Question 1
To a rushing river, a wetland is like a giant pause button. When heavy rains fall, water spreads into the marsh's wide, grassy edges instead of racing straight into streets and basements. The thick stems of cattails and reeds slow the flow, and the soft, spongy soil soaks up and stores extra water. Later, that stored water seeps out gradually, lowering flood peaks downstream. Wetlands also trap dirt and some pollutants. As water moves through, particles settle, and microbes in the soil break down certain chemicals. Roots hold soil in place, reducing erosion during storms.
Communities that keep or restore wetlands often see the difference. After one coastal town reconnected a marsh to its river by removing an old dike, a spring storm filled the wetland first. The nearby road stayed open, and homes that had flooded in past years remained dry. Wetlands are not empty, unused land; they are working parts of a watershed. By understanding how they slow, store, and filter water, towns can include them in flood plans alongside culverts and levees.
What is the author's purpose in this passage, and how is it conveyed?
- To persuade readers to build a new shopping mall near a river, using price comparisons.
- To argue that wetlands are dangerous places that should be drained, using scary words and warnings.
- To inform readers how wetlands protect communities from floods, using cause-and-effect explanations, domain vocabulary, and a real example.
- To entertain with a fictional tale about a flood, using dialogue and cliffhangers.