Keeping the water away
Read Keeping the water away and check the IELTS Reading answers. Recently, winter floods on the rivers of central Europe have been among the worst for 600 to 700 years, and dams and dykes (protective sea walls) have failed to solve the problem. Traditionally, river engineers have tried to get rid o…
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Recently, winter floods on the rivers of central Europe have been among the worst for 600 to 700 years, and dams and dykes (protective sea walls) have failed to solve the problem. Traditionally, river engineers have tried to get rid of the water quickly, draining it off the land and down to the sea in rivers reengineered as high-performance drains. But however high they build the artificial riverbanks, the floods keep coming back. And when they come, they seem to be worse than ever.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- catchment noun
The action of collecting water, especially the collection of rainfall over a natural drainage area
The massive river catchment drains rainfall from multiple mountain ranges directly into the ocean.
- coincide verb
To occur at or during the same time; to correspond in nature or align perfectly
The peak flows of the two rivers coincide, which significantly increases the risk of downstream flooding.
- curb verb
To restrain or keep in check; to limit or control something undesirable or harmful
Strict government regulations were implemented to curb the flow of agricultural runoff into the river systems.
- disperse verb
To distribute or spread over a wide area; to scatter in different directions to reduce concentration
Urban planners aim to disperse floodwaters into surrounding wetlands rather than relying solely on concrete drains.
- divert verb
To cause someone or something to change course or turn from one direction to another
The new drainage system was specifically designed to divert excess rainwater away from densely populated residential areas.
- enduring stereotype noun
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea that persists over a long period
The enduring stereotype of the aggressive predator has negatively impacted conservation efforts for the species.
- evacuate verb
To remove someone from a place of danger to a safer location, typically during an emergency
Authorities were forced to evacuate thousands of residents when the artificial riverbanks failed during the winter storms.
- meander verb
To follow a winding course; to wander at random without a direct or straight path
The river was allowed to meander naturally across the plain to reduce the force of the water.
- porous adjective
Having minute spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass; permeable to fluids
Engineers utilized porous paving materials to allow rainwater to filter directly into the underground aquifers.
- storm surge noun
A rising of the sea or river level caused by atmospheric pressure changes and extreme wind
The coastal city constructed massive sea walls to protect residents from a devastating storm surge.
Answers with explanations
- 14. F
Paragraph F describes how "tough new rules" (legislation) require "architects of new urban buildings" (building designers) to improve water use by preventing overloaded drains and "diverting rainwater."
- 15. C
Paragraph C details the case of the Rhine River, which was "cut it off from its plain" (isolated). It provides two reasons for this: to "improve navigation" and to "speed floodwaters" away.
- 16. B
Paragraph B explains how in the past ("Back in the days"), natural watercourses with a "winding path" helped control floods by allowing the water to lose "force and volume" as it crossed flood plains.
- 17. D
Paragraph D discusses a flood control project on the Drava River that protects towns in three countries: "Austria," "Slovenia," and "Croatia."
- 18. E
Paragraph E refers to the Netherlands (the "Dutch"), describing how they are modifying their "dykes," which are protective walls and one of their most typical features ("enduring national stereotypes"), to manage water.
- 19. G
In Paragraph G, the writer compares the costs and effectiveness of the new scheme to traditional methods, noting that while the new method "may sound expensive," the traditional method of trying to "drain cities" spends a lot but "achieves" little.
- 20-21: AD
20: The text explains that the new approach involves reviving marshes and flood plains to "sap the water’s destructive strength" and "slow down storm surges." This supports Option A, which states the new approach aims to "slow the movement of water to the sea."
21: The text describes projects that involve reflooding large areas, such as "10 square kilometres of the ancient flood plain" in the UK and returning "a sixth of the country to its former waterlogged state" in the Netherlands. This supports Option D, which notes the new approach "will involve the loss of some areas of land" (by returning it to water/nature).
- 22. central Europe
The text states that some of the "worst" (most severe) floods for "600 to 700 years" (many centuries) have happened on the rivers of "central Europe." Therefore, the correct answer is "central Europe."
- 23. Mississippi
The text discusses the problems caused by engineering "The Rhine" river. It then states that "The same thing has happened... on the Mississippi River." Thus, both rivers have "experienced similar problems," making "Mississippi" the correct answer.
- 24. London
The text explains that a flood plain "outside Oxford" (near Oxford) is being reflooded to "help keep London’s feet dry," which means to "protect the city of" London. Therefore, the answer is "London."
- 25. soft engineers
The sentence needs the name for planners who want water to pass freely. The text refers to those who want "cities to be porous" (allow water to pass through) as a "new breed of ‘soft engineers’." Hence, the answer is "soft engineers."
- 26. Los Angeles
The sentence discusses testing whether small-scale projects could "be applied on a large scale" (to "protect a whole city"). The text identifies "Los Angeles" as the "test case" for this idea. Thus, the answer is "Los Angeles."