Pipes A, B, and C are attached to an empty cistern. While the first two can fill the cistern in 4 and 10 hours, respectively, the third can drain the cistern, when filled, in 6 hours. If all the three pipes are opened simultaneously when the cistern is three-fifth full, how many hours will be needed to fill the cistern?
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select "no improvement".
By now that garden (had been reduced) to an insignificant muddy patch.