Đề ôn thi HSG tiếng Anh (số 2)

A. LISTENING
Part 1. For questions 1-5, listen to a talk about five inventions that changed the world. What does
the speaker say about each of the inventions? Choose five answers from the box and write the
correct letter, A-J, in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
A. This invention marked the height of a momentous era - a transition towards modernity.
B. A man invented this equipment because he found it difficult to effectively load goods onto his truck.
C. This invention gave rise to the construction of one of the basic components of the infrastructure.
D. The initial motivation for this invention was to create better information exchange between
computer manufacturers, but it flourished beyond this.
E. The idea of this invention started when people found it difficult to move horse carts around.
F. This invention does not only transform several aspects of human life in a superficial way.
G. This invention had an enormous impact on the transformation of global education.
H. The first attempt failed to work because the inventor used a false tool.
I. This invention has mechanical components that make it attachable to its counterparts.
J. This invention was created to facilitate the process of gathering agricultural produce.
Top five inventions:
1. ISO shipping container
2. The light bulb
3. The wheel
4. The printing press
5. The Internet
Your answers
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Part 2. For questions 6-10, listen to a talk about the future of power and answer the questions.
Write NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
6. What is the position of Saudi Arabia in the oil cartel?
7. Which technology has helped the United States to take advantage of oil reserves?
8. What are multiple nations trying to seek for?
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9. What is the adjective used to describe two environmentally-friendly sources of energy?
10. What should be established across borders to boost the efficiency of renewable energy sources?
Your answers
6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Part 3. For questions 11-15, listen to part of an interview with two British architects, Malcolm
Fletcher and Alison Brooks, about the design of new low-cost housing, and choose the answer (A,
B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes provided.
11. What view is expressed about the government's plans to build houses on greenfield sites?
A. Opposition groups are unlikely to have any real influence.
B. It may be possible to create space by demolishing some existing buildings.

C. There is a more important priority than preserving the countryside.
D. New developments should show continuity with what has gone before.

12. What does Malcolm regard as special about the Newhall housing development in Essex?
A. the involvement of local people in the planning process
B. the unusual attitude of the original landowners
C. the good relationship between the builders and the architect
D. the freedom given to the designers

13. The aspect of Margaret Gibbs's houses which both Alison and Malcolm appreciate is
A. their visual appeal.

B. their generous dimensions.

C. their structural strength.

D. their internal layout.

14. When designing the space around the Essex houses, Margaret Gibbs
A. attempted to integrate homes with recreational areas.
B. conceded to the general demand for a garden.
C. allowed a bigger external area than usual.

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D. aimed to safeguard the inhabitants' privacy.

15. What do Malcolm and Alison agree about the aesthetic qualities of buildings?
A. Architectural form may sometimes take precedence over function.

B. Beauty is an intrinsic aspect of good architecture.
C. There is little consensus concerning what constitutes good style.
D. Popular notions of good taste inevitably change over time.
Your answers
11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Part 4. For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about a revolution of art and supply the blanks with
the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each
answer in the space provided.
A REVOLUTION OF ART
16. While ______________ music originated in the 1960s, the style of art synonymous with this kind of
music derived from an art movement initiated in the late 1800s.
17. The movement was called with different names, for example, ______________ in Austria.
18. This “new art” was an admixture of many factors namely: flat, decorative patterns; organic and
______________; and feminine figures.
19. The 1960s, as well as the late 1800s, could be deemed as a period of ______________.
20. Plain typeface and a ______________ failed to capture the attention of the audience, so the
introduction of high-quality posters is necessary to advertise the new generation of hippie bands.
21. The mid-60s was witnessing the rejuvenation of ______________.
22. Feminine figures in such new style of art feature nudity, flowing hair and a ______________.
23. Some designers in this new art tended to alter the ______________ from original images.
24. The “vibrancy” reflected in the eyes of beholders could refer to the experience of ______________.

