Decide whether option A, B, or C fits the gap. 4.3 D THE VENETIAN LAGOON

1. a) largely b) larger c) largest The Lagoon of Venice, influenced by the tides of the 2. a) constantly b) constant c) constants upper Adriatic Sea, is Italy’s 1 lagoon. 3. a) complex b) complexity c) complicate A succession of 2 . changing, different 4. a) densely b) dense c) density environments - from the mainland to the sea - 5. a) evolving b) evolved c) evolution characterise the 3 morphology of 6. a) erosive b) eroded c) erosion the lagoon: shallows, mudflats, sandbars, islands and 7. a) prevailing b) prevailed c) prevail a 4 . network of shipping channels. 8. a) specifically b) specific c) specify Like all lagoons, that of Venice is a constantly 9. a) decisively b) decisive c) decision 5 . environment, which tends to be 10. a) dominantly b) dominant c) dominate ‘swallowed up’ by sea, if the 6 . forces of 11. a) gradually b) gradual c) grade 7 tides and waves are allowed to . , or 12. a) irreparably b) irreparable c) repair to turn into a strip of land, if the sediments from rivers project of the cut- and the sea are allowed to build up. off at Porto Viro, In the 8 . case of Venice, in MARINO SILVESTRI, man’s interventions over the centuries have been Discorso sopra la 9 a . factor in a process that has enabled regolazione del Po, the lagoon to survive, unlike other lagoons in the Venice 1563. Adriatic. Rovigo,Accademia dei Concordi Past times 13. a) engineering b) engineered c) engineer For centuries, the 10 . trend was for 14. a) properly b) proper c) propriety the lagoon to 11 . silt up. The 15. a) finally b) final c) finish Venetians made huge efforts to counter this trend – 16. a) greatly b) great c) greatness aware that the disappearance of the lagoon would 17. a) aggressively b) aggressive c) aggression 12 . undermine the security, wealth and power of their city. M. BONDESAN, Reconstruction of 13 These were major . works, such the possible as those needed to ensure 14 . draining of the silting up of the Brenta, Piave and Sile estuaries. The cutting at Porto lagoon of Venice Viro, completed in just 4 years (1605 – 1609), and the growth of the Po delta if the 15 . diverted the River Po from the lagoon to cut-off at Porto the south, creating the modern-day delta. Viro had not The Venetians also took 16 . efforts been executed. Green color 17 in defending the beaches against the . marks the extent action of the sea, culminating in the 1700s with the of the Adriatic construction of the murazzi (seawalls) in Istria stone. as it would be today without the Recent times engineering Today the problems that undermine the balance of works undertaken in 1605- 1609 18 the lagoon’s ecosystem are quite .. The current Changes brought about by man and Nature have coastline of the triggered a process that is quite the 19 . of delta and the lagoon marked by silting up: the 20 . land level is now black countours about 24 cm 21 . than the sea and so 18. a) differently b) different c) differ settlements are now exposed to high tides 19. a) opposing b) opposition c) opposite (the phenomenon 22 . as ‘acqua alta’) with 20. a) relatively b) relative c) relate increasing frequency and intensity; at the same time 21. a) low b) lower c) below other problems also harm the ecosystem, such as 22. a) knowingly b) known c) know erosion of the 23 . structures of the 23. a) morphologically b) morphological c) morphology lagoon and pollution, once an 24 . enemy. 24. a) unknowingly b) knowledge c) unknown 26