Task: Question Answering
Input (English): Background Paragraph: Rainfall in an area is important because it influences the rate of weathering. More rain means that more rainwater passes through the soil. The rainwater reacts chemically with the particles. The top layers of soil are in contact with the freshest water, so reactions are greatest there. High rainfall increases the amount of rock that experiences chemical reactions. High rainfall may also carry material away. This means that new surfaces are exposed. This increases the rate of weathering. 
Story: In an area east of the Rocky mountains, there are seasons of heavy rains and times of the year where it experiences sever droughts. This year the area has received record breaking amounts of rain. 
Question: Given that next year the rainfall is severely low, will the effects of weathering be higher or lower than normal?
Output (English): lower.