25. The ______________ was applied and renovated by artists in the 1960s.

B. LEXICO
1. I goofed off (to waste time when you should be working) for the first two years of college, but I turned into a
real _____ once I realized the importance of my academic performance.
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A sly dog

B study animal

C eager beaver

D war horse

Sly dog: Someone who, through cunning, devious, or dishonest means, achieves a fortuitous outcome.
Study animal: Someone who studies very hard or very often
Eager beaver: a person who is willing to work very hard
2. I rarely take my kids to the library because he can be a bit of _____, running around and making a mess.
A a bull in a china shop

B a pig in mud

C a bird in the hand

D a duck in Arizona

If someone is like a bull in a china shop, they are very careless in the way that they move or behave
(as) happy as a pig in mud: Very joyful and contented.

a pig in a poke: something that is bought or accepted without knowing its value or seeing it first.
(as) happy as a duck in Arizona: Unhappy or miserable
3. I know you really want the promotion, but telling the boss about my personal problems was _____.
A under the hatches

B under thumb

concealed from public knowledge

under someone's control or influence

C below the belt

D below par

unfair or unfairly; disregarding the rules worse than the usual or expected standard
4. Don’t worry, I am confident that Annie will manage to solve the quiz soon, she is as sharp as _____.
A a blaze

B a blade

C a knife

D a tack

5. Kids, please hold your _____, let’s sing the birthday song before we start eating the cake!
A tatters

B horses

C brake

D tongue

6. If you desire some practical lessons before your start-up, there are clear _____ to be drawn from the failure of
these companies.
A cheeks

B chapters

C morals

D policies

7. His reasoning is based on the _____ that humans are innately good, which reflects his belief in Mencius.
A premise

B inception

C surmise

Gia thuyet

su khoi dau

sự phỏng đoán phỏng đoánng đoán

D conjecture

8. Although the matter was outside my _____ of responsibility, I still lent her a helping hand.

A bound

B orbit

C sphere

D hall

9. I don’t think the two directors would cooperate again in the second part, there was a real personality _____
between them.
A disagreement

B brawl

C clash
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D discord


10. Although he was a talented artist, he lived a life _____ with financial worries.
A pestered

B beseeched

C clasped

D beset

Pester: to keep annoying someone, especially by asking them for something or asking them to do

something
Beseech: to ask someone for something in an urgent and sincere way
Beset: to cause someone difficulty or danger over a period of time
11. When Tony came in class with his ridiculous costume, he was greeted with _____ of laughter.
A clap

B blasts

C gales

D rounds

12. I intended to petrify him by telling him there was a snake in his room but he didn't seem _____ concerned.
A in least

B at least

C the least bit

D leastways

not in the least: not in any way
The least bit: in the slightest degree or in any respect
13. The architecture chose a gentle colour scheme to create a relaxing _____ for the owner’s bedroom.
A ambience

B complex

C palette

D sentiment

14. Unlike in the North, apricot blossoms are the _____ of Tet in the South of Vietnam.
A pulse

B heartbeat

C compass

D avatar

15. While everybody else all _____ or the Shang-Shi premiere, director Chloe Zhao dressed casually in jeans and
a loose-fitting top as if she was just dropping by.
A gussied up

B bobbed up

C blazed up

D bucked up

to make someone or something look more attractive or impressive

Word form
1 If there is still time remaining after you have finished the test and gone over it, try to _____ your
answers to avoid mistakes. (CHECK)
2 After graduating, I kept some books that are necessary for college and gave away the _____ (REMAIN)
3 My parents always deem my playful personality _____ of a high school teacher, who should be decent
and serious. (FIT)
4 The journalists are regarded the _____ to the dictatorial government by publicly denouncing their

