# Cities are good for you by Leo Hollis - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 3） - 最近考试：2025.8.27武汉BC新世界 - 题目数：14 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/d49e24f2-a10d-4f06-86a3-8b17e2c08102（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A Don't let that seductive 99p deceive you – with Leo Hollis's Cities Are Good for You you're definitely getting seventeen pounds' worth of book: 17 pounds, and possibly somewhere approaching 17lbs as well, because this is a hefty tome, not quite lavishly tooled enough for the coffee table, but not entirely a comfortable proposition when lying abed. Which rather raises the question, who exactly is it aimed at? People who see the city as a backdrop of fashion plates against which they can strike physical and intellectual attitudes, or those for whom urbanism is just another wanky trend? Several years ago the world reached a tipping point, and for the first time in history more people were urban than rural inhabitants, and this demographic shift is increasingly reflected in the cultural superstructure: there are increasing numbers of books, films and TV and radio programmes about the city. B Hollis's is a reasonably efficient solution to the genre – a comprehensive overview of the state of the city and contemporary thinking in urbanism. He begins and ends his tale – which takes the form of an extended multi-city-break – with musings occasioned by Manhattan's High Line park, the curiously liminal green space established on the derelict elevated railway line that runs down the Lower West Side. In between, Hollis travels through time, giving a highly partisan and select history of urban theory and town planning; and through space, hopping from the US to Bangalore and Mumbai, to Shanghai, to Songdo in South Korea, Santiago in Chile and Bogota in Colombia, then back home to his own Meridian on the outskirts of London for a little rest and reflection. C Hollis argues passionately for the city as an engine of human creativity, innovation, and social progress. He contends that, despite problems of inequality, pollution, and congestion, cities are fundamentally beneficial because they concentrate talent, foster collaboration, and accelerate the exchange of ideas. He examines case studies like the transformation of Bogota under Mayor Enrique Penalosa, who prioritized public transport and public space over cars, and the planned smart city of Songdo, built from scratch with ubiquitous digital technology. These examples serve to illustrate his thesis that cities can be designed or retrofitted to improve quality of life. D However, the reviewer notes that Hollis's optimism, while engaging, sometimes glosses over the deep-seated challenges of urban living. The book celebrates successful interventions but may underplay the difficulties of scaling such solutions or addressing systemic issues like housing affordability and social segregation. Its global tour, while informative, can feel somewhat superficial, skimming the surface of complex local contexts. Ultimately, Cities Are Good for You is a spirited and accessible introduction to urban optimism. It is likely to appeal to the general reader with an interest in cities and planning, offering a hopeful, if occasionally simplistic, vision of the urban future. It may frustrate academic specialists seeking deeper analysis, but succeeds in making a compelling case for why cities matter. ## 题目与答案 ### 27. Book Review: Cities Are Good for You The reviewer first calls the book a 27_____ and questions its target audience. Book Review: Cities Are Good for You The reviewer first calls the book a 27_____ and questions its target audience. **答案**：hefty tome 原文定位：Don't let that seductive 99p deceive you;with Leo Hollis's Cities Are Good for You you're definitely getting seventeen pounds' worth of book: 17 pounds, and possibly somewhere approaching 17lbs as well, because this is a hefty tome, not quite lavishly tooled enough for the coffee table, but not entirely a comfortable proposition when lying abed 同义替换：「The reviewer first calls the book a」↔「because this is a hefty tome」 ### 28. The book's relevance is linked to the global 28_____ where more people now live in cities than in the countryside. The book's relevance is linked to the global 28_____ where more people now live in cities than in the countryside. **答案**：tipping point 原文定位：Several years ago the world reached a tipping point, and for the first time in history more people were urban than rural inhabitants, and this demographic shift is increasingly reflected in the cultural superstructure: there are increasing numbers of books, films and TV and radio programmes about the city 同义替换：「global」↔「world」；「more people now live in cities than in the countryside」↔「more people were urban than rural inhabitants」 ### 29. Hollis structures the book like an extended trip, starting and ending with New York's 29_____ park. Hollis structures the book like an extended trip, starting and ending with New York's 29_____ park. **答案**：High Line 原文定位：He begins and ends his tale – which takes the form of an extended multi-city-break – with musings occasioned by Manhattan's High Line park, the curiously liminal green space established on the derelict elevated railway line that runs down the Lower West Side 同义替换：「structures the book like an extended trip」↔「takes the form of an extended multi‑city‑break」 ### 30. He travels through both time and space, visiting cities worldwide to support his argument that cities promote 30_____ and social progress. He travels through both time and space, visiting cities worldwide to support his argument that cities promote 30_____ and social progress. **答案**：creativity 原文定位：Hollis argues passionately for the city as an engine of human creativity, innovation, and social progress 同义替换：「support his argument」↔「argues passionately for」；「cities promote」↔「the city as an engine of」 ### 31. The reviewer concludes that the book offers a spirited and 31_____ introduction to urban optimism for general readers. The reviewer concludes that the book offers a spirited and 31_____ introduction to urban optimism for general readers. **答案**：accessible 原文定位：Ultimately, Cities Are Good for You is a spirited and accessible introduction to urban optimism. It is likely to appeal to the general reader with an interest in cities and planning, offering a hopeful, if occasionally simplistic, vision of the urban future 同义替换：「concludes」↔「Ultimately」 ### 32. 