among the given choices, deforestation makes drought most likely to occur.
Answer:C. deforestation