THINK AND DISCUSS

academic skills
1 What are the biggest cities in your country?
READING Analyzing visual information How would you describe them?
WRITING Writlnglntroductoryandconcludrng 2 What is your favorite city? What do you like
paragraphs
about it?
GRAMMAR Using the simple past and the present perfect
critical THINKING Analyzing quotes
 EXPLORE THE THEME

A Look at the information on these pages and answer the questions.

1. What overall trends have occurred in the world's urban population i'l';
,' '■
since 1950?

2. Which region had the fastest percentage urban growth from 1950 to 1990?
How about from 1990 to 2015? "Myoutoi990?
3. Which regions are projected to urbanize fastest between now and 2050?
B Match the words In ye;!ov to their definitions.
(adj) related to a city
(n)the process of increasing

buildings

AN URBAN SPECIFS
Urban.areas
v.. of
>». •more
•.w. _ than
v< .ur ■ au Imillion people
■ iiiiitji I peupie -
Growth'
were rare until the early 20th century.Today, nkgiy^ ^Igh-denslty cities Is
there are over 30 cities of more than 10 '"crease even more in the fut
million people.These dense areas can have mrau'^^'""' "^'Sf^tion fror
more than 500 inhabitants per square mile the wod^
the world's population
^^o-thir, of
(over 195 people per square kilometer). u., 'P°Pulatlon may live in
by 2050. in cities

.■ .'N > V r \ s , s .

' "•«».

. -S... \ . i^.3. b>g

 Growing Urbanization
Percentage of population living In urban areas of
more than 300,000 people, 1950-2050

North America

Latin America and

the Caribbean
Europe
Oceania
fiu 60 Global average
Asia

Africa

2050

ItVW

rjir ''jii

•iV

0:

t
fttu

»rin4-4ir?t

.^ITY SOLUTT^S SI:

 Reading 1
PREPARING TO READ

BUILDING A ' The words and phrases in blue below are used in Reading 1. Read the sentences. Then
VOCABULARY match the correct form of each word or phrase to its definition.

Houses in the suburbs are relatively cheap compared to those in the city center.

Some studies show that employees with flexible working arrangements are happier
and more productive.

Many governments have policies that support low-income families.

One negative aspect of city living is traffic congestion—cities tend to have a higher
concentration of cars on the roads, especially during peak hours.

Major cities such as Tokyo continue to spread out as their populations grow.

1.
asepct (n) a part or side of something

2. spread out (v) to cover a huge area

3. income (n) money that a person earns

productive (adj) able to achieve a significant amount or result
tend to (v) to usually do something or be a certain way
concentration (n) a huge amount or number of something in one place
suburb (n)an area outside of a large city that has homes and businesses

USING Discuss these questions with a partner.

VOCABULARY Would you rather live in a dty Center,0 suburb, or a rural area? Why?
2. What aspects of city life appeal to you? Which aspects don't you like?

PREDICTING fPl Read the title and the headings in the reading passage. What do you think the passage
is mainly about? Check your idea as you read.
a. a comparison of large cities in the past and those in the present
b. the environmental challenges that growing cities are facing
c. the positive impacts of urbanization on people and the environment

52 UNIT 3
 THE fvCJ? f ;qi^e]lo^
CLICE

f IE
r
iVi <4 "^J
i^i
r-*5
laM

LIVING ON AN "«
A crowded streetin ■

URBAN PLANET Myeongdong,Seoul

FwnPH
Consider this: in 1800, less than 3 percent of the world's population lived in
A cities, but by 2050, this could increase to over 66 percent. The trend is clear and
the conclusion inescapable—humans have become an urban species.

CITIES AS SOLUTIONS?

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, large urban areas began to grow and
spread. Many people viewed cities largely in negative terms—crowded,dirty,
unhealthy places full of disease and crime. People feared that as cities got
bigger, living conditions would get worse. Recent decades, however, have seen
a widespread change in attitudes toward urbanization.^ Many experts believe
that urbanization is good news. Although negative aspects such as pollution and
urban slums remain serious problems, many urban planners now believe big
cities might help solve the problem of Earth's growing population.
'Urbanization is the process by which cities grow.

