1 READING Are you a natural leader?

A Vocabulary preview
1 Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

confident honest manage organized

perfect push yourself respect succeed

1 No one is . We all make mistakes.

2 My desk is always neat and – everything’s in its place.
3 You were relaxed and didn’t look nervous. You looked very
.
4 It’s important to be and never lie.
5 He’s late for everything. It’s not easy for him to his time.
6 I know the job is not easy. But if you work hard, you will .
7 I our new leader. She is trying hard and doing her best.
8 I know you can do it. You just need to and try harder.

B Before you read

1 Work with a partner. think of a leader. Do these words describe him or her?
What other words can you use?

bold calm confident friendly honest intelligent

I think Queen Rania is confident, intelligent, and friendly. She’s also …

Previewing a text When you preview a text, you look quickly at the title, headings, pictures,
captions, and design before you read it. this gives you a general idea of the
text. It can help you learn about the type of text you’ll read, and tell you
how long you will need to read it.

2 Preview Are you a natural leader? Look at the title, the pictures, and the
way the text is designed. read the sentences about the text and circle the
correct answer.
The text looks short and interesting / long and serious. I can probably find it
in a psychology book / a business magazine.

C Global reading
read Are you a natural leader? quickly. then write the headings in the correct
places in the text opposite.
Managing others Problems and ideas Working with people

10 UNIT 1 ChArACter
 READING 1

Are you a natural leader?

read our survey and find out. You get 1 point for every sentence you agree with.

A Emotions and stress

1 I like to try new things.
2 I like to push myself.
3 I manage stress well.
4 I feel it’s sometimes OK to lose.
5 I’m not perfect but I know how to improve.

B
6 I’m a very organized person.
7 Clear goals and ideas are important to me.
8 Change doesn’t bother me.
9 I’m able to do several things at the same time.
10 If there’s a problem at work, I try to fix it.

C
11 I like to be in charge during a project.
12 People on my team try to do their best for me.
13 I want everyone to participate in discussions.
14 I want the people around me to succeed.
15 I’m comfortable with my decisions.

D
16 People respect my ideas.
17 I explain my ideas clearly.
18 I’m confident of my public speaking skills.
19 People describe me as a “people person.”
20 It’s important for me to be honest.

Results
11–20 points You are a natural leader. You will succeed in many things!
6–10 points You have some qualities of a natural leader.
0–5 points You are not a natural leader. But you can still develop into a strong leader.

ChArACter UNIT 1 11
 1 READING
D Close reading
1 read Are you a natural leader? Check (✓) the sentences that are true for you.
Do you agree with what it says about you?
I agree / disagree with the results. I think …
Finding information in a text 2 Match these sentences with sentences from the text. Write the number.
a “I enjoy new experiences.”
b “I find you don’t have to win all the time.”
c “I can work on more than one thing at once.”
d “I try to fix things I’m working on if I can.”
e “I enjoy being around a lot of colleagues.”
f “I never lie.”
3 read these statements. Find statements in the text which mean the
opposite. Write the number.
a “It’s important to win, win, win!”
b “Sometimes I’m not very organized.”
c “I can’t say what I think very clearly.”
d “I don’t like it when things don’t stay the same.”
e “I’m uncomfortable about some things I decide.”
f “I prefer people just to listen when we’re talking in a group.”

E Critical thinking
Discuss these questions in a group.
1 Do you know a natural leader? Do the sentences in the text describe them?
I think … is a natural leader. The sentences in the text describe / don’t
describe him/her because …
2 What are some qualities of bad leaders? Think about the sentences from
the survey.
I think bad leaders sometimes …
Good leaders usually … but bad leaders …

12 UNIT 1 ChArACter
 2 READING Great leaders and their character
A Vocabulary preview
1 Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

arrogant boss challenge determined

employee positive responsible treat

1 I’m lucky that my is confident and caring. No one wants to

work for someone who is unkind or .
2 In our study group, a different person each week is for
taking notes for the group. This way we everyone in the
group equally.
3 The new sports coach is to let every player play in every
game. He also wants everyone’s experience to be .
4 As the newest in the company, I’m finding it a big
to work with so many people with different working styles.