32 The reviewer believes the book is poor value for money. 32 The reviewer believes the book is poor value for money. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NO 原文定位：Don't let that seductive 99p deceive you;with Leo Hollis's Cities Are Good for You you're definitely getting seventeen pounds' worth of book: 17 pounds, and possibly somewhere approaching 17lbs as well, because this is a hefty tome 同义替换：「poor value for money」↔「definitely getting seventeen pounds' worth of book」 ### 33. 33 Hollis provides a completely neutral and objective history of urban planning. 33 Hollis provides a completely neutral and objective history of urban planning. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NO 原文定位：In between, Hollis travels through time, giving a highly partisan and select history of urban theory and town planning 同义替换：「completely neutral and objective」↔「highly partisan」 ### 34. 34 The book discusses the city of Songdo as an example of a smart city. 34 The book discusses the city of Songdo as an example of a smart city. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：YES 原文定位：He examines case studies like the transformation of Bogota under Mayor Enrique Penalosa, who prioritized public transport and public space over cars, and the planned smart city of Songdo, built from scratch with ubiquitous digital technology 同义替换：「The book discusses」↔「He examines case studies like」 ### 35. 35 The reviewer feels the book offers a deeply detailed analysis of every city it mentions. 35 The reviewer feels the book offers a deeply detailed analysis of every city it mentions. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NO 原文定位：Its global tour, while informative, can feel somewhat superficial, skimming the surface of complex local contexts 同义替换：「every city it mentions」↔「global tour」 ### 36. 36 What does the reviewer suggest about the book's physical qualities? 36 What does the reviewer suggest about the book's physical qualities? - It is small and lightweight. - It is large and somewhat awkward to handle. - It is designed as a luxurious coffee-table book. - It is only available as an e-book. **答案**：It is large and somewhat awkward to handle. 原文定位：Don't let that seductive 99p deceive you;with Leo Hollis's Cities Are Good for You you're definitely getting seventeen pounds' worth of book: 17 pounds, and possibly somewhere approaching 17lbs as well, because this is a hefty tome, not quite lavishly tooled enough for the coffee table, but not entirely a comfortable proposition when lying abed 同义替换：「large and somewhat awkward to handle」↔「not entirely a comfortable proposition when lying abed」 ### 37. 37 The High Line park in Manhattan is used by Hollis to 37 The High Line park in Manhattan is used by Hollis to - Criticize wasteful spending on parks. - Frame the beginning and end of his narrative. - Argue that all railways should be dismantled. - Demonstrate the failure of urban green spaces. **答案**：Frame the beginning and end of his narrative. 原文定位：He begins and ends his tale – which takes the form of an extended multi-city-break – with musings occasioned by Manhattan's High Line park, the curiously liminal green space established on the derelict elevated railway line that runs down the Lower West Side 同义替换：「Frame the beginning and end of his narrative」↔「begins and ends his tale」 ### 38. 38 According to the review, what is Hollis's central argument about cities? 38 According to the review, what is Hollis's central argument about cities? - They are doomed to fail due to overcrowding. - They are fundamentally beneficial for human progress. - They should be abandoned in favor of rural living. - Their problems outweigh their advantages. **答案**：They are fundamentally beneficial for human progress. 原文定位：He contends that, despite problems of inequality, pollution, and congestion, cities are fundamentally beneficial because they concentrate talent, foster collaboration, and accelerate the exchange of ideas 同义替换：「central argument」↔「contends that」 ### 39. 39 What criticism does the reviewer make of Hollis's approach? 39 What criticism does the reviewer make of Hollis's approach? - He is too pessimistic about urban futures. - He sometimes overlooks serious urban challenges. - He refuses to use any case studies. - He only focuses on European cities. **答案**：He sometimes overlooks serious urban challenges. 原文定位：However, the reviewer notes that Hollis's optimism, while engaging, sometimes glosses over the deep;seated challenges of urban living 同义替换：「What criticism does the reviewer make」↔「the reviewer notes that」；「approach」↔「optimism」；「overlooks」↔「glosses over」 ### 40. 40 Who is the most likely audience for this book, according to the reviewer? 40 Who is the most likely audience for this book, according to the reviewer? - Specialized academics in urban studies. - People with no interest in cities. - General readers interested in cities and planning. - Only professional city planners. **答案**：General readers interested in cities and planning. 原文定位：It is likely to appeal to the general reader with an interest in cities and planning, offering a hopeful, if occasionally simplistic, vision of the urban future 同义替换：「Who is the most likely audience」↔「It is likely to appeal to」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。