 Solution

The closure $\mathrm{cl}(A)$ is the intersection of all closed subsets containing $A$; equivalently it consists of the points whose every open neighbourhood meets $A$.

Suppose $f$ is continuous and $x\in \mathrm{cl}(A)$. For any open neighbourhood $V$ of $f(x)$, continuity makes $f^{-1}(V)$ an open neighbourhood of $x$, so it meets $A$. Hence $V$ meets $f(A)$, showing $f(x)\in \mathrm{cl}(f(A))$. This proves $f(\mathrm{cl}(A))\subseteq \mathrm{cl}(f(A))$.

Conversely suppose this inclusion holds for every subset $A$. For a closed subset $C\subseteq Y$, let $A=f^{-1}(C)$. Then $f(A)\subseteq C$ and therefore $\mathrm{cl}(f(A))\subseteq C$. By the assumed inclusion, $f(\mathrm{cl}(A))\subseteq C$, so $\mathrm{cl}(A)\subseteq f^{-1}(C)=A$. Since $A\subseteq \mathrm{cl}(A)$ always, $A$ is closed. Thus every closed set has closed preimage, equivalently every open set has open preimage. This is continuity, proving the claimed equivalence.