Passage:
Ancient civilizations developed sophisticated systems to manage water resources, distinct in engineering and environmental adaptation. The Persian qanat, developed in the first millennium BCE, was an underground tunnel system designed to tap into mountain aquifers. Because qanats were constructed entirely beneath the surface, they successfully minimized water loss through evaporation—a critical advantage in arid desert climates. Furthermore, they relied solely on gravity to draw water downslope, requiring no mechanical power. In contrast, the Roman aqueduct system, constructed centuries later, relied on a combination of surface channels, massive elevated stone arches, and underground conduits to transport water from distant freshwater springs and rivers directly to urban centers. While Roman aqueducts also functioned via gravitational flow, their exposure to the open air made them significantly more vulnerable to evaporation and contamination than the subterranean qanats. However, the open-channel design of the aqueducts permitted the transport of far greater volumes of water, supporting the massive populations of Roman cities.
According to the passage, which of the following is an explicit difference between the Persian qanat and the Roman aqueduct?
- AThe aqueduct system was developed centuries before the qanat system.
- BThe qanat required mechanical power to move water, whereas the aqueduct functioned solely via gravity.
- The qanat was less vulnerable to evaporation because it was constructed entirely underground.Cevap
- DThe aqueduct system was designed to minimize water loss in arid desert climates.