Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities ? 1. Aral Sea 2. Black Sea 3. Lake Baikal Select the correct answer using the code given below :

The Aral Sea is the correct answer because it has lost approximately 90% of its volume since the 1960s due to the massive diversion of its feeder rivers, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, for Soviet irrigation projects. While Lake Baikal (Option 3) faces ecological threats such as pollution and minor water level fluctuations, it remains the world's deepest lake and has not "shrunk immensely" like the Aral Sea, making Option (d) the most common incorrect choice. The core concept tested is the impact of anthropogenic activities and unsustainable water management on major inland water bodies.