CITY SOLUTIONS 53
 importantly. Brand points out that people living
in dense cities drive less. They can walk to many
destinations and use public transportation. As a
result, cities tend to produce fewer greenhouse
gas emissions per person than suburbs.
Because of these reasons, it may be a
mistake to see urbanization as evil. Instead,
we should view it as an inevitable part of
development, says David Satterthwaite of
London's International Institute of Environment
and Development. For Satterthwaite and other
urban planners, rapid growth itself is not the
real problem. The larger issue is how to manage
the growth. There is no one model for how
Harvard economist Edward Glaeser is one
to manage rapid urbanization, but there are
person who believes that cities bring largely hopeful examples. One is Seoul, South Korea.
positive benefits. According to Glaeser, cities
are "the absence of space between people." SEOUL'S SUCCESS STORY
This closeness reduces the cost of transporting Since the 1960s,Seoul's population has
goods, people, and ideas, and allows people increased from fewer than 3 million to more
to be more productive. Successful cities also than 10 million people. In the same period, South
attract and reward smart people with higher Korea has also gone from being one of the world's
wages, and they enable people to learn from poorest countries to being richer than many
one another. According to Glaeser, a perfect countries in Europe. How did this happen? Large
example of how information can be shared numbers of people first began arriving in Seoul
in a big city is the trading floor of the New in the 1950s.The government soon recognized
York Stock Exchange. There,employees share that economic development was essential for
information in one open,crowded space."They supporting its growing urban population. It
value knowledge over space," he says."That's therefore began to invest in South Korean
what the modern city is all about," companies. This investment eventually helped
Another champion^ of urbanization is corporations such as Samsung and Hyundai
environmentalist Stewart Brand. According to grow and develop. A major contributing factor
Brand,living in cities has a smaller impact on for South Korea's economic success was the large
the environment than living in suburbs and rural number of people who came to Seoul to work.
areas. Cities allow half of the world's population "You can't understand urbanization in
to live on about 4 percent of the land. City isolation from economic development," says
roads,sewers,^ and power lines are shorter and economist Kyung-Hwan Kim of Sogang
require fewer resources to build and operate. University. The growing city paid for the
City apartments require less energy to heat, buildings, roads, and other infrastructure that
cool, and light than houses in other areas. Most helped absorb even more people. South Korea's
growth cannot be easily copied. However,
you are a champion of something, you support or defend it.
^Sewers are large underground channels that carry waste matter it proves that a poor country can urbanize
and rainwater away. successfully and incredibly fast.

54 UNIT 3
 25 1 GREENHOUSE GAS U.S.
EMISSIONS PER PERSON

Tons of COj equivalent;

sample years 1994-2007

20

Stuttgart

15
BELGIUM

SOUTH KOREA
Beijing SOUTH AFRICA SPAIN

10
GERMANY
New York
>

BRAZIL Cape Town Brussels

Madrid

Seoul
The amount of greenhouse gas
CHINA
emissions per person in dense cities as
Sao Paulo
compared to their national average

MANAGING URBANIZATION Today, many planners want to bring

Despite success stories such as Seoul, people back to downtown areas and make
urban planners around the world continue to suburbs denser. Some ways to densify suburbs
struggle with the problem of how to manage include creating walkable town centers, high-
rise apartment buildings, and more public
urbanization. While they used to worry mainly
transportation. This would make people less
about city density, urban planners today are
dependent on cars."It would be a lot better for
focusing on urban sprawl—the way big cities
the planet," says Edward Glaeser, if people are
are spreading out and taking over more and
"in dense cities built around the elevator rather
more land.
than in sprawling areas built around the car."
Shlomo Angel is an urban planning
Shlomo Angel believes that planning can
professor at New York University and Princeton
make a big difference in the way cities are allowed
University. He thinks rising incomes and to grow. However,good planning requires
cheaper transportation are two main reasons looking decades ahead—reserving land for parks
for urban sprawl."When income rises, people and public transportation,for example, before
have money to buy more space," he says. With the city grows over it. It also requires looking at
cheaper transportation, people can afford to growing cities in a positive way,as concentrations
travel longer distances to work. In the second of human energy. With the Earth's population
half of the 20th century, for example, many headed toward 9 or 10 billion, dense and
people in the United States moved from cities carefully planned cities are looking more like a
to suburban areas. This trend led to expanding solution—perhaps the best hope for lifting people
suburbs, which led to more energy use and out of poverty without wrecking'* the planet.
increased air pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions.
■•To wreck something means to completely destroy or ruin it.

