Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.
As climate change intensifies rainfall patterns and urban flooding becomes increasingly frequent, cities worldwide are adopting an innovative approach known as "sponge cities." This concept, pioneered in China, transforms urban landscapes into water-absorbent systems that can capture, store, and purify rainwater rather than allowing it to overwhelm drainage infrastructure. Traditional concrete-dominated cities repel water, causing flash floods and contaminating rivers with polluted runoff. Sponge cities, by contrast, integrate permeable surfaces, green roofs, rain gardens, and wetlands that naturally absorb precipitation while filtering out pollutants.
The implementation of sponge city principles offers multiple environmental and economic benefits that extend beyond flood prevention. Permeable pavements and vegetated spaces reduce the urban heat island effect by cooling surrounding air through evaporation. These green infrastructures also enhance biodiversity by creating habitats for birds, insects, and other wildlife within dense urban environments. Additionally, captured rainwater can be reused for irrigation, toilet flushing, and industrial processes, significantly reducing municipal water consumption and alleviating pressure on overtaxed water supply systems during drought periods.
China has invested heavily in sponge city projects, designating thirty pilot cities to demonstrate their effectiveness at managing stormwater sustainably. Wuhan, frequently devastated by flooding, installed vast networks of permeable roads, expanded wetlands, and constructed enormous underground storage facilities. These interventions successfully reduced flood damage by forty percent within five years. However, critics note that construction costs remain substantial, and some installations require frequent maintenance to prevent clogging. Despite these challenges, the measurable improvements in water quality and reduced infrastructure damage justify continued investment.
International cities are now adapting sponge city concepts to local conditions. Copenhagen designed climate-resilient neighborhoods featuring interconnected parks that temporarily hold floodwater during storms. Melbourne mandated green roofs on new buildings to capture rainfall before it reaches street level. Rotterdam created water plazas – public spaces that function as recreation areas during dry weather but transform into retention basins during heavy rain. These global examples demonstrate that flexible, nature-based solutions can effectively mitigate urban flooding while improving quality of life for residents.
(Adapted from https://www.bbc.com)
Question 23. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 1?
A. Sponge cities utilize impermeable concrete surfaces that redirect rainwater into centralized drainage systems for efficient water management and pollution control.
B. Unlike traditional cities, sponge cities incorporate water-absorbing features like permeable surfaces and wetlands that naturally capture rain and remove contaminants.
C. Traditional urban planning focuses on integrating green roofs and rain gardens that repel water to prevent flooding in densely populated areas.
D. Sponge cities rely exclusively on advanced technological filtration systems rather than natural landscapes to manage urban stormwater and pollution issues.
