Read the passage and fill in ONE suitable word for each blank. (1.5 pts)

Across the low-lying coastal regions of Vietnam. a quiet but remarkable change is (55)_______ shape. For decades, local communities faced the full (56)_______ of ferocious typhoons and rising sea levels, which ate away at their land and threatened their livelihoods. But a strategic move towards ecological restoration has brought a powerful natural defence system: mangrove forests. This layered green canopy does more than just make the shoreline look beautiful. It serves (57)_______ an essential buffer zone. By absorbing the energy of powerful waves and trapping sediment in their intricate root networks, these coastal forests hold back erosion effectively. As a result, coastal towns that were (58)_______ highly vulnerable to seasonal disasters now enjoy a level of environmental stability they have never known, proving that nature-based solutions can work better than artificial barriers.

Beyond their immediate protective role, these intertidal ecosystems are an unparalleled asset in the global fight against climate change. Mangroves are exceptionally good at pulling carbon dioxide from the air, locking it away in their biomass and the soil beneath for centuries. Scientists call this stored carbon "blue carbon", a resource with immense value in the global carbon market. (59)_______ that a single hectare of healthy mangrove forest can store up to ten (60)_______ more carbon than a rainforest on land, protecting these habitats is absolutely vital. By contrast, destroying such areas releases huge amounts of greenhouse gases back into the atmosphere, which compounds global warming. So preserving these coastal forests is no longer just a local necessity; it has become a core part of international climate action.

(Adapted from: https://www.undp.org)

Across the low-lying coastal regions of Vietnam. a quiet but remarkable change is (55)_______ shape.