B Before you read

Previewing a text 1 Preview Great leaders and their character. Circle the things you can see in
the text.

captions headings a map pictures quotes a title

2 Choose what the text is mainly about. then underline or highlight the parts
of the text that helped you answer.
a the world’s top leaders c great leaders from the past
b qualities of great leaders d how great leaders change over time

C Global reading

Identifying main ideas to identify the main ideas in a text, first preview it. then quickly look
through the text, paying particular attention to any headings. It can be a
good idea to read the first line of each section or paragraph—if the main
idea isn’t there, keep looking.

1 Look at the headings in the text. Circle the key words. then choose the best
summary sentence for the text.
a Great leaders are confident, excited, and helpful.
b There are nine qualities that every great leader has.
c You need just eight qualities to succeed in business.
d Anyone can have the qualities of a great leader.

14 UNIT 1 ChArACter
Great leaders

&
READING 2

and
their character
Great leaders come in all shapes and sizes. They can be anyone from
a company CEO to a soccer coach, a small business owner to a group
discussion leader. While there are some natural leaders, most
great leaders are not born that way. Instead, they learned how to be
great over time. So what are these qualities that all great leaders share?

A They are confident D They communicate well

Great leaders are confident in their Good communication skills are important
abilities and actions. They are not afraid for great leaders. They communicate their
of new challenges and stay calm when ideas clearly, and listen carefully. Many
things get difficult. Once they decide to top companies have rules that encourage
do something, they do it. While great open communication. The tech company
leaders are confident, they are not Hewlett-Packard, for example, has an
arrogant. Confident leaders usually give “open-door” rule. Leaders leave their doors
comfort to those around them; arrogant open so employees can stop by and speak
leaders rarely do. to them anytime.

B They are excited E They are determined

No one wants to work with people Great leaders have a goal in mind and
who are not excited about what they do what they need to achieve it. Sony
are doing. Great leaders are excited co-founder Akio Morita did not succeed
about what they do and want to share the first time his company tried to sell its
that feeling with others. Think about a first product—a rice cooker. It didn’t cook
soccer, baseball, or tennis coach who is the rice; it burned it. They sold less than
not excited about the sport. This kind of a hundred. But this did not stop Morita as
person hardly ever gets great results. he went on to create a multi-billion-dollar
company!
C They are helpful
Great leaders care about other people F They are responsible
and want to help them. When people Author John Maxwell says, “A good leader
need help, these leaders make a is a person who takes a little more than his
difficult situation less challenging. For share of the blame and a little less than his
example, think about an employee who share of the credit.” Indeed, great leaders
is having a difficult time finishing some need to be responsible for the performance
work. A good boss always sees this, and for the people around them. When
offers support. something goes wrong, they look for ways
to fix problems quickly.
ChArACter UNIT 1 15
 2 READING

“ Great leaders
have a goal in
mind and do what
they need to
achieve it.
” staying positive

G They are honest H They are respectful

Great leaders are honest people. There is a rule known in many cultures—
They are honest in all things—not treat other people as you want to be treated—
just what they say and do, but in who that great leaders do not follow. Instead they
they are. In fact, the Pew Research treat other people as they would like to be
Center1 found that being honest is the treated. Perhaps author Jon Wolfgang von
quality that matters most to people, Goethe said it best when he said, “The way you
with 84% of people saying it was see people is the way you treat them, and the
“absolutely essential.” way you treat them is what they become.”

I They stay positive

Great leaders know that the people around
them won’t be happy unless they themselves
are positive. When things go wrong, they smile,
fix the problem, and
move forward. This
keeps everyone
feeling positive.
Being positive
makes everyone
feel that they are
working toward
something good.

communicating clearly

16 UNIT 1 ChArACter
 READING 2
2 Match the main ideas from the text (1–4) with the text sections (a–e). there
is one section in the list which you do not need to match.
1 They do not give up easily. a They are helpful.
2 No one wants a leader who lies. b They are excited.
3 They are often quick to offer support. c They are honest.
4 It’s never helpful to be negative. d They stay positive.
e They are determined.

