Flooding Cities: A Regional Challenge
In this listening comprehension exercise, you will hear two siblings discuss how climate change is affecting cities in our region.
For Questions 1–2, tick the answer (A,B,C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each recording.
Q1. What is Bangkok’s “Monkey Cheeks” designed to do?
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A. Replace concrete drainage with natural wetlands throughout the city.
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B. Store excess rainwater in ponds and parks before slowly releasing it.
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C. Build a giant wall at sea.
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D. Pump water out of the city after flooding.
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Q2. What is the main message about climate change in Southeast Asian cities?
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A. It mainly affects coastal areas but not inland regions.
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B. It combines with human actions to increase flooding risks.
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C. It causes only hotter temperatures, not heavier rain.
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D. It has little impact on city life.
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Q1: B, “Monkey Cheeks” are a nature-based flood-control system, showing how green infrastructure can temporarily store heavy rain and reduce flooding.
Q2: B, Climate change and human decisions – such as groundwater use (Jakarta) and urban development (Bangkok) – combine to make flooding more frequent and severe.