selfish and cruel policies. (WEIGHT)
5 Although political changes affected the social position of a samurai, he still shows great _____ and
decency of a noble family. (FINE)
B. READING
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Part 1. For questions 1-13, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Gesture
A Gesture is any action that sends a visual signal to an onlooker. To become a gesture, an act has to be
seen by someone else and has to communicate some pieces of information to them. It can do this
either because the gesturer deliberately sets out to send a signal or it can do it only incidentally. The
hand-wave is a Primary Gesture, because it has no other existence or function. Therefore, to make it a
gesture, first, it should be clear and unambiguous. Others would be able to understand it instantly
when it is shown to them. Nor may any component of a gesture, its force, its direction and amplitude
of movement, be altered: otherwise, confusion or misunderstanding may occur.
B Most people tend to limit their use of the term “gesture” to the primary form the hand-wave type—
but this misses an important point. What matters with gesturing is not what signals we think we are
sending out, but what signals are being received. The observers of our acts will make no distinction
between our intentional primary gestures and our unintentional, incidental ones. This is why it is
preferable to use the term “gesture” in its wider meaning as an “observed action”. This can be
compared to the ring of a telephone. The speed, tone and intensity of a telephone remain the same for
any phone call. Even the length of time before being told that the number you are dialing is not
answering, unless the caller hangs up, is the same.
C Some gestures people use are universal. The shoulder shrug is a case in point. The shrug is done by
bringing the shoulders up, drawing the head in, and turning the palms upwards so as to reveal that
nothing is hidden. The shoulder shrug can also demonstrate submission or that what is being said isn’t
understood. Another example is that an angry person usually expresses his rage by waving his
clenched fist rapidly and forcefully. Surprisingly, you may find that people of different cultures will do
the same when they are offended. That is to say, a commonly accepted gesture is shared by them. But

if the way the hand is clenched changes, or the amplitude of force and the direction the fist is waved
alters, the gesture no longer means the same.
D So, is gesture born with us or is it developed as we grow up? Recent research found that gesture is
more like a spontaneous reaction when we face certain situations. And we just do that automatically.
When people talk, they almost always gesture with their hands. This expressive movement can be
coaxed into a choreographic form if observed carefully. People can practice spontaneous gesture by
forming pairs, then observing and questioning each other. They then show the group what they have
collected from their partners. It is fun to surprise a group using this technique. Because spontaneous
gestures are often unconscious, people will sometimes be surprised to have their gestures mirrored
back to them, saying “Did I really do that?”
E The attention of research was also drawn to cultural themes. Researchers discovered that if a
person has a good set of teeth, he or she would be prone to have a bigger smile than he or she should
when good things happen. And if a person possesses a bad set of teeth, he or she would tend to have
his or her mouth shut when being teased. And people’s reaction to the same joke also varies: some
laugh out loud while others titter. However, this does not cause confusion and it helps to d evelop our
“behavioural”, which is an important aspect of our identity. It was referred to as a Gesture Variant,

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which indicates that individuals’ gesture production is a complex process, in which speakers’ internal
and external factors and interactions could play a role in multi-modal communication.
F During the research, an interesting phenomenon soon caught researchers’ attention. A hand purse
gesture, which is formed by straightening the fingers and thumb of one hand and bringing them
together so the tips touch, pointing upwards and shaping like a cone, carries different meanings in
different countries. In Malta, it means heavy sarcasm: “you may seem good, but you are really bad.”; in
Tunisia, it is against recklessness, saying “slow down”; in Italy, it means “What’s the matter?” or “What
are you trying to say?”; in France, it means “I am afraid”. However, this gesture has no clear meaning
in American culture. And of course, the way the gesture is conducted is similar in different countries.
G But what will happen if the gestures of different countries confront each other? The situation is

further complicated by the fact that some gestures mean totally different things in different countries.
To take one example, in Saudi Arabia, stupidity can be signalled by touching the lower eyelid with the
tip of the forefinger. But this same gesture, in various other countries, can mean disbelief, approval,
agreement, mistrust, scepticism, alertness, secrecy, craftiness, danger, or criminality. So people are
faced with two basic problems where certain gestures are concerned: either one meaning may be
signalled by different actions, or several meanings may be signalled by the same action, as we move
from culture to culture. The only solution is to approach each culture with an open mind and learn
their gestures as one would learn their vocabulary. These all require considerable skill and training
and belong in a totally different world from the familiar gestures we employ in everyday life.
Questions 1-7
The passage has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for paragraph A-G and from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-x, in boxes 1-7.
List of Headings
i