D Close reading
1 Complete these sentences. Use no more than two words from the text.
1 Great leaders are never of new challenges.
2 A good is quick to offer employees help when needed.
3 Sony’s success with the rice cooker showed how
Akio Morita was.
4 A large number of people say honesty is a quality that’s .
5 makes everybody feel they are working toward
something good.
2 Match the people or company with their idea or opinion. One is extra. Scanning for names
1 Hewlett-Packard a It’s important to be responsible.
2 John Maxwell b Honesty is the most important quality.
3 J.W. von Goethe c Don’t stop until you succeed.
4 Akio Morita d Respect others and they will respect you.
e You can speak to leaders anytime.

E Critical thinking
1 Discuss these questions in a group.
1 Which quality from the text do you think is the most important?
I think … is the most important quality because …
2 Name a leader with that quality. Can you name one without it?
I think … is a leader who …
2 Write short answers to these questions.
1 Do you think you have the qualities of a great leader?

2 What quality of a leader do you want to have? Why?

ChArACter UNIT 1 17
 1 READING Time-management tips
A Vocabulary preview
1 Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

block break clear complete concentrate folder list tip

1 I need a short from studying. Let’s go get some coffee.

2 I can’t on these questions anymore. I’m so tired.
3 Mom made a of chores we need to do. What’s number 1?
4 You need to this form. Remember to sign it at the end.
5 I need a 90-minute of time to finish this report.
6 These instructions are not . Can you explain them?
7 Put all your papers into this to keep them together.
8 My teacher gave us a useful study .

B Before you read

1 Do you manage your time well? take this quiz to find out.

Yes No
1 Do you have goals for this school year?
2 Do you do your homework on time?
3 Do you ask for help when you need it?
4 Do you use the time before and after class to study?
5 Do you study more difficult subjects first?
6 Do you turn off or silence your phone when you study?

C Global reading

Skimming Skimming is when you read a text quickly to get a general idea of what it is
about. It also helps you see how difficult the text will be and how long it will
take to read. You do not read every word. Let your eyes move quickly over
the text.

1 Skim Time-management tips. Why would someone read the information?

a to learn how to work harder
b to learn how to organize their time
c to learn how to have more free time

28 UNIT 2 tIMe
 READING 1
Time-management tips
Welcome first-year students! Unlike high school, in college students spend less
time in class and more time studying outside of class. Some students have
families, many have jobs, and all have busy lives. We in the Student Affairs
Office know how important it is to manage your time well.
1 Write it down
Write down the things you need to do in a notebook, or use an online tool to
create a “to-do” list. then check off things as you do them. this shows what you
still need to do, but it also allows you to see what you completed.
2 Stay organized
Use different notebooks and folders for each class so you can find them easily.
take clear and organized notes. Organize your computer files in a way that works
for you. And always keep your desk area neat so you know where every item is.
3 Review at the right time
review notes just before class. You might think of a question to ask. It shows
your teacher that you are interested. review the notes just after class. We forget
the most within 24 hours when we don’t review.
4 Plan study blocks
Never study for hours without a break. this wastes time. Look at your schedule
and plan for blocks of study time. For a block of 50 minutes, take a 10-minute
break. With difficult material, make shorter study blocks. During your break,
relax, have a snack, or get some air.
5 Do important things first
Do important things first. think of it this way: You want to fit three large rocks,
some smaller rocks, and some sand into a jar. If you put in the sand first, and
then the smaller rocks, you won’t have room for the big rocks. Put the big rocks
in first, then the smaller rocks, and at the end, the sand.
6 Do one thing at a time
Do one thing at a time, and do it well. As the Chinese saying goes, “One cannot
manage too many affairs. Like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try
to hold down the other.”
7 Concentrate
Sometimes it can be difficult to study because you start to think about
something else. Find a quiet place to study and turn off the tV! Let people know
your study times and when you have free time. Don’t check every e-mail or text
as it comes in. Study time is study time. Check your phone during a break.