CITY SOLUTIONS 55
 UNDERSTANDING THE READING

SUMMARIZING A, Read the first sentence of a summary of"Living on an Urban Planet." Check K)four
other sentences to complete the summary.

Because most ofthe world's population will live In cities, it's important to plan and manage
cities well so they can benefit society.
□ 1. Urbanization has a lot of benefits, such as the easy exchange of ideas and the
reduction of human impact on the environment.
□ 2. Seoul experienced many problems as a result of its rapid population growth
between 1960 and 2000.

□ 3. Seoul's successful urbanization is an example of how urbanization can bring positive

impacts to cities and countries.
□ 4. Although some cities have managed to urbanize well, urban planners today are
concerned with managing the expansion of large cities.
□ 5. The second half of the 20th century saw many people in the United States moving
out of cities.

□ 6. Careful long-term planning is key to growing cities that can accommodate the
world's future population.

UNDERSTANDING B Match each section of the reading passage to Its main idea.
MAIN IDEAS , , . ,
1. Paragraphs a. Urbanization is better for the environment.
2. Paragraph C b. By reducing distance, cities bring largely positive benefits.
3. Paragraph D c. Proper urban planning can bring positive results to cities.
4. Paragraphs F-G d. Recently, attitudes toward living in cities have become
c nParagraphu J1
5. nnore positive.

e. Planners want to reduce the need for cars in suburban areas.

6. Paragraph K
f. Well-managed urbanization in the 20th century helped a
poor country achieve rapid economic development.
IDENTIFYING C Answer the questions below with information from the reading passage.
PROS AND CONS

1. According to Edward Glaeser, what are two benefits of living in cities? (paragraph C)

2. According to Stewart Brand, what is one benefit of dense cities? What is one example
he gives? (paragraph D)

3. According to David Satterthwaite, what is the main challenge related to urbanization?

(paragraph E)

56 UNITS
 CRITICAL THINKING A writer may quote an expert to support an Idea
presented In an article. When you read a quote from an expert, ask yourself:
Which of the writer's main or supporting Ideas does the quote support?

Read the following quotes from the passage. Which main or supporting idea from the CRITICAL THINKING:
paragraph does each quote support? Discuss with a partner. ANALYZING QUOTES

1. 'They value knowledge over space. That's what the modern city Is all about."
(paragraph C)

2. "You can't understand urbanization in Isolation from economic development."

(paragraph G)

3. "When Income rises, people have money to buy more space."(paragraph I)

4. "It would be a lot better for the planet [If people are] In dense cities built around the
elevator rather than in sprawling areas built around the car."(paragraph J)

E Do you think that city life is mainly beneficial? Why or why not? Complete the sentence criticalthinkinG;
below. Include at least two reasons. Then share your ideas with a partner. justifying your
OPINION
Overall, I think urbanization has a positive / negative impact on human societies because

Shanghai has experienced rapid

urbanization since the 1980s.

L
 DEVELOPING READING SKILLS

READING SKILL Analyzing Visual Information

When you first look at a graph, read the title, subtitle, caption, and/or legend (key).
Ask yourself what information is being presented. What do the lines, colors, or
symbols mean? What is the purpose of the graph?Then underline important words
in the title or caption that tell you about the content. Ask yourself how the graph
supports the ideas in the reading passage. How does it help you understand the
author's ideas better?

ANALYZING VISUAL Work with a partner. Look at the graph below and answer the questions.
INFORMATION
1. Look at the title, subtitle, and legend. What is the main purpose of the graph?
2. Underline the sentence in the reading passage that the graph relates to.
3. How does the graph support the sentence in the reading passage?

South Korea Overtakes Europe

Growth in GDP^ per capita (against selected European countries) 1980-2016

50,000 -
Italy
South Korea

40,000 -
Spain
Portugal
United Kingdom
30,000 -

20,000 -

10,000 H

0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

'Gross Domestic Product(GDP)is the amount of goods and services produced in one year.

ANALYZING VISUAL Look at the infographic in the reading passage and answer the questions. Discuss your
INFORMATION answers with a partner.

