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Reading Passage 1

The History of Urban Planning

Urban planning is the discipline of land use planning which explores several aspects of the built and social environments of municipalities and communities. The history of urban planning dates back to ancient civilizations, where cities were designed with specific purposes in mind, such as defense, trade, or religious significance. One of the earliest known examples of urban planning is the city of Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley Civilization, which featured a grid-like street layout and advanced drainage systems.

During the Roman Empire, urban planning became more systematic. Romans built cities with a central forum, surrounded by temples, markets, and public baths. They also developed infrastructure such as aqueducts and roads, which connected cities across the empire. The concept of the grid plan was widely used, as seen in cities like Timgad in modern-day Algeria.

In the Middle Ages, urban planning in Europe was often less formal, with cities growing organically around castles, monasteries, or trade routes. However, some planned cities did emerge, such as the bastides of southwestern France, which were built with defensive and economic purposes in mind.

The Renaissance period saw a revival of interest in classical ideals, leading to more symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing city designs. Architects like Leonardo da Vinci proposed ideal city plans that incorporated elements of hygiene, safety, and beauty. The Baroque era further emphasized grand avenues, public squares, and monumental buildings, as seen in the redesign of Paris by Baron Haussmann in the 19th century.

The Industrial Revolution brought significant challenges to urban planning, as rapid urbanization led to overcrowding, pollution, and poor living conditions. In response, reformers like Ebenezer Howard proposed the concept of the garden city, which aimed to combine the benefits of town and country living. Howard’s ideas influenced the development of new towns and suburbs in the 20th century.

Modern urban planning incorporates a wide range of considerations, including sustainability, transportation, housing, and public health. Planners use tools such as zoning laws, environmental impact assessments, and community engagement to create livable and resilient cities. The field continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on smart growth, green building, and climate adaptation.

Questions 1–13

Questions 1–6 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? 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

1. Mohenjo-Daro is cited as an early example of a city with a grid layout.
2. Roman cities were primarily designed for religious purposes.
3. All medieval European cities grew without any planning.
4. Leonardo da Vinci’s city plans focused on aesthetics and functionality.
5. The garden city concept was developed before the Industrial Revolution.
6. Modern urban planning only considers environmental factors.

Questions 7–13 Complete the summary below using words from the box.

| aqueducts | Baroque | bastides | defense | forum | garden | | grid | Haussmann | Howard | hygiene | organic | zoning |

Urban planning has evolved significantly over time. Ancient cities like Mohenjo-Daro utilized a 7 ________ plan, while Roman cities centered around a 8 ________ and featured infrastructure such as 9 ________. In the Middle Ages, some planned cities like the 10 ________ were built for 11 ________ and economic reasons. The 12 ________ era introduced grand designs, exemplified by Paris’s redesign. The 13 ________ city concept emerged in response to industrial-era challenges.

Reading Passage 2

The Science of Sleep

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity, and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli. Sleep occurs in repeating periods, in which the body alternates between two distinct modes: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep.

Non-REM sleep is divided into three stages: N1, N2, and N3. N1 is the lightest stage of sleep, often considered the transition between wakefulness and sleep. N2 is a deeper sleep where heart rate and body temperature drop. N3, also known as slow-wave sleep or deep sleep, is the most restorative stage, crucial for physical recovery and memory consolidation.

REM sleep, on the other hand, is associated with dreaming. During REM, the brain is highly active, and eyes move rapidly behind closed eyelids. This stage is important for cognitive functions such as learning, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. A full sleep cycle, from N1 to REM, typically lasts about 90 minutes and repeats several times throughout the night.

The amount of sleep needed varies by age. Infants may require up to 17 hours per day, while adults generally need 7–9 hours. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences, including impaired cognitive function, mood disturbances, and increased risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Several factors influence sleep quality, including lifestyle, environment, and genetics. Practices such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and avoiding caffeine and electronic devices before bed can improve sleep. Disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome can disrupt sleep and require medical intervention.