GLOSSARY
affairs (n) things in your personal life
pumpkin (n) a large round vegetable with orange skin

tIMe UNIT 2 29
 1 READING
D Close reading
Finding information in a text 1 read Time-management tips. Complete the sentences with one word or a
number from the text.
1 Students should off things after they complete something
on their “to do” list.
2 It is important for students to review their notes because you forget most
things in the first hours after you learn them.
3 You should check your during a break.
4 Let other people know your study times so they know when you have
time.
2 Why are these tips important? Match the tips to the reasons.
1 Write a list of things to do a because it’s easier to concentrate on
2 Don’t study for long one thing.
periods of time b because everyone needs to take breaks.
3 Use different folders for c because it shows you are interested in
each class the class.
4 Ask your teacher questions d because you need to keep papers organized.
5 Don’t do two things at the e because it helps you see what you need
same time to do.

E Critical thinking
Discuss these questions in a group.
1 Which tips are helpful? Which are not?
Tip number … is helpful / not helpful because …
2 Who in your family manages time well? In what way?
My mother manages her time well because she always …
3 The college wants your opinion on one new tip to add. Which would you add? Why?
● Know your goals
● Check the time often
● Learn to say no
● Don’t try to be perfect
● Join a study group
● Have a “no-work” day
● Keep calls to three minutes
● Share work with others
● Start your day early
I would add … because …

30 UNIT 2 tIMe
 2 READING A matter of time
A Vocabulary preview
1 Match the words in bold with their definitions. Use a dictionary to help you.
1 culture (n) a necessary or needed
2 delay (v) b working well, in an organized way
3 efficient (adj) c to make something happen later than planned
4 essential (adj) d the way of life for a group of people
5 flexible (adj) e being able to change easily
6 hurry (v) f all the plants, animals, rocks, etc. in the world
7 interrupt (v) g to do things more quickly than normal
8 nature (n) h to stop someone from speaking by saying something
2 Complete the sentences with the words from exercise 1.
1 I’m sorry to , but do you have the time?
2 Sara is majoring in Arabic language and .
3 I can meet you before or after your class. I’m very .
4 Seoul has a very subway system. It’s almost never late.
5 I love pictures of , especially the flowers in the desert.
6 We need to if we’re going to catch our flight.
7 Our professor is sick so he plans to the exam until
tomorrow.
8 Fresh water and clean air are for life.

B Before you read

Work with a partner. When you meet friends, do you usually arrive early, on
time, or late? Why?
I usually arrive … because …

C Global reading
Skimming Skim A matter of time. What’s another good title?
a The history of time c Why are Americans always on time?
b How times are changing d How different cultures see time

32 UNIT 2 tIMe
 READING 2
A matter of time
1 Everyone shares time. But different cultures don’t see time in the
same way. Even cultures that are next to each other have different ideas
about time. France and Spain are neighbors but see time very differently.
Try asking the question, “How long is lunch?” to an American, a
Spaniard, and a Japanese person. You will get several different answers.

Linear time
2 Offices and colleges in Washington, London, Ontario, Berlin, Geneva, or
Copenhagen see time as a line that moves forward. Information is important,
and schedules are even more important. they allow people to plan for the
future. As an ad for Swissair says, “time is everything.”
3 People from these cultures like to work on one task, then move on.
Doing two things at once wastes time and it is not efficient. As the saying
goes, “time is money.” It is better to do one thing, do it well, and then
move on to the next thing. It’s sometimes not even polite to do more than
one thing, such as checking e-mail during a conference call.
4 In linear time, measuring is important – people focus on minutes, hours,
days. they usually plan more for the short-term. Because plans are essential,
being late means something didn’t go to plan. Being on time is very
important, and people are quick to say they are sorry if they are late.

