การฟัง TOEFL

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Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. The professor is discussing the role of wetlands in flood control. Professor: Today, we're going to talk about wetlands, which are often called nature's sponges. Now, you might think wetlands are just useless, muddy areas, but they provide crucial ecosystem services. One of the most important is flood control. Wetlands act like giant sponges—they absorb excess water from heavy rainfall or snowmelt. When rivers overflow, wetlands store the floodwater, reducing the peak flow downstream. This not only prevents damage to homes and infrastructure but also recharges groundwater supplies. However, over the past century, many wetlands have been drained for agriculture or urban development. In the United States, for example, more than half of the original wetlands in the lower 48 states have been lost. This loss has increased the severity of flooding in many regions. Now, there is a growing movement to restore wetlands, not just for their flood control benefits, but also because they provide habitat for wildlife and filter pollutants from water. So, what do you think are the main challenges in restoring these areas?