The subconscious nature of gestures

ii

The example of regional differences

iii

The key factors of gestures

iv

Sending out important signals

v

How a well-known gesture loses its meaning

vi

Performance in a specific setting

vii

Recent research of Gesture Variant

viii

Comparison to an everyday-use object

ix

How will conflict be handled

x

Individual deviation of cultural norms

1 Paragraph A iii
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2 Paragraph B viii
3 Paragraph C v

4 Paragraph D i
5 Paragraph E x
6 Paragraph F ii
7 Paragraph G ix
Questions 8-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage.
In boxes 8-13, write
TRUE

if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE

if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
8. A gesture is a form of communication in which imperceptible bodily actions communicate
particular messages.
9. Gestures can be likened to the unchanging sound of the ringing.
10. Angry people are often in the same age range or group.
11. A Gesture Variant can still be understood by the members of the same culture.
12. In Malta, the gesture “Hand Purse” should be treated with caution.
13. The main aim of the writer in writing this passage is to clarify the origin of gesture-based
communication.
Your answers
8. T

9.T

10. NG

11. F

12. NG

13. F

Part 2. For questions 14-23, read an extract from an article and choose the answer A, B, C or D
that fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Lin
e

It has come to pass that working men have been surrendered, isolated and helpless, to the hard
heartedness of employers and the greed of unchecked competition. The mischief has been
increased by rapacious usury, which, although more than once condemned by the Church, is
nevertheless, under a different guise, but with like injustice, still practiced by covetous and
grasping men. To this must be added that the hiring of labor and the conduct of trade are
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concentrated in the hands of comparatively few; so that a small number of very rich men have
been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of
slavery itself.

To remedy these wrongs, the socialists, working on the poor man's envy of the rich, are
striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should
become the common property of all, to be administered by the State or by municipal bodies.
They hold that by thus transferring property from private individuals to the community, the
present mischievous state of things will be set to rights, in as much as each citizen will then get

his fair share of whatever there is to enjoy. But their contentions are so clearly powerless to
end the controversy that were they carried into effect the working man himself would be
among the first to suffer. They are, moreover, emphatically unjust, for they would rob the
lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the
community.

It is surely undeniable that, when a man engages in remunerative labor, the impelling reason
and motive of his work is to obtain property, and thereafter to hold it as his very own. If
one man hires out to another his strength or skill, he does so for the purpose of receiving in
return what is necessary for the satisfaction of his needs; he therefore expressly intends to
acquire a right full and real, not only to the remuneration, but also to the disposal of such
remuneration, just as he pleases. Thus, if he lives sparingly, saves money, and, for greater
security, invests his savings in land, the landy in such case, is only his wages under another
form; and, consequently, a working man's little estate thus purchased should be as
completely at his full disposal as are the wages he receives for his labor. But it is precisely in
such power of disposal that ownership obtains, whether the property consist of land or
chattels. Socialists, therefore, by endeavoring to transfer the possessions of individuals to the
community at large, strike at the interests of every wage-earner, since they would deprive him
of the liberty of disposing of his wages, and thereby of all hope and possibility of increasing his
resources and of bettering his condition in life.

What is of far greater moment, however, is the fact that the remedy they propose is manifestly
against
justice. For, every man has by nature the right to possess property as his
own. This is one of the chief points of distinction between man and the animal creation, for the
brute has no power of self direction. It is the mind, or reason, which is the predominant
element in us who are human creatures; it is this which renders a human being human, and
distinguishes him essentially from the brute. And on this very account—that man alone
among the animal creation is endowed with reason—it must be within his right to possess
things not merely for temporary and momentary use, as other living things do, but to have and

to hold then in stable and permanent possession; he must have not only things that perish in
the use, but those also which, though they have been reduced into use, continue for further
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use in after time.
14. Based on the passage, the author would be most likely to agree that the economic
conditions of his era attest to which basic relationship?
A. Modifications to the laws regulating the economy heighten tensions between employers and
workers
B. Social inequality worsens as the economy increasingly comes under the control of a select group of
businesspeople
C. Competition between businesses in a particular sector of the economy influences the morale of the
workers in that sector
D. Measures to protect workers from economic exploitation have the unintended effects of
encouraging such exploitation
15. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
A. Lines 1 – 3 (“It has … competition”)

