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(2022·泰安模拟)When a heavy storm hit, residents of the floating community of Schoonschip in Amsterdam had little doubt about whether they could ride it out.They tied up their bikes and outdoor benches, and checked in with neighbours to ensure everyone had enough food and water as their neighbourhood slid up and down its steel foundational pillars (支柱), rising along with the water and going back to its original position after the rain stopped.
“We feel safer in storm because we are floating,”says Siti Boelen, a Dutch television producer who moved into Schoonschip two years ago.As sea levels rise and supercharged storms cause waters to rise, floating neighbourhoods offer an experiment in flood defence that could allow coastal communities to better fight against climate change.
A floating house can be constructed on any shoreline and is able to deal with rising seas by remaining on the top of the water's surface.Unlike houseboats, which can easily be moved and relocated, floating homes are fixed to the shore and are usually connected to the local sewer (污水管道) system and power grid.They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull (船体) that acts as a counterbalance, allowing them to remain stable in the water.
Severe wind and rain, or even the passing of large cruise ships, can make the buildings rock.Siti Boelen, the Schoonschip resident, says that when she first moved in, stormy weather made her think twice.“You feel it in your stomach,”she says, adding that she has gotten used to the feeling.Floating homes also require extra infrastructure and work to connect to the electricity grid and sewer system.
But the benefits may outweigh the costs.“If there are floods, it's expected that many people will move to higher ground.But the alternative is to stay close to coastal cities and explore expansion onto the water,”says Rutger de Graaf.“If you consider that in the second half of the century, hundreds of millions of people will be displaced by sea level rise, we need to start now to increase the scale of floating developments.”
1.What did local residents think when a heavy storm hit?
A.They could get through it.
B.They could control the flood.
C.They could get some bikes after it.
D.They could gain enough food in it.
2.What can we know about Siti Boelen?
A.She has a sense of security in a storm.
B.She gets along well with her neighbours.
C.She has produced TV sets used in the storm.
D.She makes contributions to defending against flood.
3.How does the author describe the floating houses in Paragraph 3?
A.By listing figures.
B.By giving examples.
C.By analysing reasons.
D.By making comparisons.
4.What's the fourth paragraph mainly about?
A.The impacts of stormy weather.
B.The significance of thinking twice.
C.The higher costs of building houses.
D.The challenges faced by floating houses.