‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named ‘An ideal city’, which is from the Cambridge 18 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘Blanks’ and ‘True/False/Not Given’. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 3: ‘An ideal city’
| Question | Answer |
| 27 | NOT GIVEN |
| 28 | NOT GIVEN |
| 29 | TRUE |
| 30 | FALSE |
| 31 | TRUE |
| 32 | NOT GIVEN |
| 33 | FALSE |
| 34 | TRANSPORT |
| 35 | STAIRCASES |
| 36 | ENGINEERING |
| 37 | RULE |
| 38 | ROMAN |
| 39 | PARIS |
| 40 | OUTWARDS |
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 27-33 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
27. People first referred to Leonardo da Vinci as a genius 500 years ago.
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: Though the main keywords ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ and ‘genius’ are there in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘The word “genius’s universally associated with the name of Leonardo da Vincija true Renaissance man, he embodied scientific spirit, artistic talent and humanist sensibilities. Five hundred years have passed since Leonardo died in his home at Château du Clos Lucé, outside Tours, France…’ But there is no information regarding people first referred to Leonardo da Vinci as a genius 500 years ago. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
28. The current climate crisis is predicted to cause more deaths than the plague.
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: Though the writer talks about climate crises and plague in the second line of the paragraph. ‘ Today, the world is on the cusp of a climate crisis, which is predicted to cause widespread displacement, extinctions and death, if left unaddressed…’ But there is no reference regarding comparison between climate crisis and plague. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
29. Some of the challenges we face today can be compared to those of earlier times.
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘The Renaissance marked the transition from the 15th century to modernity and took place after the spread of the plague in the 14th century, which caused a global crisis resulting in some 200 million deaths across Europe and Asia. Today, the world is on the cusp of a climate crisis, which is predicted to cause widespread displacement, extinctions and death, if left unaddressed…’ Here, the writer talks about the 15th century that refers to ‘earlier times’. In addition, ‘global crisis’ refers to challenge in present time. Thus, the answer is True.
Answer: True
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
30. Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘ideal city’ was constructed in the 15th century.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘ideal city’ is there in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Following a typical Renaissance trend, he began to work on an ‘ideal city’ project, which-due to its excessive costs-would remain unfulfilled…’ Here, the writer states that due to excessive costs its work was not done. That means it was not constructed. Thus, the question statement contradicts the passage statement.
Answer: False
31. Poor town planning is a major contributor to climate change.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘climate change’ helps to locate an answer in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Yet given that unsustainable urban models are a key cause of global climate change today, it’s only natural to wonder how Leonardo might have changed the shape of modern cities…’ Here, ‘poor town planning’ and ‘unsustainable urban models’ means the same. In addition, ‘major contributor’ and ‘key cause’ means the same.
Answer: True
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
32. In Renaissance times, local people fought against the changes to Pienza and Ferrara.
Location: 4th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Renaissance’ helps to locate an answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘The rigour and method behind the conscious conception of a city had been largely missing in Western thought until the moment when prominent Renaissance men pushed forward large-scale urban projects in Italy, such as the reconfiguration of the town of Pienza and the expansion of the city of Ferrara…’ But there is no information regarding local people fought against the changes to Pienza and Ferrara. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
33. Leonardo da Vinci kept a neat, organised record of his designs.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘it is not easy to identify a coordinated vision of Leonardo’s ideal city because of his disordered way of working with notes and sketches…’ Here, ‘disordered’ and ‘organised’ are opposite words. Thus, the answer is False.
Answer: False
Questions 34-40
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 34-40 on your answer sheet.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ideal city
A collection of Leonardo da Vinci’s paperwork reveals his design of a new city beside the Ticino River. This was to provide better 34…………. for trade and a less polluted environment.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘Ticino River’ and its reference is there in the second line of the paragraph. ‘But from the largest collection of Leonardo’s papers ever assembled, a series of innovative thoughts can be reconstructed regarding the foundation of a new city along the Ticino River, which runs from Switzerland into Italy and is 248 kilometres long. He designed the city for the easy transport of goods and clean urban space…’ Here, ‘better transport’ and ‘easy transport’ means the same. Moreover, ‘less polluted environment’ refers to ‘clean urban space’.
Answer: Transport
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
Although Leonardo da Vinci’s city shared many of the ideals of his time, some of his innovations were considered unconventional in their design. They included features that can be seen in some tower blocks today, such as 35……………on the exterior of a building.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Leonardo included several innovations in his urban design. Leonardo wanted the city to be built on several levels, linked with vertical outdoor staircases This design can be seen in some of today’s high-rise buildings but was unconventional at the time…’ Here, ‘outdoor’ and ‘exterior’ means the same. Thus, the answer is ‘Staircase’.
Answer: Staircases
Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t only an architect. His expertise in 36…………… was evident in his plans for artificial canals within his ideal city. He also believed that the height of houses should relate to the width of streets in case earthquakes occurred.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘But the true originality of Leonardo’s vision was its fusion of architecture and engineering…’ Here, this line clarifies that Lenardo da Vinci was not only an architect but also expertise in engineering. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: Engineering
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
The design of many cities in Italy today follows this 37………….
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Italy’ helps to locate an answer in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Leonardo also thought that the width of the streets ought to match the average height of the adjacent houses: a rule still followed in many contemporary cities across Italy, to allow access to Bun and reduce the risk of damage from earthquakes…’ Here, ‘still followed’ means ‘it is followed today’. Thus, the answer is ‘Rule’.
Answer: Rule
While some cities from 38………..times have aspects that can also be found in Leonardo’s designs, his ideas weren’t put into practice until long after his death.
Location: Second last paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘Although some of these features existed in Roman cities, before Leonardo’s drawings there had never been a multi-level, compact modem city which was thoroughly technically conceived Indeed, it wasn’t until the 19th century that some of his ideas were applied.…’ Here, ‘ideas were not applied’ and ‘weren’t put into practice’ means the same. Thus, the writer talks about cities from Roman.
Answer: Roman
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
39…………… is one example of a city that was redesigned in the 19th century in the way that Leonardo had envisaged.
Location: Second last paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘19th century’ and it is visible as ‘1853 and 1870’ in the last line of the paragraph. ‘For example, the subdivision of the city by function-with services and infrastructures located in the lower levels and wide and well-ventilated boulevards and walkways above for residents-is an idea that can be found in Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s renovation of Paris under Emperor Napoleon III between 1853 and 1870. …’ Here, ‘redesigned’ and ‘renovation’ are synonyms. Moreover, ‘Paris’ is a city. Thus, the answer is ‘Paris’.
Answer: Paris
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
His ideas are also relevant to today’s world, where building 40……….. no longer seems to be the best approach.
Location: Last paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the initial lines of the paragraph. ‘Many scholars think that the compact city, built upwards instead of outwards, integrated with nature (especially water systems), with efficient transport infrastructure, could help modern cities become more efficient and sustainable. This is yet another reason why Leonardo was aligned so closely with modern urban planning…’ Here, this statement means upward buildings were more efficient than outwards. That clarifies that outward buildings were no longer seems to be best approach.
Answer: Outwards
‘An ideal city’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18