D. Lines (“To remedy … bodies”)

B. Lines 3 – 6 (“The … men”)
C. Lines 6 – 10 (“To this … itself”)
16. As used in line 13, “common” most nearly means

A. shared

C. typical

B. inferior

D. frequent

17. According to the author, the desire to acquire property prompts individuals to
A. feel envious of others’ possessions
B. seek work from an employer
C. view work as more dignified than they otherwise would
D. resist sources of short-lived gratification
18. In lines 31 -32, the phrase “little estate” most directly refers to the
A. land or other property owned by a wage earner
B. status of a wage earner within the community
C. neighborhoods where wage earners typically live
D. standard amount of pay that a wage earner receives

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19. It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that the author views socialism as being
threatening because it
A. discourages disempowered groups from seeking greater contribution in society
B. contributes to widespread discontent over the pace of societal change
C. decreases the individual’s willingness to make sacrifices benefiting society as a whole
D. endangers certain conventions and institutions that are indispensable to society
20. According to the author, what is one essential aspect of the concept of private property?
A. The ease with which land holdings can be exchanged for other forms of property
B. The belief that people can amass a great deal of property through living frugally
C. The freedom of property holders to determine what to do with their property
D. The likelihood that those who purchase property will profit from its resale
21. The author implies that those who wish to abolish the ownership of private property fail to
recognize that such ownership is beneficial in that it

A. promotes a single set of values among the wealthy and the working class alike
B. provides members of the working class a means to improve their circumstances
C. induces workers to feel content with the compensation they receive for their labor
D. helps to ensure that the various social classes live in harmony with one another
22. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

A. Lines 14-17 ("They . . . enjoy")

D. Lines 35-39 ("Socialists . . . life")

B. Lines 18-20 ("But their . . . suffer")
C. Lines 23-25 ("It is . . . own")
23. In the last paragraph, the discussion of "animal creation" serves mainly to
A. assert a central difference between humans and animals.
B. underscore humans' responsibilities toward animals.
C. consider humans' right to keep animals as property.
D. draw attention to the basic needs of humans and animals.
Your answers
14.

15.

16.
11

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 24-30, read
the passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE
extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered box provided.
Women in the Sciences
The expression 'behind every great man is a great woman' has been in use since the mid-1940s, but
undoubtedly the meaning behind this saying has been true for centuries. This phrase more literally
refers to both the practical and emotional support women can give to their significant others who toil
for success, yet it also infers the disheartening idea that perhaps women haven't previously had the
opportunity to revel in their own successes.
24.

E

Rosalind Franklin is a name you might recognise now, but just seventy years ago her research was
overlooked in terms of its instrumental contribution to the discovery of the structure of DNA. The
acclaim for the discovery, however, and even the Nobel Prize, went to three men, Francis Crick, James
Watson and Maurice Wilkins, without any reference to Franklin's input.
25.

H

Incidents like this have occurred so often within the field that the term 'the Matilda Effect' was coined
in 1993 by Margaret W. Rossiter, a scientist who has devoted her career to shining a light on the
generally overlooked female scientists who were rather brazenly excluded from the history books.
One of Rossiter's aims has been that a renewed focus on successes of female scientists in history may
encourage more women to enter the field of science.
26.

D

Still, efforts continue to publicise the overlooked female scientists in history. From a series of pop art
posters showcasing pioneering scientists like Ada Lovelace and Chien-Shiung Wu, to even rectifying
past injustices by amending search-engine results to reflect real contributions, the cause of female
scientists is gradually strengthening.
27.

F

However, perhaps scientific traditions need to be rectified not just by the gender divide but by using a
broader lens. There is plenty of discussion nowadays about how women have frequently been
underestimated and overlooked by their male colleagues, as illustrated by the examples above.
However, rather than this being a pure case of gender inequality, perhaps the defining factor is simply
the historically unequal power relationship between parties.
28.

