What do local communities in the marshes use to build their houses?
The marshes of southern Iraq lie where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers approach each other before flowing to the Gulf. For thousands of years, local communities have built houses from reeds and travelled by boat between small islands. The marshes also form an important stopping place for migratory birds. In the twentieth century, large areas were drained, and the wetlands shrank greatly. After 2003, some of the drainage works were opened and water was allowed to return, and parts of the marshes recovered. The area was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2016, which recognises its natural and cultural value. Water levels remain a concern, since they depend on rainfall in the mountains upstream and on how much water is taken by dams and farms.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Reeds
- Step 1: The passage says communities have built houses from reeds. Step 2. No other material is mentioned. Answer: Reeds. Why not the others: Timber, mud bricks and stone are not mentioned.
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