Interactive Reading — Society

Urbanisation refers to the movement of people from rural areas to cities. This process has accelerated in recent decades, with more than half the world's population now living in urban areas. While cities offer better access to services, they also face problems such as overcrowding and pollution. According to the passage, urbanisation has ___. A) slowed down recently B) affected only developing countries C) increased in recent decades D) solved most environmental problems

Public libraries serve as important community spaces that provide free access to books, computers, and educational programmes. In many neighbourhoods, libraries are the only places where residents can access the internet and attend workshops without charge. The passage implies that public libraries are important because they ___. A) sell books at low prices B) provide free resources to the community C) replace schools in poor areas D) are funded by local businesses

Minimum wage laws set the lowest hourly pay that employers are legally required to offer. Supporters argue that higher minimum wages reduce poverty, while critics warn that they may lead to job losses if businesses cannot afford the increased labour costs. The passage presents minimum wage as a topic that is ___. A) universally supported B) no longer relevant C) debated between supporters and critics D) only important in wealthy countries

Volunteering provides benefits to both the community and the volunteers themselves. Research shows that people who volunteer regularly report better physical health, lower rates of depression, and a stronger sense of purpose compared to those who do not volunteer. According to the research mentioned, volunteering ___. A) is only beneficial for the community B) can improve volunteers' health and well-being C) causes stress and fatigue D) has no measurable effects on individuals

Gender equality in education has improved significantly over the past fifty years. In most countries, girls now attend school at the same rate as boys. However, in some regions, cultural barriers and poverty still prevent girls from completing their education. The passage suggests that gender equality in education ___. A) has been fully achieved worldwide B) has improved but is not yet complete C) has not changed in fifty years D) only affects wealthy countries

Social media platforms allow people to share information instantly with millions of users worldwide. However, the speed at which content spreads makes it difficult to verify accuracy, leading to the rapid circulation of misinformation that can influence public opinion. The main concern about social media mentioned in the passage is ___. A) the cost of using platforms B) the spread of misinformation C) the decline of traditional media D) the difficulty of creating accounts