Urban and rural environment practice questions.

Complete the sentence with the best word: 'The city council plans to reduce traffic ______ in the crowded centre by building new cycle lanes.'

• confession
• congestion
• compression
• conjunction

Answer: congestion

'Congestion' means a state of being blocked or overcrowded, the standard term for heavy traffic; the other words sound similar but mean confessing, squeezing and joining.

Choose the correct present perfect form: 'Over the last decade, the suburbs ______ enormously.'

• have grown
• has grown
• are growing
• grew

Answer: have grown

The subject 'the suburbs' is plural, so the present perfect uses 'have grown'; 'has grown' is singular and the other options do not fit 'over the last decade'.

Which word best completes the sentence? 'Living in a small village can feel ______ because there are few shops and little public transport.'

• isolated
• insulated
• isolate
• insular

Answer: isolated

'Isolated' means cut off or far from others, which fits a remote village; 'insulated' relates to keeping heat in and 'insular' describes a narrow-minded attitude.

Choose the correct comparative: 'Rents in the city centre are usually ______ than rents in rural areas.'

• more higher
• highest
• much higher
• as higher

Answer: much higher

The comparative of 'high' is 'higher', intensified by 'much'; 'more higher' is a double comparative and 'highest' is a superlative.

Which sentence uses the vocabulary of urban life most accurately?

• The neighbourhood has become gentrified, so rents have fallen sharply and housing is now far cheaper for absolutely everyone living there.
• The neighbourhood has become gentrified, so many long-term residents can no longer afford to stay.
• The neighbourhood has become gentrified, so it now has fewer shops and cafés.
• The neighbourhood has become gentrified, so the population has decreased.

Answer: The neighbourhood has become gentrified, so many long-term residents can no longer afford to stay.

'Gentrification' means wealthier people move into a poorer area, raising prices and often pushing out original residents, so rents rise rather than fall.

Choose the correct linking word: 'Cities offer many jobs; ______, they can be noisy, crowded and expensive.'

• however
• therefore
• because
• moreover

Answer: however

'However' introduces a contrast between the advantages and disadvantages of cities; 'therefore' and 'because' show cause, and 'moreover' adds a similar idea.