1. What do the red and green colors indicate?

2. What is the main purpose of the chart?
a. to show the emissions goals of certain cities and countries
b. to show how some countries have reduced their emissions in the last 25 years
c. to show how most cities have lower per capita emissions than their countries
3. Which paragraph in the passage does the graph support?

58 UNIT 3
 DF
BEFORE VIEWING

A Read the title and the photo caption. Why do you think people would create farms PREDICTING
underground? Discuss with a partner.

B Read the information about food miles—the distance food travels from where it's LEARNING ABOUT

produced to people's plates—and answer the questions. THE TOPIC

How big an impact do "food miles" have on the environment? In some parts of the
world,food—such as grains, fruit, and vegetables—travels over 2,400 kilometers to get
to consumers. In 2016,the United Kingdom imported about half of its food from other
countries. This food is flown or shipped into the country and then transported to towns and
cities in trucks. Food transportation trucks produce a quarter of transport-related greenhouse
gas emissions—a major cause of global warming. And with an expanding population,these
issues are only likely to increase. If producers and consumers are serious about slowing
global warming, growing—and buying—more food locally could reduce "food miles."

1. How do "food miles" affect the environment?

2. Are the problems related to "food miles" likely to increase or decrease in the future? Why?

3. What do you think is one way to help reduce "food miles" where you live? Note your
idea and discuss with a partner.

CITY SOLUTIONS S9
 VOCABULARY C The words and phrases in bold below are used in the video. Read the sentences. Then
IN CONTEXT match the correct form of each word or phrase to its definition.

One way to be more carbon-neutral is to drive less and walk more.

LEDs save money and energy because they use 90 percent less power than
traditional light bulbs.
The distribution of food by air and land can cause greenhouse gas emissions.
By utilizing new farming technologies—such as hydroponic farming—we can use
fewer resources to produce the food we need.

T (n) the act of supplying goods

2. (v) to use something

3. (n)a device that produces light, usually used in electronics

4. (adj) adding no more carbon to the atmosphere than the
amount you take in

5- (n) a method of growing plants in mineral-rich water

WHILE VIEWING
UNDERSTANDING A, Watch the video. Check K)the reasons Steven Dring and Richard Ballard built an
MAIN IDEAS underground farm.
□ 1. to make young people aware of how food is grown
□ 2. to grow new types of plants
□ 3. to cut down on food miles
□ 4. to help solve environmental problems
□ 5. to providefoodforthe growing population of London
O 6. to use less water than traditional farming

UNDERSTANDING B □ Watch the video again. For each statement below, circle T for true, F for false, or NG
DETAILS if the information is not given.
1. Steven Dring and Richard Ballard built the tunnels. T F NG
2. According to Dring, the population in London will increase T F NG
by two million in 10 years.
3. The underground farm receives funding from the government. T F NG
4. Dring and Ballard want to grow more plants in the future. T F NG

AFTER VIEWING
REACTINGTO A Steven Dring says, "We've still got kids in the U.K. who think that spaghetti is grown
THE VIDEO on trees." Why is this a problem? How can the underground farm help solve it? Discuss
with a partner.

CRITICALTHINKING: 8 What challenges do you think underground farms in cities might face? Think of two
EVALUATING ideas. Then share them with a partner.

60 UNIT 3
 Reading 2
PREPARING TO READ

A The words in blue below are used in Reading 2. Complete the sentences with the building
correct words. Use a dictionary to help you. vocabulary

attempt basically consumption enhance

increasingly industrial majority safety
phenomenon varied

1. One way to improve the safety of city neighborhoods is to have

regular police patrols.

2. According to Stewart Brand, city living actually reduces energy

majority
because the consumption of people have access to public transportation and
don't have to drive so much.

3. The phenomenon of urbanization is becoming

increasingly
common as more and more cities continue to grow and develop.

4. Manchester used to be a(n) industrial city;from cotton to chemicals,

there was a(n) varied group of factories and businesses there.

5. Economist Edward Glaeser basically sees cities as places where there is

an absence of space between people.

6. The attempt to clean up a small river in downtown Seoul was a

success—it helped enhance the attractiveness of the area.

B Discuss these questions with a partner. using

1. What are two ways to enhance the quality of life in cities? vocabulary
2. What can you do to reduce your energy consumption?

