What does the word 'upstream' refer to in the passage?
The Mesopotamian Marshes lie where the Tigris and the Euphrates approach the Persian Gulf. For thousands of years the Marsh Arabs have lived there in houses made of reeds, travelling between villages in narrow boats and raising water buffalo. In the 1990s much of the wetland was drained, and many people left. After 2003 some dykes were opened and water returned, and today part of the original area has recovered. Scientists say that the marshes are important for migrating birds and for local fish, but they remain at risk because upstream dams and drought reduce the flow of water.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The direction from which a river flows towards the marshes
- Step 1: Upstream means higher up the river, where dams reduce the flow.
Answer
The direction from which a river flows towards the marshes.
Why not the others: The area of marsh closest to the Persian Gulf coast, A small narrow boat used by the Marsh Arabs and A type of long reed used for building houses do not fit.
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