Flexible time
5 Some cultures see time as more flexible. these include Italy, Greece, Brazil,
Mexico, turkey, and Middle eastern countries such as egypt and Saudi
Arabia. Cultures who see time this way still have schedules, but don’t wish to
measure time. the Spanish may say “manana” (tomorrow) to mean “soon,”
for example.
6 People may expect others to be late. Being on time is being early.
they understand that feelings and relationships are more important than
time. A meeting may be longer or shorter than planned. It doesn’t matter.
they take their time. there is no need to look at the clock. It’s better to
concentrate on the work and the people, not the time.
7 Flexible-time cultures have no problem doing two things at once. they are
happy to work on different things, or to move from one project to another
quickly. they expect others to interrupt them and find it’s all part of the day.

tIMe UNIT 2 33
 2 READING
Circular time
8 In circular-time cultures, people don’t feel they need to measure and manage
every minute. time is not something you can manage, but you can still
understand how you work in time. Weather changes, holidays, night and day –
they all come, go, and return. People live with nature and they cannot control
it. Cultures that see time this way include many in Asia, such as Japan and
thailand, and many in Africa.
9 these cultures respect time. they are usually on time, or even early.
A Chinese businessperson in Beijing, for example, may come to a meeting
15 minutes early. this is not wasting time. Instead, it is to be polite and show
respect for the other’s time.
10 these cultures know it takes time to build strong relationships and develop
trust. It’s fine to go back and think about something again. there is plenty of
time, so why hurry. time circles back. When it does, something may look the
same, but the people around it are now a bit smarter.
11 In short, think of time as a train trip. In linear-time cultures,
people get on and off at the exact times. the route is
fast and direct. In flexible-time cultures, many of the
people may be late but it’s OK. the train will get them
there and they might form some relationships along
the way. In circular-time cultures, they may get to
the station a few minutes early. they leave on time
and use the time to form relationships. they might
even take the same trip again.

GLOSSARY
linear (adj) in a straight line
relationship (n) the way people or things are connected

34 UNIT 2 tIMe
 READING 2
D Close reading
Scanning is reading a text quickly in order to find specific information, Scanning
e.g. figures or names. When you scan a text, try to read quickly and
ignore other information.

1 read the questions below. Scan the text. try and find the answers quickly.
1 The text talks about one / three / seven types of time in different cultures.
2 The Spanish / Chinese businesspeople are likely to come to a meeting
15 minutes early.
3 The word “manana” is used by the Spanish to mean “as fast as possible” /
“soon”.
2 What idea of time do these statements describe? Complete the chart.

Linear Flexible Circular Organizing information into

a chart
1 Time manages life.
2 People don’t want to measure time.
3 They expect others to interrupt them.
4 It’s not polite to take a call in a meeting.
5 People measure time in small periods.
6 Being on time is being early.

3 Mark the sentences below as T (true) or F (False).

1 Linear-time cultures see schedules as essential. T/F
2 For flexible-time cultures, meetings and schedules
are more important than time. T/F
3 Linear and flexible-time cultures both have schedules. T / F
4 A Chinese businessperson might go to a meeting
early to show respect. T/F
5 When “time circles back”, it can go more slowly. T/F

E Critical thinking
Discuss these ideas in a group.
How does your culture see time? Do you agree with what the text says?
My culture sees time in a … way. I agree with the text because …

tIMe UNIT 2 35
 1 READING Creative solutions
A Vocabulary preview
1 Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

crowded exchange pedestrian pollution

popular resident solution traffic

1 The is bad between 5:00 and 7:00. Let’s go after that; we’ll
drive faster.
2 I hear we have a new in Apartment 3C.
3 You can this ticket for one hour of free parking.
4 The air in this city is terrible. It’s hard to breathe!
5 We all know finding parking is a problem. But what is the ?
6 The sidewalks are full of shoppers. It’s so that it’s hard
to walk!
7 Making the downtown area more – friendly is a very
idea for cities with traffic problems.

B Before you read

Predicting Before you read, you can use the title, pictures, headings, and your
knowledge or experience to make predictions about the text. It is an
important skill because it allows you to connect the new information
with what you already know.

1 Look at the title and pictures from the text. the text describes three different
solutions to a problem. Circle the main problem you think the text is about.

city noise finding a job high prices pollution stress traffic

2 read the first line of the text to check your prediction.

C Global reading
1 Skim Creative solutions and write the headings in the correct place. One
heading is extra.

exchange your cars high in the sky Putting pedestrians first Solar-powered cars

highlighting 2 Scan the text. Underline all types of transportation mentioned.

