In the passage about mountain glaciers, what does the word ‘retreating’ most nearly mean?
Read the passage: Mountain glaciers are slow-moving rivers of ice that form where more snow falls in winter than melts in summer. Over many years the snow is pressed into dense ice, which creeps downhill under its own weight. In many mountain ranges around the world, including parts of the Himalayas and the Alps, glaciers have been retreating for decades as average temperatures rise. Their lower ends, or snouts, now lie higher up the valleys than they did in the past, sometimes leaving behind lakes held back by loose piles of rock. Because glaciers release meltwater slowly during warm months, they help keep rivers flowing in dry seasons, so their loss could affect water supplies for millions of people downstream.
Correct answer D. Shrinking back up the valley
The passage explains that glacier snouts now lie higher up the valleys than they did in the past, so retreating means shrinking back up the valley.
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