C Reading 2 is an interview with Richard Wurman,an urban planner. Wurman studied predicting
various cities to learn more about the effects of global urbanization.
What kinds of information about the cities do you think he collected? Discuss with a
partner.Then check your ideas as you read.

CITY SOLUTIONS 61
 THE URBAN VISIONARY
ffliES
When architect and urban planner Richard
Wurman learned that the majority of Earth's
population lived in cities, he became curious.
He wondered what the effects of global
urbanization will be. With a group of business
and media partners, Wurman set out on a five-
year study—a project called 19.20.21—to collect
information about urbanization, focusing on
the world's largest urban concentrations, or
megacities.
The project's aim is to standardize the
way information about cities—such as health,
education, transportation, energy consumption,
and arts and culture—is collected and shared.
The hope is that urban planners will be able to
use these objective data to enhance the quality
of life for people in cities while reducing the
environmental impact of urbanization. "One has to understand
Q: What draws people to cities? [a city's problems] in context
Wurman: People flock to cities because of
the possibilities for doing things that interest and in comparison to
them. Those interests—and the economics that
make them possible—are based on people living other places."
together. We really have turned into a world of
cities. Cities cooperate with each other. Cities
trade with each other. Cities are where you put understand. And I couldn't find what I was
museums, where you put universities, where you looking for. I couldn't find maps of cities to the
put the centers of government, the centers of same scale. Much of the statistical information
corporations. The inventions, the discoveries, is gathered independently by each city, and
the music and art in our world all take place the questions they ask are often not the same.
in these intense gatherings of individuals. There's no readily available information on the
Q:Tell us about 19.20,21. speed of growth of cities. Diagrams on power,
water distribution and quality, health care, and
Wurman: For the first time in history, more
education aren't available, so a metropolis' can't
people live in cities than outside them. I thought
find out any information about itself relative
I'd try to discover what this new phenomenon
to other cities and, therefore, can't judge the
really means. I went to the Web,and I tried to
success or failure of programs.
find the appropriate books and lists that would
give me information, data, maps,so I could 'A metropolis is a large, important, busy dry.

62 UNIT 3
 So I decided to gather consistent information the largest, the oldest, the fastest-growing,
on 19 cities that will have more than 20 million the lowest, the highest, the densest, the least
people in the 21st century. That's what 19.20.21 dense,[or] the largest in area. The densest city
is about. We'll have a varied group of young is Mumbai.The fastest-growing is Lagos.- For
cities, old cities, third-world cities, second- years, the largest city was Mexico City, but
world cities, first-world cities, fast-growing Tokyo is now the biggest ... There are cities
cities, slow-growing cities, coastal cities, inland that are basically spread out, like Los Angeles.
cities, industrial cities,[and] cultural cities. Then there are classic cities, which you certainly
Much of this can be presented online, but wouldn't want to leave out, like Paris. I find the
we're also planning to have exhibits and urban data on cities to be endlessly fascinating. Just
observatories so that cities around the world look at the world's 10 largest cities through
can see themselves relative to others. time. The biggest city in the year 1000 was
Q:What are some of the cities you're looking at? Cordoba, Spain. Beijing was the biggest city in
1500 and 1800, London in 1900, New York
Wurman: What inspires me is being able City in 1950, and today [it's] Tokyo.
to understand something, and understanding
often comes from looking at extremes. So the -In 2017, Dhaka was the densest city, and Zinder was the fastest-
cities that pop out are the ones that are clearly growing.

Today,Plaza de la Corredera in
Cordoba is a popular place for
visitors to the city.
 Q: Cities are increasingly challenged to sustain didn't seem to work very well. And yet the
their infrastructure and service. Can they survive reasons for doing it seemed justified at that
as they are now? moment ... It shows that the attempt to make
Wurman: Nothing survives as it is now. things better often makes things worse. We have
All cities are cities for the moment, and our to understand before we act. And although
thoughts about how to make them better there are a lot of little ideas for making things
are thoughts at the moment.There was great better—better learning, increased safety,
passion 30 years ago for the urban bulldozer,^ cleaner air—you can't solve the problem with a
collection of little ideas. One has to understand
that we had to tear down the slums, tear down
the old parts of cities, and have urban renewal. them in context and in comparison to other
That lasted for about 10, 15 years, until it places.

bulldozer is a large vehicle used for knocking down buildings.

