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Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary

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Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary

Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary

Student reading a book

📖 Part 1: Reading Text

Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Water Scarcity in Cape Town: A Growing Crisis

Cape Town, one of South Africa's most beautiful cities, faced an unprecedented water crisis between 2015 and 2018. The city's water reservoirs dropped to critically low levels, threatening the lives of over four million residents. This crisis was caused by a combination of factors including prolonged drought, increasing population, and inadequate water management systems.

The municipal government implemented strict water restrictions to conserve the remaining supply. Citizens were limited to 50 litres per person per day – a drastic reduction from the average 235 litres used previously. Many residents had to queue at communal water points, carrying heavy containers to collect their daily allocation. The crisis forced people to adopt innovative water-saving techniques, such as collecting rainwater and reusing greywater from washing machines.

The situation improved gradually through collective efforts. Residents embraced water conservation practices, the government invested in desalination plants, and fortunately, winter rains in 2018 replenished the reservoirs. However, experts warn that without sustainable long-term planning, similar crises could recur. The Cape Town water crisis serves as a crucial reminder that water is a precious resource that requires careful management and conservation.

🔍 Part 2: Vocabulary in Context

Use context clues to determine the meaning of these words from the text. Write your answers in the spaces provided:

1. unprecedented (paragraph 1)
2. municipal (paragraph 2)
3. allocation (paragraph 2)
4. desalination (paragraph 3)
5. replenished (paragraph 3)

📝 Part 3: Reading Comprehension

6. What was the main cause of Cape Town's water crisis? (Choose the best answer)

Only the prolonged drought

A combination of drought, population growth, and poor water management

Lack of government intervention

Too many tourists visiting the city

7. How much water were residents limited to during the crisis?
8. Which of the following were solutions mentioned in the text? (Check all that apply)

Water restrictions

Building new dams

Desalination plants

Rainwater collection

Importing water from other countries

🎯 Part 4: Main Ideas and Supporting Details

9. Identify the main idea of each paragraph:

Paragraph 1 main idea:

Paragraph 2 main idea:

Paragraph 3 main idea:

10. List two supporting details for the main idea in paragraph 2:

Supporting detail 1:

Supporting detail 2:

✍️ Part 5: Summary Writing

11. Write a concise summary of the text in 5-7 sentences. Include the main points and key information:

🤔 Part 6: Critical Thinking

12. Match the cause with its effect:
1. Prolonged drought
2. Water restrictions
3. Winter rains in 2018
A. Reservoirs were replenished
B. People queued at water points
C. Water reservoir levels dropped
13. What lesson can other cities learn from Cape Town's water crisis?
14. Do you think the solutions implemented were effective? Explain your answer:

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