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III. Flood control in the USA: Đề luyện tập IELTS READING (IELTS Reading Practice Test)
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Flood control in the USA
A Americans have always feared floods, and with good reason. Floods are the most common and costly of the large natural disturbances affecting the United States. Approximately 9 of every 10 presidential disaster declarations are associated with them and, after total insurance losses from a series of devastating floods between 1990 and 1997 reached nearly $34 billion, government policy changed. The USA has subsequently spent even more than that trying to control floods by building structures such as levees and dams to modify the ways rivers flow.
B However, although we are well aware of the damage floods do, we have not, until recently, fully appreciated the many beneficial aspects of flooding. Floods are critical for maintaining and restoring many of the important services provided to humans by ecosystems. Among other things, regular flooding ensures high levels of diversity in the riverine environment by providing a critical habitat for fish, waterfowl, animals, insects, and plants. Floodwaters also replenish agricultural land with key nutrients vital to crop production, and transport the sediment that is necessary to maintain downstream delta and coastal land and prevent erosion. As our knowledge of floods has deepened, it has become apparent that floods present us with a paradox. On the one hand, we want to prevent them, because they threaten our lives and ways of life. On the other hand, we find ourselves searching for ways to allow or even reintroduce flooding, because it supports the biological infrastructure that makes valued aspects of our lives possible.
C The focus of policy began to change dramatically in the wake of massive flooding in the upper Mississippi and lower Missouri river basins from June to August of 1993. Many of the flood defences failed during this episode. In response, the President ordered a special committee to investigate causes, explore how human actions might have exacerbated the situation, and determine what the nation should do to prevent a repeat event. Known as the Galloway Report, the committee's findings and recommendations marked the first time that the crucial ecological protections provided by wetlands and upland forests were explicitly acknowledged. This included their ability to store water, slow its entry into the river system, and absorb excess nutrients. The committee pointed out that losing these protections through changes in land use significantly increases runoff from farmland with serious consequences for water quality. Above all, the report acknowledged that floods are recurring.
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D The Galloway Report recommended a shift away from relying solely on structural defences such as dams and levees. Instead, it advocated for a more integrated approach that included restoring natural floodplains, relocating vulnerable communities, and improving land-use planning. This marked a significant departure from traditional flood control policy, which had focused almost exclusively on containing rivers within artificial barriers. The report argued that structural defences often create a false sense of security, encouraging development in high-risk areas. When a flood exceeds the design capacity of these defences, the consequences can be catastrophic.
E Following the recommendations of the Galloway Report, the federal government began purchasing flood-prone properties and converting them into open space. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has since acquired tens of thousands of properties, demolishing homes and businesses and returning the land to natural floodplain. This strategy, known as 'managed retreat', is controversial but effective. It reduces future disaster costs, restores natural ecosystem functions, and protects remaining residents from the emotional and financial trauma of repeated flooding. Critics argue that it is expensive and displaces communities, but supporters point out that it is often cheaper than repeatedly rebuilding after floods.
F Despite these policy changes, flood losses in the United States continue to rise. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events, while continued development in flood-prone areas adds more property to the risk pool. Many communities remain heavily reliant on levees, some of which are poorly maintained or designed for conditions that no longer exist. A 2019 report found that thousands of levees across the country are in deficient condition. Meanwhile, insurance programmes such as the National Flood Insurance Program remain deeply in debt, having paid out billions more in claims than they have collected in premiums.
G The future of flood control in the USA will likely require a combination of approaches. Structural defences will still play a role, particularly in protecting major urban centres. However, these must be supplemented by nature-based solutions, including wetland restoration, reforestation of upland areas, and the preservation of floodplain open space. Equally important are changes to land-use policy and building codes. Until communities stop building in harm's way, no amount of engineering will eliminate flood risk. As the Galloway Report recognised decades ago, floods are not anomalies – they are inevitable. The question is not whether they will occur, but whether we will be prepared when they do.
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Questions 14–19
Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A–G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–G, in boxes 14–19 on your answer sheet.
14 a reference to the name given to a report on flooding
15 the failure of certain flood prevention measures during a particular event
16 a suggestion that flood control policy is now moving towards a combination of methods
17 a reference to the financial problems facing an insurance scheme
18 the number of years that saw very expensive flood damage
19 examples of the positive effects of flooding on agriculture
Questions 20–22
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 20–22 on your answer sheet.
The benefits of flooding
Regular flooding helps to maintain high levels of 20 _______________ in river environments by creating habitats for various species. Floodwaters also add essential 21 _______________ to farmland, which are important for growing crops. In addition, flooding transports 22 _______________ that helps to maintain coastal land and prevent erosion.
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Questions 23–26
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 23–26 on your answer sheet, write
| TRUE | if the statement agrees with the information |
| FALSE | if the statement contradicts the information |
| NOT GIVEN | if there is no information on this |
23 Between 1990 and 1997, insurance losses from floods totalled approximately $34 billion.
24 The Galloway Report recommended building more dams and levees to control flooding.
25 The 'managed retreat' strategy involves demolishing buildings in flood-prone areas.
26 Climate change has reduced the frequency of extreme precipitation events in the USA.
IV. Dịch bài đọc Flood control in the USA
V. Giải thích từ vựng Flood control in the USA
VI. Giải thích cấu trúc ngữ pháp khó Flood control in the USA
VII. Đáp án Flood control in the USA
14. C
15. C
16. G
17. F
18. A
19. B
20. diversity
21. nutrients
22. sediment
23. TRUE
24. FALSE
25. TRUE
26. FALSE
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