A

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While we see efforts to shine a light on the females whose contributions have been unnoticed by the
general scientific community, maybe it will be a little harder to find those men who were overlooked
in favour of someone with a greater stature. After all, it is near impossible to explore these kinds of
power relationships so long after the event.
29.

C

Perhaps science will never reach an ideal world of an individual's contribution being equal to their
reward, but opening this subject up for reflection and discussion is essential, and equal input for equal
credit is just one aim to strive for. It has encouraged females into the sciences already, and both the
terms 'the Matilda Effect' and 'the Matthew Effect' by their very use are making inroads into
highlighting inequalities.
30.

G

The missing paragraphs
A The Matthew Effect can be summarised as the way in which disproportionate recognition is
attributed to someone who is more famous or in a position of power. So, for example, an acclaimed
scientist will naturally get more credit than a lesser-known researcher, even if their work is
comparable. This may seem a given, as the most powerful or famous team member often leads the
research, but that doesn't mean there isn't a talent in the background contributing the lion's share of
the scientific endeavour.
B Due to this growing number of complaints, especially those from female research scientists at
universities, some institutions are now addressing the issue. They are doing this in a twofold manner:
by shining a light on incidences in their own institutions that have been caused by a gender power
inequality and offering further opportunities and support to women in the sciences. This has been
heartily welcomed by the wider scientific community.

C One effort we can all make is to encourage a shift in people's attitudes in general and ensure that
this shift is also reflected in the world of science. We can see flaws in the past and the present, as
illustrated, and research shows that male and female stereotypes still exist when it comes to the
perceived quality of female work, and common sense can tell us that the most powerful names get the
most credit. However, that doesn't mean things should remain the same in the years to come.
D However, perhaps the views on female scientists are too deeply embedded in the scientific
community for the situation to be rectified overnight. A 2013 paper found that male scientists and
more masculine topics, regardless of who wrote them, are perceived as being of higher scientific
quality. In the investigation, graduate students of both sexes rated abstracts of papers that were
assigned a fake male or female name, and the fake male names were more highly rated overall. In
addition, the same study indicated that men are more desirable as collaboration partners.
E Never has this bleak interpretation been more accurate than in the field of science, where women
have usually taken a back seat, and not by choice. Examples of this can be observed throughout
history, as far back as the 12th century, when physician Trotula of Salerno had her ground-breaking
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work attributed to men, and in the modern day where female science professionals still sometimes
struggle for appropriate recognition.
F For instance, try finding out about 'the Dean Method' online. A quick google will offer you little
mention of that particular term, but instead it will return a multitude of results for scientist Alice
Augusta Ball. The Dean Method, published by chemist and academic Arthur L. Dean, was widely
known as the cure for leprosy, an infectious condition that used to cause severe skin sores and often
resulted in limbs withering. However, it eventually transpired that, upon the death of Alice Augusta
Ball in 1916, Arthur Dean had taken her efforts and claimed them as his own.
G You may be reading this article thinking that this is an issue you are powerless to change, but you
make up part of the world we share, and a sea change only happens through the individual shifts in
people's opinions. So, the next time you read about the latest greatest discovery or the history of
science, it might well be worth remembering that behind every big name, there are many others who
make valuable, if not the most valuable contributions to research.

H Even in one of the winner's memoirs, we can see the attitude displayed towards her, with the
mentioned colleague even failing to call her by her proper name, preferring nicknames that served to
belittle her role in this ground-breaking finding. The author did acknowledge her achievements in his
book, but this admission was fifteen years too late.
Your answers
24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Part 4. The passage below consists of five sections marked A-E. For questions 31-40, read the
passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers (A-E) in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
The Modern City
Jacob Moore spoke with five city dwellers to find out what they think are the problems with
modern cities.
A. Iain Bracewell
It goes without saying that modern cities are somewhat problematic, simply because we don’t have
the capacity for all the people who already live here, let alone the millions who see cities as a potential
destination. Therefore, in my mind, it’s vital that we become a bit more imaginative about how we
utilise city space. We’re going to be somewhat reliant on technology to help us with this, by, for

