Designing Healthier Cities
About this practice test
Master C2 English reading with an urban-planning text about public health, evidence, equity, policy choices, and the wider argument.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
5 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- C2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
Designing Healthier Cities
Designing healthier cities requires more than building hospitals. During hot months, tree shade and public water points can reduce heat stress. Safe walking routes and reliable buses make it easier for residents to reach work, schools, and clinics without relying on cars. Mixed-use neighborhoods, where homes stand near shops and services, can shorten daily journeys. Researchers also track air quality and access to parks, because these factors influence health over many years. Yet improvements are not automatically fair. A new park may serve a wealthy area while crowded neighborhoods remain without trees. For that reason, some planners ask residents to identify priorities and publish data by district. Healthier design is not a single project; it is a continuing process of measuring conditions, sharing decisions, and adjusting investment.
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the passage say is required for healthier cities?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- More than hospitals, including healthy planning and public services
- Only larger hospitals
- Fewer public transport routes
- More private cars in every neighborhood
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- More than hospitals, including healthy planning and public services
The passage presents planning, transport, green space, data, and participation as part of healthy design.
Designing healthier cities requires more than building hospitals.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
How can tree shade and public water points help?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- They reduce heat stress.
- They shorten every journey.
- They measure air quality.
- They replace all medical clinics.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- They reduce heat stress.
They can reduce heat stress during hot months.
During hot months, tree shade and public water points can reduce heat stress.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why can mixed-use neighborhoods shorten daily journeys?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Homes are near shops and services.
- They remove all public parks.
- They require residents to drive farther.
- They separate work from housing.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Homes are near shops and services.
Homes are located near shops and services.
Mixed-use neighborhoods, where homes stand near shops and services, can shorten daily journeys.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why do some planners publish data by district?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- To identify unequal conditions and guide fair investment
- To prevent residents from giving opinions
- To measure only hospital construction
- To make every district identical immediately
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- To identify unequal conditions and guide fair investment
District data can reveal unequal access and help guide fair investment.
For that reason, some planners ask residents to identify priorities and publish data by district.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What is the overall conclusion of the passage?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It is an ongoing process of measuring, sharing, and adjusting.
- It can be completed by building one hospital.
- It depends only on private investment.
- It should avoid collecting public health data.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It is an ongoing process of measuring, sharing, and adjusting.
Healthier urban design is an ongoing, evidence-informed, participatory process.
Healthier design is not a single project; it is a continuing process of measuring conditions, sharing decisions, and adjusting investment.
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.