Answer:
B. rate of water flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given that in a research study the explanatory variable is a form of a variable that is independent and it is used by the researcher to make predictions or analyze variations in other variables known as response variables.
Hence, in this case, the Explanatory variable is the "rate of water flow" because it is the variable researcher wishes to utilize in predicting the amount of soil washed away.