* Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 24 to 30.

MEGACITY: A NEW KIND OF CITY

  A term 'megalopolis' (or megacity) was first used by French geographer Jean Gottman to describe the north-eastern United States in 1961. The term is used more widely now and is defined as an urban area of more than 10 million inhabitants dominated by a low-density housing. In 1995 there were 14 megacities. By 2020 there could be 30.

  Megacities are the result of the process of urbanization. After cities grew into crowded urban centres, people who could afford to move into suburbs at the edge of the city. When the suburbs in turn became crowded, people moved into villages and dormitory towns outside the city, but within commuting distance. In this way, for the first time since industrialisation, the countryside began to gain population, whereas cities lost their inhabitants. In the 1980s St Louis and Detroit in the America lost between 35 and 47 per cent of their populations and London lost 15 per cent in the 20 years to 1971.

  However, this movement away from cities does not mean that the city is dying. In fact it is spreading. From the old city develops a metropolitan area with many low-level urban developments. When these metropolitan areas merge together, they form megacities which contain over 10 million people. The largest of these is in America, called Boswash - a region over 300 miles long from Boston in the north to Washington, DC in the south with more than 44 million people. There are emerging megalopolises in Britain centred around London and the south-east, in Germany in the industrial region of the Ruhr and Japan in the Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto region.

(adaptedfrom Archive IELTS (2013), Louis Harrison et al., Cengage Learning)

Which is the best title for paragraph 3?

A. Megacities around the world

B. What is a megacity? 

C. The formation of megacities

D. Cities lose their people

THAILAND

1. Is the climate in Thailand different from the one in Vietnam?

=> .................................................

2. What is the official religion in Thaland?

=> .................................................

3. Name the capital of Thailand?

=> .................................................

4. What is the population of Thailand

=> .................................................

New York City (NYC) is considered as one of (1)    _________     (good) places to live in the world. The city of New York is (2)      ____________       (densely populated) in the US with a population of about 8.55 million spread over an area of 305 square miles. Although New York and San Francisco are probably two of (3)     ______     (iconic) cities in America, the former seems to attract more tourists thanks to a wide range of landscapes and activities it offers. In addition, its standard of living is also a strong point. It’s hard to believe, but rent is actually (4)      _________  (cheap) than other cities. It’s a fun fact that city life isn’t just (5) ________  (good), it’s (6)  _______ (lengthy): NYC residents live about two years (7)   _______  (long) than the national average. Remarkably, NYC has the second (8)  ______ (large) Jewish population in the world – a massive influence on the city’s identity. This is the city that most people surveyed said they would want to visit this year.

Decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

Thailand, located in the Southeast of Asia, has a total area of 513,115 sq km. It is bordered by the countries Laos in the Northeast, Cambodia in the Southeast and Malaysia in the South. The total population is about 65.5 million in 2010. Bangkok, the most populous city, is the capital of Thailand. The country’s unit of currency is the Baht, which consists of 100 Satang.

The country enjoys a tropical monsoon climate, and there are differences between the weather in the North and the South. The Northern Thai have three seasons in a year, hot from March to May, rainy from June to October, and cool from November to February. The Southern Thai have only two seasons, rainy from April to November and hot from December to March.

The national language is Thai. English is also spoken and understood by many citizens, especially in Bangkok and other tourism areas. Although Thailand has no official religion, up to 96.4% people (2002) believe in Buddhism. Additionally, there are followers of some other religions such as Muslims, Hinduism and Christianity.

Thailand is contiguous to Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.

A. True

B. False

* Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 24 to 30.

MEGACITY: A NEW KIND OF CITY

  A term 'megalopolis' (or megacity) was first used by French geographer Jean Gottman to describe the north-eastern United States in 1961. The term is used more widely now and is defined as an urban area of more than 10 million inhabitants dominated by a low-density housing. In 1995 there were 14 megacities. By 2020 there could be 30.

  Megacities are the result of the process of urbanization. After cities grew into crowded urban centres, people who could afford to move into suburbs at the edge of the city. When the suburbs in turn became crowded, people moved into villages and dormitory towns outside the city, but within commuting distance. In this way, for the first time since industrialisation, the countryside began to gain population, whereas cities lost their inhabitants. In the 1980s St Louis and Detroit in the America lost between 35 and 47 per cent of their populations and London lost 15 per cent in the 20 years to 1971.

