Question

many years ago, farmers and land owners living in the tennessee and mississippi river basins lost their homes and crops to flooding. levees were built to control the flood waters along these rivers. the first levees were high barriers made from clay and soil and were built in populated areas near water. in recent years these levees have begun to fail, and engineers are looking for ways current technology can help them build more effective levees and help with flood control in areas near water. which is the best option for the engineers? a. build new levees using concrete b. replace levees with drainage ditches c. build new levees using materials that are better able to contain and absorb the flood waters d. replace the levees with tunnels lined with metal that will transfer rainwater away from populated areas

Explanation:

The problem is about finding the best flood - control option for engineers. The original levees (made of clay/soil) are failing. Option A: Concrete levees may not be the best as the issue is about effective flood control through material properties, not just using concrete. Option B: Drainage ditches are not levees and may not provide the same barrier - like flood control as levees. Option C: Using materials that can better contain and absorb flood waters directly addresses the failure of the old levees (which had poor material for flood control) and uses current technology to improve levee effectiveness. Option D: Replacing levees with tunnels is a different approach, and tunnels may not be as effective as improved levees in areas near water for flood control. So, Option C is the best as it focuses on improving levees with better materials for flood control.

Answer:

C. build new levees using materials that are better able to contain and absorb the flood waters