THE URBAN OBSERVATORY

Wurman's team has created an interactive

online exhibit called the Urban Observatory. V
Hoping to make the world's data
"understandable and useful," the website has
maps that compare different cities according
to a variety of themes. These themes include
the types of occupations people have, the
types of transportation available, and the
quality of public spaces, such as parks.

\ , L O N D. q N, ABU DHABI

■. '. 1
'i-
• .>
%.
• 1 •

'• - .V. .-. . .'vr:-

• . i '

The maps above show the distribution of green spaces in three major cities.

64 UNITS
UNDERSTANDING THE READING

A Choose the best alternative title for the reading passage. UNDERSTANDING

MAIN IDEAS
a. An Idea for Sharing Urban Data
b. An Idea for Improving Urban Areas
c. An idea for Controlling Urban Expansion

B Match each section in the passage to Its purpose. UNDERSTANDING

PURPOSE
1. Paragraph B a. to state what the project wants to achieve
2. Paragraph C b. to give reasons why more people are moving to cities
.3. Paragraph D c. to give advice on how cities should manage their
.4. Paragraphs E-F development

.5. Paragraph G d. to describe the types of data Included in the project and
what they show
e. to explain the challenges Wurman faced when studying
urbanization

C Complete the concept map using information from paragraphs A, B, D,and E. Write no understanding
more than two words or a number in each space. details

Origins Aims

• created by Richard Wurman,an' and • to ^ the collection of city data so

urban planner that it's easier to compare,e.g., all city maps use
the same scale
• Wurman was curious how ^ will

change the world ■ the data can then be used by to

improve city living

• he set up 19.20.21 with a team of people
working in ^ and" ■ Wurman hopes urbanization can then have a more
positive ®
the project was expected to last for

\ /

Methods

• data is collected from the world's largest cities

• study focuses on cities with populations of over people

• looks at how people use transportation, how much they consume, etc.

.information will be shared" and via exhibits and other events

CITY SOLUTIONS 65
INFERRING MEANING D Find the following words and phrases In the reading passage. Use context to identify
their meanings.Then circle the best option to complete the definitions.

draw (paragraph C) pop out(paragraph F)

flock (paragraph C) slum (paragraph G)
relative to (paragraph D)

1. Things that draw people to a city make them want to go there / stay away,

2. When people flock to a place, they go in small / large numbers.

3. Relative to something means in comparison with / connected to it.

4. If information pops out, you notice it more because it is detailed / obvious.

5. Slums are parts of cities where living conditions are very poor / good.

ANALYZING VISUAL E Look at the maps in the reading passage and answer the questions below.
INFORMATION
1. What do the maps show?

2. Which city has the greatest amount? Which has the least?

3. How might this information be useful for cities?

CRITICAL THINKING: F Read the statements below. Which of the people in this unit—Glaeser, Brand, Angel,
SYNTHESIZING or Wurman—would agree most strongly with each one? Write a name for each
statement. More than one answer Is possible.Then share your answers with a partner.
1. Overall, people living in cities have a smaller
carbon footprint.

2. It's better to make decisions about a city

after looking at it alongside others.
3. Cities are efficient and important places
for people to share ideas and information.
4. Proper planning is the way to manage
urban growth and overcome problems.

66 U N IT 3
 Writing
EXPLORING WRITTEN ENGLISH

A Read the sentences (a-c)and notice the underlined verbs. Match each sentence to the noticing
most suitable description.
a. In 2017, Steven Dring and Richard Ballard set up an underground farm in London.
b. Richard Wurman's team has created an online exhibit for the Urban Observatory.
c. Edward Giaeser has written a number of books about cities.

1. The action happened at an unspecified time in the past.

2. The action happened several times In the past.
3. The action happened at a specific time in the past.

LANGUAGE FOR WRITING Using the Simple Past and the Present Perfect

We use the simple past to describe actions that began and ended in the past.

The Highline—a green space in New York City—opened to the public in 2009.

We use the present perfect tense to talk about:

1. something that happened several times in the past.
Planners have redeveloped this area three times.
2. something that happened at an unspecified time in the past
The Urban Observatory has gathered data from many different cities.
Note:To form the present perfect, use have or has and the past participle of
a main verb.