  However, this movement away from cities does not mean that the city is dying. In fact it is spreading. From the old city develops a metropolitan area with many low-level urban developments. When these metropolitan areas merge together, they form megacities which contain over 10 million people. The largest of these is in America, called Boswash - a region over 300 miles long from Boston in the north to Washington, DC in the south with more than 44 million people. There are emerging megalopolises in Britain centred around London and the south-east, in Germany in the industrial region of the Ruhr and Japan in the Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto region.

(adaptedfrom Archive IELTS (2013), Louis Harrison et al., Cengage Learning)

 A megacity is characterised by___________.

A. number of centres

B. high-rise apartment buildings 

C. those who move from villages

D. low-level urban developments

Question1:  Read, then choose the correct answers  

            Prague has the population of over one million people. It is not the biggest city in Europe, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful. People call Prague the ‘Golden City’ and the ‘ Mother of Cities’ because it has many beautiful buildings and statues. Perhaps the most popular building is the Old Town Hall with its amazing 15^th century clock. People also call Prague ‘Europe’s School of Music’. There are many concert halls, and every May there is a famous music festival: ‘ Prague’s Spring’. There are also twenty theatres and many old pubs, wine bars, and restaurants. There is now a modern underground, but traffic is still a problem. It is often better to walk and feel the atmosphere of the pretty little streets.

    1. Prague has a population of over_____________

A. 1,000,000 people    B. 100,000 people                       C. 10,000,000 people

    2. It is_________________in Europe

A. not the largest city   B. one of the most beautiful    C. Both A & B

    3. There are many____________in Prague

A. buildings and statues           B. concert halls                           C. Both A & B

    4. There is a famous music festival_________________

A. Once a year                         B. Once a month                          C. Twice a year

    5. The streets in Prague are________________

A. large                                    B. small                                      C. modern

Question 2: Complete the letter using the words in the box.

Dear Nick,

I'm sorry I couldn't write to you earlier because I was very busy. Now, we're (1) .............in a small hotel near a shopping area. Near my hotel, there's (2)……….. cinema, and a supermarket. There (3).................. some big shops at the end of the street. It's also very (4)................... here because there's always a lot of traffic, day and night. In my hometown, I live in a quieter street. There are some small (5)……….., a school, a post office but there isn't a cinema. The streets are narrower but they are (6).................... and there isn't so much traffic. The (7) .......................... is much fresher, too. And every house has a backyard and a front yard.

Question1:  Read, then choose the correct answers  

            Prague has the population of over one million people. It is not the biggest city in Europe, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful. People call Prague the ‘Golden City’ and the ‘ Mother of Cities’ because it has many beautiful buildings and statues. Perhaps the most popular building is the Old Town Hall with its amazing 15^th century clock. People also call Prague ‘Europe’s School of Music’. There are many concert halls, and every May there is a famous music festival: ‘ Prague’s Spring’. There are also twenty theatres and many old pubs, wine bars, and restaurants. There is now a modern underground, but traffic is still a problem. It is often better to walk and feel the atmosphere of the pretty little streets.

    1. Prague has a population of over_____________

A. 1,000,000 people    B. 100,000 people                       C. 10,000,000 people

    2. It is_________________in Europe

A. not the largest city   B. one of the most beautiful    C. Both A & B

    3. There are many____________in Prague

A. buildings and statues           B. concert halls                           C. Both A & B

    4. There is a famous music festival_________________

A. Once a year                         B. Once a month                          C. Twice a year

    5. The streets in Prague are________________

A. large                                    B. small                                      C. modern

Question 2: Complete the letter using the words in the box.

Dear Nick,

I'm sorry I couldn't write to you earlier because I was very busy. Now, we're (1) .............in a small hotel near a shopping area. Near my hotel, there's (2)……….. cinema, and a supermarket. There (3).................. some big shops at the end of the street. It's also very (4)................... here because there's always a lot of traffic, day and night. In my hometown, I live in a quieter street. There are some small (5)……….., a school, a post office but there isn't a cinema. The streets are narrower but they are (6).................... and there isn't so much traffic. The (7) .......................... is much fresher, too. And every house has a backyard and a front yard.