Final answer:
Desalination allows people in areas without adequate freshwater to adapt by converting seawater into drinkable freshwater. It is vital in regions with limited natural freshwater resources and represents a critical solution to the water supply crisis, despite its high cost and energy requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technological innovations like desalination have enabled individuals living in areas without adequate freshwater sources to adapt by converting seawater into drinkable freshwater. Desalination is the process of removing dissolved salts from seawater or saline groundwater to make it potable. This technology is particularly important in regions with limited natural freshwater resources, such as the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Israel, where the demand for water has increased due to growing populations and fresh water requirements.
The correct answer to the question of how technological innovations like desalination have allowed people to adapt to environments with inadequate freshwater sources is by converting seawater into drinkable freshwater (option b). This method is one that can increase the amount of fresh water on Earth, despite being an expensive and energy-intensive solution. The creation of dams, reservoirs, or implementing strict water conservation measures, while important, are not methods that produce new fresh water. Advanced irrigation techniques can help conserve water but do not create drinkable water from seawater. Given its capability to provide essential water supply for drinking and agriculture, desalination plays a critical role in supporting human settlements and mitigating the water supply crisis in arid regions.