example, developing materials that we can use to build higher, slimmer and underground. This might
seem less than ideal for the average city dweller, especially the notion having to spend a proportion of
time below ground, but it might be the only practical solution to what the data suggest if we want to
avoid cities growing at an uncontrolled rate across our countryside. And time is of the essence; we
can’t put this kind of research and development off it while the population growth remains
uncontained.
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B. Raphael Arco
Cities are often seen in a bad light, but I think this is undeserved because they offer so much to so
many. The fact is that cities are synonymous with opportunity, for employment, culture, you name it!
That’s not to say they are utopias without any room for improvement, but I think we can solve a great
majority of the issues affecting cities by addressing their infrastructure. People often cite their
bugbears as being issues of convenience such as streets that aren’t walkable or road networks that are
too dense, or even lack of space for increased public transport. Devote serious attention on improving
these elements and cities will become far more liveable places with, in turn, generally all-round
happier residents! This might consist of tweaks or alternatively, in certain contexts, starting from
scratch to fundamentally redesign systems, but the benefits outweigh the sacrifices as they’d offer
valuable solutions to how modern city life affects the natural environment and how well people get
together as a community.
C. Jenna Crawford
We need to face up to the fact that most cities aren’t the glorious places that they are painted to be,
and that, for the majority of the inhabitants, the streets aren’t paved with gold. There is a big
difference between the haves and have-nots, and while city life is a consumer paradise for the former,
members of the latter category are completely locked out of the benefits cities bring and often lack
fundamental services such as clean water or sanitation. Why this is still allowed in the modern world
I’ll never know, yet the powers that be seem disinclined to do anything but sweep the issue under
the carpet. Property rental prices are also excessive, and this just gets to the point where you’ve got
huge families living cramped in just two rooms, or people receiving full-time salaries with little to no

chance of getting on the housing ladder. I understand that people think there are valuable
opportunities to be had in cities, but, let’s face it, there are still plenty of people for whom opportunity
has passed by.
D. Caroline Birkenstein
Our cities right now are in dire straits. We’ve got an affordable housing and ecological crisis in
nearly every city on Earth, and it’s crucial that we concentrate our efforts on these matters if we want
our cities to continue to thrive. We can accomplish this by creating and promoting more sharing and
communal practices, like coworking spaces or apartment buildings with common spaces for eating,
socialising and exercising, and these, of course, shouldn’t be extravagantly priced. It might not seem
obvious, but it’s initiatives like these that help people form communities, and this community
atmosphere encourages people to care more about their surroundings. Cities are also a massive drain
on resources, and we need to identify strategies to counter this and close the loop when it comes to
this. With this in mind, we should ask ourselves how one excess can be used to give power to
something else. This kind of sustainability could be the key to making our cities much healthier places
for individuals, the community and the surroundings we live in.
E. Doug de Souza
Cities today have one major problem that we need to curb, and that is urban sprawl. At the moment,
cities are like these huge sprawls, just spreading and spreading, and the further out you go, the bigger
plot each homeowner has and the more spacious all the services are. This really has a negative effect
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on so many elements of our lives. Firstly, it makes us more isolated; we’re behind fences, and this is
where feelings of difference and fear can stem from. We need integration to help people consider
themselves a part of something, but, furthermore, sprawl increases the urban footprint significantly,
and people start becoming dependent on their cars, simply because it’s not convenient to go anywhere
on foot – rather, driving becomes the preferred option. I mean, I don’t think it takes a scientist to see
the environmental problems that can arise from that.

In which sections are the following mentioned?

31. Cities need to focus on how they can reduce one-time consumption.
32. A fix that will take a varying amount of effort.
33. Cities have a common reputation that overlooks their positive aspects.
34. An acknowledgement that the solution may be disagreeable to some.
35. Our cities are designed in a way that makes us feel detached from others.
36. How people can become more integrated in cities.
37. Some people are ignoring problems that we should be tackling.
38. Cities have been left to grow virtually unchecked.
39. Future enhancements will be determined by fundamental elements of construction.
40. The reputation of cities and the reality of cities are different.
Your answers
31. D

32. A

33. B

34. A

35. E

36. D

37. C

38. E

39. B

40. C

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