Read the article. Circle the correct meanings of the highlighted words and phrases.

By 2050 the world’s population is expected to reach 10 billion, and nearly 70 per cent of these people will live in cities. The cities of the future wili be ‘smarter’ and more sustainable to cope with a growing population and improve people’s lives.

A smart city is amodern urban area that uses a range of technologies to provide services, solve problems, and support people better. The new technologies can help save time by predicting changes in the traffic and warning people of possible traffic jams. They will also help cities operate more efficiently. For example, street lights can turn off when the streets are empty, and sensors can inform waste collection teams when the bins are full. These smart technologies will help save energy, reduce air pollution, and fight climate change.

Cities in the future will also be sustainable. They will include a lot of green space and become home to more plants and animals. Making room for biodiversity and nature can be done in various ways including underground and rooftop farming, green roofs, and roof gardens. As people will care more about the environment, most cities will use renewable and clean energy. Modern infrastructure will also be more eco-friendly. Computer-controlled transport systems like electric buses and trains will produce less greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, more pedestrian zones for walking and cycle paths will be made available for people in all neighbourhoods.

These features will make future cities more liveable and will provide a high quality of life to city dwellers.

1. operate more efficiently

A. to work better without wasting time, money, or energy

B. to control a machine without wasting resources

C. to cut a body open for medical reasons in a more careful way

2. sensors

A. devices that can react to light, heat, or pressure

B. instruments that can be played by people

C. devices for discovering rubbish

3. pedestrian zones

A. areas for cars only

B. areas for electric buses

C. areas for walking only

4. liveable

A. suitable for farming

B. nice to live in

C. good for the environment

Read the article and circle the correct meanings of the highlighted words and phrases.

                                                               PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE

Ideas from teenagers

To encourage young people to learn about and appreciate our cultural heritage, we organised an ideas competition. We invited students from across the country to send us their ideas for protecting and promoting our heritage. We have received many interesting entries. Below are the winners.

A. _________________

The idea of promoting heritage sites through social media came from a group of 11th grade students. They suggested using social media activities, such as photo competitions, to encourage young people to learn about our heritage sites and local traditions on important festivals. They also suggested creating trending topics or challenges on social media. For example, a postcard challenge will invite people to create and share unusual and exciting postcards about the heritage sites that they have visited.

B. _________________

Two 10th grade students suggested forming historical societies or local groups who have akeen interest in their history and heritage. These groups will provide information about local heritage sites, organise special events to celebrate local festivals, and invite young people to discuss issues related to preserving the heritage. This way, they will be able to give voice to suggestions and solutions to problems they care about. They will feel that their voices are heard, and they can contribute to society.

C. _________________

To preserve heritage, such as traditional music and stories, a group of secondary school students proposed setting up folk clubs. The clubs will hold events for young people to experience and learn about traditional performing arts. The artists will not only perform, but also introduce their arts and talk about how students can help promote folk culture. The clubs will organise training for students who want to learn folk songs, a traditional musical instrument, or folk dancing.

1. appreciate 

A. to recognise the good qualities of something

B. to realise that something is dangerous

C. to discuss a new idea

2. trending

A. being discussed a lot on social media

B. being forgotten by the public

C. creating and sharing information

3. give voice to 

A. to take action about something

B. to listen to someone's advice

C. to express opinions about something

4. proposed 

A. asked someone for information

B. suggested something as a plan or course of action

C. invited guests for an event

Match the words with their meanings.

Read the article again. Match the highlighted words with their meanings.

Read the news items again and match the highlighted words with their meanings.

I. Match the word or phrase with its definition.

1. custom                    a. the feeling of being comfortable and happy in a                                                    particular place or with a particular group of people

2. tradition                    b. the knives, forks, and spoons that you use for                                                       eating food

3. sharp                         c. an accepted way of behaving or of doing things

4. table manners                 d. exactly right

5. cutlery                    e. all the people who were born at about the same time

6. prong                     f. a belief, custom or way of doing something that has                                               existed for a long time

7. generation                       g. the socially acceptable way to eat your food,                                                         especially when eating a meal with others

8. sense of belonging                   h. each of the two or more long pointed                                                                      parts of a fork

9. host                                         i. at a particular time exactly

10. spot on                                  j. a person who invites guests to a meal, a                                                               party, etc.

Put the words in brackets into the right form to complete the sentences.

1. People in my country are very open and ................. . I like to go there when I have free time.

( friend )

2. Some of my ............. live in the countryside. (relate )

3. Some people say that the country is more ............... for the people who are retired. ( suit )

4. Entertainment is difficult to find in the country, ............. in thethe evening. ( particular)

5. Natural disasters can .............. destroy a harvest and leave the farmers with little or no money until the following year. (easy)