Water projects in the United States gained a new rationale in the 1930's as the nation
suffered its worst cconomic depression and the Great Plains region suffered its worst drought
in recorded history. As the economy sank into a deep depression and unemployment rates
increased, the political climate for direct federal govermnent involvement in water projects
improved. President Franklin Rooseveh's first 100 days in office brought a number of new
laws to deal with the severe economic depression that became known as the Great
Depression. Two of these laws, the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 and the
National Recovery Act of I933 (NIRA), had particular significance for water resource
development.
The natural pattern of the Tennessee River was characterized by large spring flows that
produced destructive floods and low summer flows that inhibited navigation. The intensily
and frequency of the events discouraged development and contributed to persistent poverty
in the valley. To counter these natural obstacles, the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933
created the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a public agency with broad powers to
promote development in the region, including the authority to build dams and reservoirs
and to generate and sell hydroelectric power. The TVA is a unique institution in that it
brings all the water-related functions of the federal government under a single body. The
TVA used its authority to transform the Tennessee River into one of the most highly
regulated rivers in the world within about two decades. The TVA inherited the Wilson Dam,
and by the beginning of the Second World War it had completed six additional multipurpose
dams with power plants and locks for navigation. Investments in dams and hydropower
facilities within the Tennessee Valley also received high priority during the war.
The NIRA authorized the creation of the Public Works Administration to create jobs
while undertaking work of benefit to the community. The NIRA also gave the United States
President unprecedented powers to initiate public works, including water projects. The
Public Works Administration provided loans and grants to state and local governments and
to federal agencies for municipal waterworks, sewage plants, irrigation, flood control, and
waterpower projects.
【題組】31. The word "'significance'" in, lieu 8 is closest in meaning to
(A) difference
(B) disturbance
(C) importance
(D) excellence