Read the following passage about the Climate Change Forces Global Educational Infrastructure Crisis and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your...

Read the following passage about the Climate Change Forces Global Educational Infrastructure Crisis and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.

As unprecedented heatwaves intensify worldwide, educational institutions face catastrophic disruptions that threaten millions of children's academic futures. When temperatures soar beyond tolerable limits, administrators must dig their heels in and make difficult decisions to close schools entirely, prioritizing student safety over curriculum continuity. This escalating phenomenon demonstrates how climate volatility directly undermines educational accessibility, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in developing regions where infrastructure remains inadequate. [I] Traditional classroom environments, originally designed for moderate temperatures, prove increasingly insufficient against the relentless thermal extremes that characterize contemporary climate patterns.

International organizations have mobilized comprehensive adaptation strategies to combat this educational emergency. [II] However, funding remains severely limited across most developing nations worldwide. Their initiatives encompass diverse approaches: cultivating drought-resistant vegetation for natural shade, applying reflective coating materials to reduce thermal absorption, and installing renewable energy-powered cooling systems to maintain comfortable learning environments. Collaborative frameworks between governmental agencies, development banks, and non-governmental organizations facilitate resource allocation and technical expertise sharing to maximize intervention effectiveness across varied geographical contexts.

Several pioneering examples illustrate innovative solutions being deployed globally. Brazil's Pará State received substantial investment—approximately $100 million from the Inter-American Development Bank—to retrofit 55 educational facilities serving 24,000 students. Meanwhile, architect Francis Kéré revolutionized Burkina Faso's school design, creating naturally ventilated structures using indigenous materials that withstand extreme temperatures without conventional air conditioning. [III] Even temperate regions like the United Kingdom experience classroom temperatures reaching 36°C, causing student exhaustion and diminished concentration levels. Athens faces severe urban heat island effects, prompting municipal authorities to establish funding mechanisms enabling schools to implement comprehensive climate-adaptation projects.

The implications extend far beyond immediate discomfort. [IV] Excessive heat significantly impairs cognitive performance, increases absenteeism rates, and jeopardizes long-term developmental outcomes—consequences that disproportionately affect low-income communities with fragile infrastructure. Without urgent, large-scale investment in climate-resilient educational facilities, millions of children will continue experiencing educational disruption, exacerbating global inequality as environmental conditions deteriorate further. Educational stakeholders recognize that inadequate thermal management systems perpetuate learning disadvantages, creating cyclical poverty patterns that undermine sustainable development objectives and democratic participation opportunities for future generations.

https://www.ft.com/lk

Question 31: The phrase “dig their heels in” in paragraph 1 has the closest meaning to _________.

A. give in                                        B. back down                                C. hold up                                        D. stand firm