06 01 social sciences u1a

Module

1A

Mission Impossible

One attraction of a city is the great number of
choices in work, recreation and social
contacts that it offers to its residents. Cultural
and recreational facilities have always been
part of every city. But living in large cities also
has its costs. Laws and the police control
human behaviour but the opportunities for
crime, alcoholism, and drug abuse are much
greater.
On the one hand, cities offer the best of
human culture, from restaurants and theatres
to museums, art galleries, symphony
orchestras and universities. On the other
hand, they generate juvenile delinquency,
prostitution, murder, suicide and mental
breakdowns.
Urbanisation seems to be an inevitable
aspect of modernization. In the 21st century,
the world’s fastest growing urban areas are
in developing countries. These are also
experiencing the greatest overall population
increases. In the Western hemisphere, Mexico
City and São Paulo have shown the largest
explosive growth. In contrast, many large cities
in the developed world are scarcely growing;

some are losing population.
The urban areas of most developing countries
show a complete mixture of modern Western
technology and architecture with traditional
customs and lifestyles. One of the main
problems of developing countries is that their
cities grow faster than their capacity to provide
life’s basic needs. Also, much of their working
population is unemployed or underemployed.

Activities
1Put these ideas in order according to the text.
aTechnology and architecture in developing countries
bAttractions and costs of living in large cities
cOverall population in developing countries
dExamples of positive and negative aspects of cities
English Toolkit 1 - Social Sciences

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

Explosive Growth


Module

1A
2Match these words with a word of similar meaning.
achoices
bfacilities
claws

d behaviour
ecrime
foverall
gmurder
hgrowth

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

rules
conduct
development
buildings (sports centre)
killing
variety
wrong act
total

3Complete the form below.

In order to improve our local area, we need to
know your necessities. Please fill in this form.
aWhich of these services would
you like to be improved?

lighting
water supplies
cleanliness
transport
b Which of the following do you
consider essential to prevent
accidents in your area?
more traffic lights
more road signs
more alternative roads for buses

Name:
Address:
Occupation:
Would you like to have...
more open spaces?
more cultural and entertainment
facilities?
more housing?

c Which environmental problem is
affecting your area?
air pollution
noise pollution
others

e

dDoes your area provide disabled
people with...
ramps (streets, public places)?
special buses?
lifts?

f What do you consider important
to improve safety?
increasing the number of
policemen
putting alarm buttons at many
points
installing more lighting

4Match the adjectives to the pictures.
a overcrowded
b clean
csafe
d dangerous
e polluted
f rural
gquiet
h urban

5Choose one of the two pictures
above and describe it using some
of the words in activity 4.

English Toolkit 1 - Social Sciences

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

Survey