Reading Comprehension - rise of the Megacities - A02 INT. - P.54

What is the main idea of the text?

• The history of rural villages in Asia

• The causes and effects of megacities' growth

• The environmental impact of farming

• A comparison of life in big and small cities

Which area of Seoul has seen most of the recent population growth?

• The industrial zone

• The city centre

• The suburbs

• The coastline

Why have housing projects been expanded?

• Because people prefer rural areas

• Due to overpopulation and lack of housing

• To attract tourists

• To replace old buildings

What example of a megacity that used to be small is given in the text?

• Abu Dhabi

• Bogotá

• Seoul

• Tokyo

What is one of the problems caused by slums, according to the text?

• Too much electricity

• Limited access to clean drinking water

• Expensive housing

• Lack of entertainment

What is the purpose of the question in paragraph 1 ("Places that even just a few decades ago…")?

• To confuse the reader

• To give an example of a future trend

• To show how quickly cities have grown

• To suggest a solution to overpopulation

What does the phrase "This has changed in the last 20 or 30 years" refer to in paragraph 2?

• The way Seoul exports goods

• The layout of Abu Dhabi

• The location of population growth

• The cost of living in Seoul

Do you think the growth of megacities is a positive or negative phenomenon? Why?

What problems could your city face if it became a megacity? How would you solve them?

In your opinion, how could urban planners avoid the negative effects mentioned in the text?