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Question 1 of 6What is the essay's central idea? Question 2 of 6What happens in some outlying neighborhoods, according to the essay? Question 3 of 6What does the essay mean by saying cities "don't know they are thirsty"? Question 4 of 6Why does the author say thirst creeps toward the center "slowly enough for the center to ignore it"? Question 5 of 6What does the remark about cutting ribbons imply? Question 6 of 6What does the closing image of the bucket suggest? Vocabularyعَطْشَىthirsty (fem.)
النَّوَافِيرfountains
خَزَّانَات جَوْفِيَّةaquifers
تَحْلِيَةdesalination
تَبْتَلِعُswallows
الصَّهَارِيجtanker trucks, tanks
مَا تَيَسَّرَwhatever was available
الْهَوَامِشmargins
الْمُهْتَرِئَةworn-out, decrepit
يَرْدَعُdeters
الْهَدْرwaste
قَصّ الشَّرِيطcutting the ribbon
دَلْوbucket