Recent research has also explored the role of sleep in memory and learning. Studies suggest that sleep helps consolidate memories and integrate new information with existing knowledge. Additionally, sleep is thought to play a role in clearing metabolic waste from the brain, a process that may protect against neurodegenerative diseases.

Questions 14–26

Questions 14–19 Complete the table below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Questions 19–22 Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

19. How long does a typical sleep cycle last?
20. What can increase the risk of chronic diseases if lacking?
21. What are two factors that influence sleep quality?
22. What process during sleep may help prevent neurodegenerative diseases?

Questions 23–26 Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 2? 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

23. REM sleep is the deepest stage of sleep.
24. Infants need less sleep than adults.
25. Avoiding electronic devices before bed can improve sleep.
26. Sleep has no role in memory consolidation.

Reading Passage 3

Renewable Energy: Prospects and Challenges

Renewable energy is derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. Sunlight and wind, for example, are such sources that are constantly being renewed. Renewable energy sources are plentiful and all around us. They include solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, and biomass.

Solar energy is harnessed using photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity. Wind energy is captured by wind turbines that generate electrical power. Geothermal energy utilizes heat from the earth’s interior, while hydropower relies on the energy of moving water. Biomass energy is derived from organic materials like plant and animal waste.

The adoption of renewable energy has grown significantly in recent decades due to increasing concerns about climate change, energy security, and the environmental impacts of fossil fuels. Many countries have set ambitious targets for renewable energy deployment. For instance, the European Union aims to have at least 32% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Despite its benefits, renewable energy faces several challenges. Intermittency is a major issue; solar and wind energy are not always available when needed. Energy storage technologies, such as batteries, are being developed to address this, but they are still costly and not fully efficient. Additionally, the initial investment for renewable energy infrastructure can be high, although operational costs are generally lower than those of fossil fuels.

Land use is another consideration. Large-scale solar farms and wind turbines require significant space, which can lead to conflicts with agriculture, conservation, or local communities. However, technologies like rooftop solar and offshore wind can mitigate some of these issues.

The future of renewable energy looks promising. Advances in technology are steadily reducing costs and improving efficiency. Innovations in energy storage, smart grids, and materials science are expected to further enhance the viability of renewables. Moreover, policies such as carbon pricing and subsidies can accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy system.

Questions 27–40

Questions 27–32 Match each type of renewable energy (27–32) to its description (A–G). There is one extra description.

27. Solar energy
28. Wind energy
29. Geothermal energy
30. Hydropower
31. Biomass energy
32. (Extra option not used)

A. Uses heat from the earth’s interior
B. Derived from organic materials
C. Converts sunlight into electricity
D. Relies on moving water
E. Captured by turbines
F. Requires large-scale storage solutions
G. Not mentioned in the passage

Questions 33–37 Complete the sentences below with words from the passage. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

33. Renewable energy sources are replenished faster than they are ________.
34. The EU targets ________ of its energy from renewables by 2030.
35. A major challenge for solar and wind energy is their ________.
36. Energy ________ technologies are being developed to store renewable energy.
37. ________ costs for renewable energy are high, but operational costs are lower.

Questions 38–40 Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

38. What can help reduce land use conflicts for renewable energy?
39. What policies can speed up the shift to renewable energy?
40. What is steadily decreasing due to technological advances?

Answers

Reading Passage 1

1. TRUE
2. FALSE
3. FALSE
4. TRUE
5. FALSE
6. FALSE
7. grid
8. forum
9. aqueducts
10. bastides
11. defense
12. Baroque
13. garden

Reading Passage 2

14. heart rate
15. Slow-wave
16. memory consolidation
17. Dreaming
18. Learning
19. About 90 minutes
20. Sleep deprivation
21. Lifestyle, environment (order may vary)
22. Clearing metabolic waste
23. FALSE
24. FALSE
25. TRUE
26. FALSE

Reading Passage 3

27. C
28. E
29. A
30. D
31. B
32. G
33. consumed
34. 32%
35. intermittency
36. storage
37. Initial investment
38. Rooftop solar, offshore wind (order may vary)
39. Carbon pricing, subsidies (order may vary)
40. Costs