TOEFL ITP Reading set 014
Reading Comprehension practice — read the passage and choose the best answer.
ธารน้ำแข็งละลายกับการวางแผนน้ำจืด
- Line numbers appear every 5 lines.
- Answer all 10 questions, then choose ตรวจคำตอบ to see the Thai translation, score summary, and explanation.
- Use Previous / Next to open the previous or next practice set.
In mountain regions around the world, glaciers store frozen
water that slowly feeds rivers through the warmer months.
For generations, farmers, towns, and hydropower plants have
counted on this steady summer flow. Today, warmer air is
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melting many glaciers faster than new snow can replace the
lost ice. The change forces communities to rethink how they
plan freshwater supplies for the decades ahead. Reliable
summer water is becoming harder to predict from past
patterns alone.
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Glaciers act like natural reservoirs. Snow piles up in
winter and turns into dense ice over years. In summer,
meltwater drips into streams that join larger rivers. When
glaciers shrink, the yearly pulse of melt can rise for a
while, then fall as the ice mass grows smaller. Scientists
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track glacier thickness with satellites and field surveys
so planners know how long the extra melt will last and when
shortages may begin.
Water managers respond in several ways. Some valleys
build or expand reservoirs to catch spring floods and
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release water later in the dry season. Others repair leaky
canals and promote crops that need less irrigation. Cities
may raise water prices during peak demand and teach
households to fix dripping taps. Shared river basins
require agreements so upstream and downstream users do not
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fight over shrinking flows.
Risks remain. Sudden glacial lake floods can wash
away bridges and farmland if dams of ice or rock fail.
Local officials also share maps of flood danger with nearby
villages. Dust and soot on ice speed melting by absorbing
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more sunlight. Tourism that depends on scenic ice may
decline, cutting local income. Still, careful monitoring
and flexible planning can reduce harm. Schools and local
meetings help residents understand why saving water now
matters when glaciers can no longer guarantee summer
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supply. Glacier melt is not only a mountain story; it
shapes freshwater planning for millions who drink, farm,
and generate power downstream.