Question

questions 24 through 26 refer to the following.

24 mark for review
based on the diagrams, which of the following best explains how urban runoff could be decreased?
a decrease the number of trees in urban areas to increase ground infiltration.
b increase the number of trees to decrease the amount of evapotranspiration.
c replace traditional pavement with more porous pavement to increase ground infiltration.
d replace more porous pavement with traditional pavement to decrease the amount of evapotranspiration.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the diagrams (forested vs. urban areas) and the options:

• Option A: Decreasing trees in urban areas would decrease infiltration (since trees/vegetation help infiltration), so this is incorrect.
• Option B: Increasing trees increases evapotranspiration (trees transpire), but the goal is to decrease runoff. More trees would increase infiltration and decrease runoff, but the option says "decrease evapotranspiration," which is wrong.
• Option C: Porous pavement allows more water to infiltrate (ground infiltration) instead of running off. Replacing traditional (impermeable) pavement with porous pavement increases infiltration, reducing runoff. This matches the goal.
• Option D: Replacing porous with traditional pavement would decrease infiltration (increase runoff) and decrease evapotranspiration (since traditional pavement has less vegetation), which is the opposite of reducing runoff.

Answer:

C. Replace traditional pavement with more porous pavement to increase ground infiltration.