Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions.
Smart Growth
Recently, experts have tried to curb the spread of suburban sprawl, or at least create urban areas that are developed more purposefully. This is known as “smart growth.” City planners create communities that are designed for more walking and less dependency on cars. Some developers revitalize old communities in downtown urban areas, rather than develop the next piece of farmland or wilderness.
U.S. states such as Oregon are passing laws to prevent unplanned urban sprawl. They have created boundaries around cities that limit the growth of development. Officials have created laws stating that the minimum size of a plot of land is 32 hectares (80 acres). This is to prevent developers from creating suburban communities. An 80-acre plot of land is prohibitively expensive for a single-family home!
Other smart-growth communities are creating new types of development. Some have large amounts of undeveloped “green space,” organic farms, and lakes. Urban areas typically drain the water from rain and snow, which cannot collect in the paved-over ground. Rather than use drainage pipes and ditches, smart-growth communities create wetlands designed to filter storm runoff.
More city planners are developing urban areas by considering their geography. Engineers construct buildings that integrate seamlessly with the surrounding environment, drawing upon natural resources. White roofs, for example, reflect the sun's rays and lower the cost of air conditioning. Homebuilders in urban areas as diverse as Los Angeles, California, U.S., and the island communities of Greece create homes and businesses with white plaster or tile roofs for this reason.
There is also a move toward preserving and maintaining more green areas and planting more trees in urban areas. Landscape designers often consult with city planners to incorporate parks with development.
[Adapted from National Geographic]