From time immemorial, cities have been the central gathering places of human life, from where the great
ideas and movements of the world have sprouted. In this country, the beginnings of our independence
fomented with the Boston Tea Party, while Philadelphia served as the home of the Constitutional
Convention. The seeds of economic and financial power were sowed on the streets of New York City.
Around the world, the great thinkers of the Renaissance assembled in Florence, the impressionist painters
flocked to Paris, and the industrial revolution sparked in Birmingham England.
Hundreds of years later, great ideas and innovations are still sprouting in cities – but this time
accompanied by a growth in urbanized life over the last several decades never before seen. For the first
time in history, more people are living in cities than rural areas. And, this way of living is only going to
continue: by 2050, the urban share of global population is projected to surpass 66 percent (up from 30
percent in 1950). This trend to urbanization is even more dramatic beyond the borders of the United
States. Take Nigeria's capital, Lagos, which had a population of approximately 7.2 million in 2000, and is
expected to rise to 24 million by 2030. And, eight times more Nigerians live in cities today than in 1975.
Moreover, the metro areas of Tokyo, New York and Mexico City were the only metro areas in 1975 with
at least 10 million people. Today, that list would include 31 such megacities – with 10 more to join by
2030 – all of which are outside the United States.
Cities are undergoing what Brookings Institution author Bruce Katz terms the "metropolitan revolution."
Financial capitals New York and London are transforming into major world tech hubs as new and
innovative companies emerge within these cities. And, this shift is not exclusive to New York or London,
as many cities are undergoing similar transformations driven by this global trend toward urbanization.
This wave of urban growth stems, in large part, from the mass adoption of the internet and interconnected
technologies. Interestingly, many sociologists predicted years ago that the advent of such
interconnectivity would enable people to live and work anywhere. But the practical result has been the
opposite.
Indeed, in this new 21st century economy, innovative workers seek one another to collaborate in building
and developing new knowledge-based industries that are increasingly disrupting and dominating a rapidly
evolving global economy. Bright, curious minds in the sciences and technology demand proximity in
order to be more productive, more creative and further stimulated. This need for collaboration has
propelled millennials to move to urban areas in droves. But once they get there, they desire new open
physical environments – such as incubators and shared work places – to enhance their collaborative
efforts. Beyond work, a growing single population – one that now outnumbers married people in the
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United States – seeks out other singles amid the myriad activities and diverse nightlife that only cities
offer.
(Adapted from https://www.usnews.com/)
Câu 36. What topic does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The increasing number of city dwellers and its challenges.
B. The movement of villagers to cities due to the urbanization.
C. The influence of innovations on urbanized life.
D. Urbanization and its potential.
Câu 37. According to paragraph 1, which country was mentioned when the author stated “in this
country”?
A. England B. Italy C. France D. The United States
Câu 38. The word “sparked” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to ____________.
A. completed B. succeeded C. changed D. initiated
Câu 39. Which of the following is NOT true about the urban population?
A. In the past, more people lived in the countryside than in cities.
B. As predicted, the number of urban inhabitants in 1950 was nearly a half of that in the next 100
years.
C. The rate of urbanization in the United States is greater than the proportion in any other places in the
world.
D. More and more megacities are set up beyond the United States.
Câu 40. According to paragraph 3, what is the main reason for the increase in urbanization?
A. There are many new and innovative companies appearing in financial capitals.
B. Many cities are influenced by the global urbanization.
C. The internet and interconnected technologies are widely applied.
D. People are likely to live and work wherever they want.
Câu 41. The word “propelled” in the last paragraph mostly means ____________.
A. required B. forced C. attracted D. encouraged
Câu 42. The following are the changes in the new 21st century economy, EXCEPT ______________.
A. Co-workers have to be advanced to work together in building and improving new industries.
B. Intelligent scientists require similar counterparts to work more effectively.
C. People rush to urban areas to find open physical environments to improve their ability.
D. Single population often finds their life partners through activities at nights provided only in cities.
Câu 43. It can be inferred from the passage that ___________.
A. City dwellers tend to be more and more creative and innovative.
B. Cities now are too crowded to live in.
C. The drawbacks urbanization causes are greater than its benefits.
D. Urbanization is one of the reasons for the increasing number of singles at cities.