Running Dry: Cities and Water

A Many cities around the world are now facing serious shortages of fresh water, and the problem is getting worse every year.
B The rapid growth of urban populations is one of the main reasons why demand for water has risen so sharply in recent decades.
C Old and poorly maintained water pipes are causing millions of litres of clean water to be lost before it ever reaches people's homes.
D Some city governments have introduced strict rules about how much water residents and businesses are allowed to use each day.
E Technology is playing an important role in helping cities find smarter ways to collect, store, and recycle water.
F Communities in lower-income areas of cities often suffer more than others when water becomes scarce, which raises serious questions about fairness.
G Education about water use at home and in schools could be one of the most effective ways to change people's everyday habits over time.

Questions 1–6

The reading passage has 7 paragraphs, A–G.

Choose the correct letter, A–G, for each question.

A B C D E F G
1 The effect of more people moving into urban areas on water demand
2 The use of digital systems to monitor and manage water supplies
3 Legal limits placed on daily water consumption by local authorities
4 Why poorer neighbourhoods are hit harder when water supplies run low
5 How damaged infrastructure leads to significant losses of drinking water
6 The potential of school programmes to encourage children to save water