Final answer:
The passage focuses on historical water management in Petra, Southwest Asia, using systems like cisterns and dams, which is indicative of Option C, 'Water management in Southwest Asia'. These ancient practices are compared to today's sustainable water strategies, such as conservation and desalination, in the face of water scarcity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage primarily discusses water management techniques used in historical civilizations, specifically in the context of Petra, a city that used sophisticated methods like cisterns, dams, and terracing to manage water resources effectively. This ancient water management is relevant today, as modern societies confront similar challenges of droughts and floods and seek sustainable solutions to water scarcity. Therefore, the topic of this passage is best categorized as Water management in Southwest Asia (Option C), as it references the planning and infrastructure historically used in Petra to conserve water and protect against natural disasters.
Understanding the history and techniques of water management systems, such as reservoirs, aqueducts, and dams, is essential to appreciate Petra's approach. These systems could store water for dry periods, control floods, and facilitate irrigation. However, contemporary issues such as ecological damage and the finitude of water resources in the Arabian Peninsula, mentioned with reference to aquifers, underscore the need for sustainable water management practices today. Issues in cities like Los Angeles and Delhi are also highlighted, where conservation, rainwater harvesting, and desalination are necessary strategies due to growing demands on water resources.