Theme: Urban Green Spaces, Renewable Energy, Online Education, Remote Work, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Questions
Reading Passage (45 seconds to read):
Title: The Benefits of Urban Green Spaces
Urban green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, are vital for the well-being of city dwellers. These areas provide a natural escape from the bustling urban environment, allowing people to relax and enjoy nature. Studies have shown that spending time in green spaces can reduce stress, improve mental health, and encourage physical activity. Additionally, green spaces play a crucial role in supporting urban biodiversity by providing habitats for various plant and animal species. They also help mitigate the urban heat island effect by cooling down city areas and improving air quality. As cities continue to grow, the need for green spaces becomes even more important for promoting a healthy and sustainable urban lifestyle.
Listening Script:
Professor’s lecture on the importance of urban green spaces:
Question:
After reading the passage and listening to the lecture, summarize the main points of both the reading and the listening. Then, explain how the information in the listening passage challenges or supports the points made in the reading passage. You have 60 seconds to prepare your response.
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Transcripts
Listening Script:
Professor’s lecture on the importance of urban green spaces:
“While the reading passage highlights several benefits of urban green spaces, it overlooks some key challenges in maintaining them. One major issue is the cost associated with creating and upkeeping these areas. Cities often face budget constraints, making it difficult to allocate sufficient funds for park maintenance, staff salaries, and equipment. Furthermore, urban green spaces can sometimes attract criminal activity, leading to safety concerns for the community. Additionally, the process of establishing green spaces in densely populated areas can be complicated due to the limited availability of land and potential opposition from residents or businesses who may have other interests for those plots. Therefore, while urban green spaces do offer numerous advantages, cities must carefully consider these challenges to ensure these areas are both effective and sustainable.”
Sample Answer:
The reading passage discusses the benefits of urban green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, emphasizing their positive impact on reducing stress, improving mental health, and promoting physical activity. It also mentions that these spaces help support biodiversity and reduce the urban heat island effect by cooling down city areas and improving air quality.
In contrast, the listening passage presents some challenges associated with urban green spaces. The professor points out that maintaining these areas can be expensive, involving costs for maintenance, staff, and equipment. Additionally, there are concerns about safety, as these spaces can sometimes attract criminal activities. The professor also mentions the difficulty in finding available land in densely populated cities, as well as potential opposition from residents and businesses.
Overall, the information in the listening passage challenges the reading passage by highlighting the practical difficulties and costs involved in creating and maintaining urban green spaces, which the reading does not address. While both agree on the importance of green spaces, the listening passage adds a layer of complexity by discussing the challenges that cities must consider to make these spaces sustainable and effective.
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