Magy's English Edu. Club
Cambridge 18 Academic Reading Test Two Passage Three
An Ideal City
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 1?
Write TRUE, FALSE, or Not Given.
27. People first referred to Leonardo da Vinci as a genius 500 years ago.
The answer is NOT GIVEN.
In paragraph one, the word ‘genius’ is universally associated with the name of Leonardo da Vinci.
28. The current climate crisis is predicted to cause more deaths than the plague.
The answer is NOT GIVEN.
In paragraph two, 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 million deaths across Europe and Asia.
29. Some of the challenges we face today can be compared to those of earlier times.
The answer is TRUE.
In paragraph two, then, as now, radical solutions were called for to revolutionize the way people lived and safeguard humanity against catastrophe.
30. Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘ideal city’ was constructed in the 15th century.
The answer is FALSE.
In paragraph three, following a typical Renaissance trend, he began to work on an ‘ideal city’ project, which, due to excessive costs, would remain unfulfilled.
31. Poor town planning is a major contributor to climate change.
The answer is TRUE.
In paragraph three, 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.
32. In Renaissance times, local people fought against the changes to Pienza and Ferrara.
The answer is NOT GIVEN.
In paragraph four, the rigor 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.
33. Leonardo da Vinci kept a neat, organized record of his designs.
The answer is FALSE.
In paragraph five, 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.
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
34. This was to provide better …. for trade and a less polluted environment.
The answer is TRANSPORT.
In paragraph five, he designed the city for the easy transport of goods and clean urban spaces, and he wanted a comfortable and spacious city, with well-ordered streets and architecture.
35. They included features that can be seen in some tower blocks today, such as …. on the exterior of a building.
The answer is STAIRCASES.
In paragraph six, 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.
36. His expertise in …. was evident in his plans for artificial canals within his ideal city.
The answer is ENGINEERING.
In paragraph seven, but the true originality of Leonardo’s vision was its fusion of architecture and engineering.
37. The design of many cities in Italy today follows this ….
The answer is RULE.
In paragraph seven, 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 the sun and reduce the risk of damage from earthquakes.
38. While some cities from …. times have aspects that also be found in Leonardo’s designs, his ideas weren’t put into practice until long after his death.
The answer is ROMAN.
In paragraph eight, although some of these features existed in Roman cities, before Leonardo’s drawings there had never been a multi-level, compact modern city which was thoroughly technically conceived. Indeed, it wasn’t until the 19th century that some of his ideas were applied.
39. ….. is one example of a city that was redesigned in the 19th century in the way that Leonard had envisaged.
The answer is PARIS.
In paragraph eight, 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-Eugene Haussmann’s renovation of Paris under Emperor Napoleon the third between 1853 and 1870.
40. His ideas are also relevant to today’s world, where building …. no longer seems to be the best approach.
The answer is OUTWARDS.