B Circle the correct options to complete the sentences.

1. Large numbers of people moved / have moved to Seoul during the 1950s.
2. In the 1950s, the South Korean government invested / has invested in local
companies such as Samsung and Hyundai in order to support the country's economic
growth.

3. Before the 20th century. South Korea was / has been one of the world's poorest
countries.

4. Overall, life improved / has improved for South Koreans during the past few
decades.

5. In 1961, the life expectancy in South Korea was 51 years. Since then, it increased /
has increased to 79 years.

CITV SOLUTIONS 67
 WRITING SKILL Writing an Introductory Paragraph

The first paragraph of an essay is the introductory paragraph.This paragraph

contains the thesis statement and generai information about the essay. It can also
include a hook—an opening sentence to make the reader interested.The hook can
be a surprising fact, an interesting question, or an imaginary situation related to the
topic. See the first sentence of paragraph A, Reading 1, for an example.
A thesis statement is usually the last sentence in the introductory paragraph. It
expresses the main idea of an entire essay. Here's an example of a thesis statement
for a problem-solution essay:
With more convenient public transportation and pedestrian-only streets, Morristown is
now an environnnentally friendly and healthy place for its residents.
A good thesis statement gives the writer's position about the topic and stares the
main points of the essay.
Note: in an introduction, you should avoid using I unless you are writing a personal
essay. For example, you should avoid saying I am going to write about....

c Read the following pairs of thesis statements. Choose the one in each pair that you
think is better. Share the reasons for your answers with a partner.
1. a. Life is a lot better in Philadelphia than It was a few years ago for several good
reasons.

b. Life Is a lot better in Philadelphia today because there is less crime and more job
opportunities.
2. a. Two recent changes have improved the city of San Pedro: new streetlights and
better roads.
b. Most residents of San Pedro are very pleased with the recent infrastructure
improvements.

D Choose the best opening hook for each essay topic. Then discuss with a partner.
1. Topic: making parking in the city center more convenient
a. i used to avoid going downtown because it always took me a really long time to
find parking.
b. How long is too long to look for parking downtown? Ten minutes? Fifteen minutes?
An hour?

2. Topic: improving road safety in cities

a. Each year, more than 800 people are hit by cars in San Francisco.
b. A lot of people get hit by cars in San Francisco while they're trying to cross the
street.

3. Topic: managing traffic congestion in cities

a. Traffic is terrible in my city because there are too many cars on the road and as a
result, it takes a really long time to get anywhere.
b. imagine this: It s 8 a.m. You have 30 minutes to get to your job on the other side of
town. The traffic is terrible—you'll never make it.

68 UNIT 3
E Match the topics In exercise D to their thesis statements below. One statement Is extra.
a. With the introduction of a new subway line and increased housing in the city,
there should now be fewer cars on the roads during peak hours.
b. In response to the problem,the government has set stricter rules on where you
can leave your car in the city center.
c. To ensure the well-being of all road users, city planners have now put more
stoplights and created more areas where cars can't go.
d. The increased number of garages in the central district has made it easier for
drivers to find a space to leave their cars when they visit.

WRITING SKILL Writing a Concluding Paragraph

The last paragraph of an essay is the concluding paragraph.This paragraph usually

includes a summary statement and sometimes leaves the reader with a final
thought about the topic,The summary statement paraphrases the thesis statement.
Notice in the summary statement below how the author restates the thesis
statement in the Writing Skill box In different words.
Improved public transportarlon and pedestrian-only streets have given Morrlstown
cleaner air and a more sustainable future.

Here are two ways to leave the reader with a final thought.
• Make a prediction: The effects ofthese improvements to life in Morristown may
encourage more people to move here.
• Ask a question: Will these improvements Inspire city officials to make even more
environmentally friendly changes in Morristown?

F Write a summary statement for each thesis statement in exercise E.

G Choose one of the summary statements in exercise F and write a final thought.

CITY SOLUTIONS 69
 WRITING TASK

GOAL You are going to write a problem-solution essay on the following topic:
Describe a problem that a city or town had, and explain one thing that was
done to solve it.

BRAIN STORMING ^' Think of a city or town that is better to live in now than it used to be. Make a list of
improvements that were made.Think about areas such as housing, environmental
issues, traffic, public transportation, and job opportunities. Do research if necessary.