64 UNIT 4 CItIeS
 READING 1

Creative solutions
Many cities have traffic problems, but not at all solutions are the same.

1
Over 40 years ago, one city in Brazil made one quick and important decision
to reduce the number of cars. In just 72 hours, Curitiba turned its main
business street into a pedestrian street. At first the project was not popular,
but over time people saw it as positive. the city later made 52 other
roads pedestrian-only. People are using these areas for outdoor markets,
concerts, and other events.
the city has 16 parks and over a thousand green spaces. In 1970, each
person had one square meter of green space, but today they have 52. It is
clear the city is working hard to save its natural environment and Curitiba is
a great example of pedestrian-friendly city planning.

2
In Murcia, a city in Spain, you can give your car to the city government if
you don’t want to use it. the idea is to get more public transportation in the
city, and less car traffic. the city wants people to use its new, greener trams.
When they exchange their car, they get a free lifetime pass to use on any
tram.
Murcia is using its old cars in art projects around the city. the city wants to
show the bad side of cars and the challenges of parking. Sometimes the art
pieces they display show cars on top of each other.

3
La Paz, Bolivia, is one of the highest cities in the world, and it has some of
the worst traffic. there are not enough vans to move passengers and the
buses are often full. For the people who travel downtown from el Alto, a
neighborhood up on a mountain, the trip is long, crowded, and tiring.
But a new cable car is making the trip easier. It is cutting travel time to just
minutes while it saves many people over an hour of travel time each day.
People go to and from downtown, high above the traffic. there is hope that
the new cable car will reduce the number of cars on the road as well as
reduce air pollution.

GLOSSARY
square meter (n) the area of a square whose sides are exactly one meter long
turn in (v) to give something to someone who officially asks for it
cable car (n) a small cabin that moves on a cable, used for taking people up and down mountains

CItIeS UNIT 4 65
 1 READING
D Close reading
Organizing information 1 read Creative solutions. Which city does each statement describe? Check (✓).
into a chart
a Curitiba b Murcia c La Paz
1 Its buses are often full.
2 Drivers cannot drive on 52 roads.
3 People ride trams for free if they give
up their cars.
4 People hope the solution reduces
air pollution.
5 It has more than 1,000 green spaces.

2 read Creative solutions again. Write T (true) or F (False).

1 Curitiba made its main business street into one only for pedestrians.
2 People cannot drive cars in Curitiba’s streets anymore.
3 People in Murcia can turn in any car if it is paid for.
4 Murcia sends the old cars to other cities in Spain.
5 El Alto is located in downtown La Paz.
6 The cable car helps people of La Paz get downtown faster.
3 Complete each sentence with one or two words from the text.
1 People in Curitiba saw the pedestrian-only street as .
2 Curitiba is working hard to save its .
3 Murcia its old cars in art projects around the city.
4 Murcia wants to show the of cars through the art projects.
5 La Paz hopes its cable car will help the number of cars.

E Critical thinking
Discuss these questions in a group.
1 Can any of the three solutions from the text work in your town or city?
I think a car exchange / cable car can work in our city because …
2 What’s another way we can reduce the number of cars on our streets?
To reduce the number of cars on our streets, I think cities need to …

66 UNIT 4 CItIeS
 2 READING Size doesn’t matter
A Vocabulary preview
1 Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

affordable engineer government high-rise

housing land plentiful population

1 I don’t want to live in a apartment. I’m afraid of heights.

2 The of my country is growing by about 100,000 people
per year.
3 This neighborhood is nice but it’s not very . It costs a lot to
live here.
4 A single designed this bridge. Her name was Sarah Guppy.
5 costs are going up again. I need to find a home in a
cheaper neighborhood.
6 My brother plans to buy a small piece of to build a
home on.
7 The is planning to increase the number of parks in the city.
8 Parking spaces are around here. It’s easy to find a place
to park your car.

