• Based on the article and the map “A Nation of Rivers,” what are the benefits and downsides of having so many waterways in Bangladesh? (Text Features)
Bangladesh has more than 200 rivers, including the Jamuna River, Meghna River, and the Padima River, which flow into the Ganges Delta. During the rainy season each year, many of the rivers overflow. The flooding sometimes rips away stretches of riverbank and homes. They can also contaminate soil and fresh water with salt from the Bay of Bengal, making it hard to grow rice and find safe drinking water. Some of the benefits of having so many waterways are that they provide transportation, a source of food, water for farming, and habitats for wildlife.
• What does Huq mean when he says that access to jobs is “the number one carrot to attract migrants to go to a particular town”? (Domain-Specific Vocabulary)
Huq means that access to jobs is the number one pull factor that attracts people toward a new place. He is using a metaphor sometimes called “carrots and sticks.” In this metaphor, carrots symbolize rewards and sticks symbolize punishments. Both are seen as ways to influence behavior, as when someone uses a carrot to lure a donkey down a road. Huq might think that access to jobs is the most important factor because people need money to rebuild their lives.
• Summarize the section “A Town Transformed.” (Summarizing)
Of the 20 towns Huq is working to transform, Mongla is the closest to being finished. Over the past 10 years, officials have installed a raised barrier, flood control gates, and other flood prevention measures to reduce what used to be daily flooding. They have also invested in housing, security, roads, and water treatment. The population is now about 110,000 people, which is about three times the size it was 10 years ago. However, the town still needs investments to provide fresh water to more residents because only about half of them have access to city drinking water.