Multiple Choice, Single Answer (Reading) — practice #rmcsa-005

The Dutch city of Rotterdam has become a global testing ground for living with rising water rather than simply fighting it. Much of the city lies below sea level, making traditional dykes alone an incomplete solution. Engineers have therefore designed public squares that double as reservoirs, sinking several metres to capture heavy rainfall and releasing it slowly once storms pass. Floating pavilions and buoyant homes rise and fall with water levels, while green roofs absorb downpours before they overwhelm drains. City planners argue that such adaptive measures are more resilient than relying on ever-higher barriers, which can fail catastrophically. Rotterdam now shares its expertise with coastal cities worldwide, presenting flooding not only as a threat to be resisted but as a condition that careful urban design can accommodate and even turn to advantage.