B Before you read

1 think about the characteristics that can help make a country successful.
Which of these do you think are the most important? Why? Discuss with
a partner.

a single language a large population a lot of land

plentiful transportation a pleasant climate natural resources
educated people affordable housing

I think the most important characteristics are … because …

Predicting 2 What do you know about Singapore? Which of the characteristics from
exercise 1 do you think describe the country today?

C Global reading
1 Skim Size doesn’t matter. Check your predictions. Circle the characteristics
mentioned in the text.

2 Scan the text again. Look at the list from above. Write the paragraph
numbers next to the characteristics mentioned in them.

68 UNIT 4 CItIeS
Size doesn’t matter READING 2

1 The island country of Singapore is home to almost five million

people in an area of only 700 square kilometers. Hot and often
humid, it was once an enormous swamp with an uncertain
future. How did such a small island, now one of the richest
countries in the world, manage to get so much right?

People and resources

2 Singapore has few natural resources. It has
little fresh water, so the country gets most
of the water from its neighbors. The same is
true for the food it needs. The government
knew very early that it needed to concentrate
on its most important resource—its people. Size: 719.1 square kilometers
Its residents are among the best educated in Population: 5,530,000
the world and the country is working toward Languages: English, Chinese,
being a leader in information technology. Malay, Tamil
When companies want to do business in Asia, Literacy: 95.9%
they often open an office in Singapore. It is an Jobless rate: 1.9%
important center for business in Asia.

CItIeS UNIT 4 69
 2 READING

Housing for all Transportation

3 Like any large city, Singapore faces a growing 5 There are not enough roads or parking spaces to allow
population. This means there is a need for more and every resident to have a car. When someone wants to
more affordable housing. In 1960, the government own a car, they need to buy an expensive license first.
created the Housing Development Board (HDB). Within This keeps the number of cars low. At the same time,
a decade, the city built 50,000 new homes. About the country is putting more and more money into
85% of the population is now living in high-rise public public transportation. A train line links the country to
housing units. These are divided into neighborhoods of Malaysia to the north. Most people get around by bus
about 24,000 people. Each neighborhood has schools, or subway. Ticket prices are low and it’s easy to move
stores, and many other businesses to support the local between different types of transportation. Bus stations
population. are often built over train stations which allows easy
access between different types of transportation. Taxis
New land are plentiful. You can quickly get a cab through any
4 Singapore has very little land. The government is number of apps.
working hard to increase the amount of land. Little by
6 Despite the challenges it faces, Singapore is continuing
little it is creating new land by taking sand from the
to do an excellent job of planning and designing
ocean floor. Engineers are finding places to make this
its future, and it is paying off. It has a growth rate of
new land while they protect the environment. There
about 8% per year. Personal savings are high. Nearly
are already 100 square kilometers of new land and the
everyone has a job. Singapore’s future looks very
government is planning at least that much more in the
bright indeed.
future. In fact, Singapore’s famous Changi Airport is on
land that once did not exist. The country gets larger and GLOSSARY
larger each year.
humid (adj) hot and wet in a way that makes you
uncomfortable
swamp (n) an area of land covered by water
where trees and plants grow
literacy (n) the ability to read and write

70 UNIT 4 CItIeS
 READING 2
D Close reading
1 read the text. Complete these sentences with numbers from the text.
1 A neighborhood in Singapore has about people.
2 The country is planning at least square kilometers of new
land in the future.
3 About % of people in Singapore live in public housing.
4 Singapore has a jobless rate of about %.

Many academic texts discuss one or more problems as well as the solutions Identifying problems
to those problems. It can be helpful to organize these into a t chart. and solutions

2 Complete these notes with words from the text.

Problems Solutions
few natural brings in all the water and
it needs
focuses on most important
resource—
a growing people live in public
housing
units are organized into
with schools, stores, etc.
little is creating new land by bringing up
from the ocean floor
is more new land in the
future
not enough keeps car numbers by
or spaces making it to own one
has excellent

E Critical thinking
Discuss the ideas from both reading texts in a group.
Which city’s traffic solution is the most creative? Which would work best? Why?
I think Curitiba’s / Murcia’s / La Paz’ / Singapore’s solution is the most
creative because …

CItIeS UNIT 4 71