PLANNING B Follow these steps to make notesfor your essay.

Step 1 Choose the problem that you want to write about. Note it in the outline, and
note two effects of the problem as your supporting ideas.
Step 2 Describe the best solution to the problem. Note two ways it helped solve the
problem.
Step 3 Write a thesis statement that states the problem and the solution. Add a hook to
your introduction.
Step 4 Write a summary statement and add a final thought for the concluding paragraph.

OUTLINE

Introductory Paragraph
Hook:

Thesis Statement;

The Problem:

Supporting Idea 1 / Details:

Supporting Idea 2/ Details:

The Solution:

Supporting Idea 1 / Details:

Supporting Idea 2/ Details:

Concluding Paragraph

Summary Statement:

Final Thought:

70 UNIT 3
C Use the information in your outline to write a first draft of your essay. first draft

REVISING PRACTICE
The draft below is similar to the one you are going to write. Follow the steps to
create a better second draft.

1. Add the sentences (a-c) in the most suitable spaces.

a. It was dirty and dark, with a lot of noise from the cars rushing overhead.
b. What other improvements might make the city an even more beautiful place to
live and visit?
c. Imagine your shock when you visit San Francisco for the first time, and you have
to walk under an ugly freeway to get to the bay.
2. Now fix the following problems (d-f) in the essay.
d. Cross out one sentence that does not relate to the topic sentence in paragraph B.
e. Correct a mistake with the simple past or present perfect in paragraph B.
f. Correct a mistake with the simple past or present perfect in paragraph C.
A
It isn't what you expected. Parts of the city are actually unattractive. However,
one improvement that has made the city a more beautiful place for residents and
tourists is tearing down the Embarcadero freeway.
B

For three decades until the early 1990s, the Embarcadero freeway was one of the least
attractive parts of San Francisco. The two-level freeway completely blocked the view
of the bay and sites in the bay,such as Angel Island and Alcatraz. Visitors can take
ferries to Alcatraz and take a tour of the old prison. In addition, pedestrians had to
walk underneath this 150,000-ton cement structure In order to get from downtown
to the bay. Walking under the freeway has not been a pleasant experience
C

In 1989, part ofthe freeway has been destroyed by an earthquake;two years later, the city
authorities decided to take the whole thing down and renovate the area. One way that
this has helped make San Francisco more beautiful is by giving people access to the bay.
People are able to walk orjog along the Embarcadero or just enjoy views of the Bay Bridge,
the water,and the hills and neighboring cities on the other side of the bay.Tearing down
the freeway has also allowed residents and tourists to see the beautiful Ferry Building,one
of San Francisco's most important buildings.The Ferry Building was closed for decades,
but since the renovation, it has been open,and now houses great shops and restaurants.
The once ugly Embarcadero has become a place that residents and tourists want to visit.
D

The removal of the Embarcadero freeway has made the waterfront area attractive
and accessible for both visitors and San Franciscans. Today, most people don't even
remember the old freeway

CITY SOLUTIONS 71
 R E V15 E D D R A F T To J Now Use the questions below to revise your essay.
° hook and a clear thesis
° m;;"issr""""" >«Mon i„,„u,
□ Do.>,o„, conducing p„g„„, ^
EDITING PRACTICE
Read the information below

^'"^ents have enjoy the renovations to the city c

3. The new subway system has make it easie r
4. ItisnowsaferforpeoDieto -h u ° 3®^ aoross town.
.« diCde ;a„„ „ »■ bi«« .0 „„,i

FINAL DRAFT
final -i ^""ow th.ese Steps to write a final draft.
DRAFT 'iBFM ^rea alongside the bay.

f
changes. ^
^he Simple past and the Present perfect.
"3 to write a final HrdA .
any other necessary

UNIT REVIEW
Answer the following questions.
1. Why might living in cities be better than living i 3.

suburbs? List two reasons. ^ in the

Reading i; ^'^'^tknow.
aspect EES Q
Q growth p, . Ba Qd,
2. What should you include in a thesis statement? □spreadout
□urban
Reading 2:
attempt Q, .
□enhances °
72 UNIT 3
°^4jorityaa
^ varied®! ®'^°'henon®j