Yu Kongjian, a landscape architect and a professor of Peking University, had big ideas about cities and nature. He thought of the idea called “Sponge City”. One of its goals is to help cities with too much rain. It uses parks, wetlands (湿地), and special ground that lets rain go through it. A sponge city soaks up, stores and cleans water when it rains a lot. Then, it uses that water when the weather is dry.

This idea came from his deep respect for nature. Mr. Yu liked nature very much. He believed working with nature was a smart thing to do. He did not just want pretty parks. He wanted useful places that are good for both people and nature. His idea was not just for one city. He thought the whole world could learn from it.

But how does this idea work in real life? It uses many simple things from nature. Green roofs, gardens, and lakes can hold water. This helps stop floods. It also makes the water cleaner and gives it back to the earth. For example, his company, Turenscape, made many parks in China, like one in Harbin and another in Jinhua. These places are beautiful and helpful for managing water.

The Sponge City idea is a great gift to the world. It shows us a way to build cities that are friends with nature. It helps us face problems like climate change.

1.1.What is the job of Sponge City in the text?

A Storing waste water.

B Wasting rainwater.

C Preventing floods.

D Stopping water wisely.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据第一段中“One of its goals is to help cities with too much rain.”可知，海绵城市主要是用于雨洪管理，适合经常下暴雨的城市，以防止洪涝灾害。故选C。

2.2.What does “This idea” refer to in the second paragraph?

A Building parks.

B Respecting nature.

C Sponge City.

D Helping people.

解析：选C。C 词意指代题。根据第一段内容可知，第二段开头“This idea”指代前一段提出的海绵城市概念，而非泛指尊重自然或建公园。故选C。

3.3.What can we learn from the parks in Harbin and Jinhua?

A They are not beautiful.

B They help control water.

C They cost little money.

D They attract tourists.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。第三段举例说明这些公园能蓄水、改善水质并帮助管理水资源（helpful for managing water）。故选B。

4.4.According to the text, why is Sponge City important?

A It helps climate change.

B It makes cities green.

C It is a gift to the world.

D It benefits nature and people.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据第四段中“shows us a way to build cities that are friends with nature”和“helps us face problems like climate change”，即海绵城市“展示了与自然为友的城市建设方式”，且“帮助应对气候变化”，结合第二段中“对人和自然都有益的实用空间”，可知其重要性在于协调自然与人类的利益。A表述错误（应为“应对”气候变化而非“帮助”），B、C非根本原因。故选D。

5.5. In which part of a magazine would this passage most likely appear?

A Environment.

B Fashion.

C History.

D Culture.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。文章围绕“海绵城市”这一融合自然生态与城市建设的理念展开，重点讨论其在水资源管理、生态修复等方面的技术应用（如透水地面、湿地系统），属于“环境”领域的议题。故选A。