Hãy cùng Ieltsity tham khảo đáp án đề bài Cambridge IELTS 18 – Test 2 – Passage 3 – An Ideal City nhé!
ANSWER TABLE |
|
| 27. NOT GIVEN | 34. transport |
| 28. NOT GIVEN | 35. staircases |
| 29. TRUE | 36. engineering |
| 30. FALSE | 37. rule |
| 31. TRUE | 38. Roman |
| 32. NOT GIVEN | 39. Paris |
| 33. FALSE | 40. outwards |
An ideal city
Leonardo da Vinci’s ideal city was centuries ahead of its time
The word ‘genius’ is universally associated with the name of Leonardo da Vinci. A true Renaissance man, he embodied scientific spirit, artistic talent, and humanist sensibilities. Five hundred years have passed since Leonardo died in his home at Chateau du Clos Luce, outside Tours, France. (Q27) Yet far from fading into insignificance, his thinking has carried down the centuries and still surprises today.
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 200 million deaths across Europe and Asia. Today, the world is on the cusp of a climate crisis, which is predicted to cause widespread displacement, extinctions and death, if left unaddressed. (Q28) Then, as now, radical solutions were called for to revolutionise the way people lived and safeguard humanity against catastrophe. (Q29)
Around 1486 – after a pestilence that killed half the population in Milan, Italy – Leonardo turned his thoughts to urban planning problems. Following a typical Renaissance trend, he began to work on an ‘ideal city’ project, which – due to its excessive costs – would remain unfulfilled. (Q30) Yet given that unsustainable urban models are a key cause of global climate change today, (Q31) it’s only natural to wonder how Leonardo might have changed the shape of modern cities.
Although the Renaissance is renowned as an era of incredible progress in art and architecture, it is rarely noted that the 15th century also marked the birth of urbanism as a true academic discipline. The rigour 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. (Q32) These works surely inspired Leonardo’s decision to rethink the design of medieval cities, with their winding and overcrowded streets and with houses piled against one another.
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. (Q33) But from the largest collection of Leonardo’s papers ever assembled, a series of innovative thoughts can be reconstructed regarding the foundation of a new city along the Ticino River, which runs from Switzerland into Italy and is 248 kilometres long. He designed the city for the easy transport (Q34) of goods and clean urban spaces, and he wanted a comfortable and spacious city, with well-ordered streets and architecture. He recommended ‘high, strong walls’, with ‘towers and battlements of all necessary and pleasant beauty’.
His plans for a modem and ‘rational’ city were consistent with Renaissance ideals. But, in keeping with his personality, Leonardo included several innovations in his urban design. Leonardo wanted the city to be built on several levels, linked with vertical outdoor staircases (Q35). This design can be seen in some of today’s high-rise buildings but was unconventional at the time. Indeed, this idea of taking full advantage of the interior spaces wasn’t implemented until the 1920s and 1930s, with the birth of the Modernist movement.
While in the upper layers of the city, people could walk undisturbed between elegant palaces and streets, the lower layer was the place for services, trade, transport and industry. But the true originality of Leonardo’s vision was its fusion of architecture and engineering (Q36). Leonardo designed extensive hydraulic plants to create artificial canals throughout the city. The canals, regulated by clocks and basins, were supposed to make it easier for boats to navigate inland. Leonardo also thought that the width of the streets ought to match the average height of the adjacent houses: a rule (Q37) still followed in many contemporary cities across Italy, to allow access to sun and reduce the risk of damage from earthquakes.
Although some of these features existed in Roman (Q38) cities before Leonardo’s drawings there had never been a multi-level, compact modem city which was thoroughly technically conceived. Indeed, it wasn’t until the 19th century that some of his ideas were applied. 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 (Q39) under Emperor Napoleon III between 1853 and 1870.
Today, Leonardo’s ideas are not simply valid, they actually suggest a way forward for urban planning. Many scholars think that the compact city built upwards instead of outwards (Q40), integrated with nature (especially water systems), with efficient transport infrastructure, could help modem cities become more efficient and sustainable. This is yet another reason why Leonardo was aligned so closely with modem urban planning and centuries ahead of his time.
Questions 27-33
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 27-33 on your answer sheet, write:
TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN, if there is no information on this
27. People first referred to Leonardo da Vinci as a genius 500 years ago.
28. The current climate crisis is predicted to cause more deaths than the plague.
29. Some of the challenges we face today can be compared to those of earlier times.
30. Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘ideal city’ was constructed in the 15th century.
31. Poor town planning is a major contributor to climate change.
32. In Renaissance times, local people fought against the changes to Pienza and Ferrara.
33. Leonardo da Vinci kept a neat, organised record of his designs.
Questions 34-40
Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 34-40 on your answer sheet.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ideal city
A collection of Leonardo da Vinci’s paperwork reveals his design of a new city beside the Ticino River. This was to provide better 34 _______________ for trade and a less polluted environment. Although Leonardo da Vinci’s city shared many of the ideals of his time, some of his innovations were considered unconventional in their design. They included features that can be seen in some tower blocks today, such as 35 _______________ on the exterior of a building.
Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t only an architect. His expertise in 36 _______________ was evident in his plans for artificial canals within his ideal city. He also believed that the height of houses should relate to the width of streets in case earthquakes occurred. The design of many cities in Italy today follows this 37 _______________.
While some cities from 38 _______________ times have aspects that can also be found in Leonardo’s designs, his ideas weren’t put into practice until long after his death. 39 _______________ is one example of a city that was redesigned in the 19th century in the way that Leonardo had envisaged. His ideas are also relevant to today’s world, where building 40 _______________ no longer seems to be the best approach.
EXPLANATIONS
Q27:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: People first referred to Leonardo da Vinci as a genius 500 years ago.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: The word ‘genius’ is universally associated with the name of Leonardo da Vinci […] Five hundred years have passed since Leonardo died in his home at Chateau du Clos Luce, outside Tours, France.
Giải thích: Cụm từ ‘thiên tài’ đã gắn liền với tên tuổi Leonardo da Vince […] Đã năm trăm năm trôi qua kể từ khi Leonardo mất đi tại nhà riêng ở Pháp.
Không có thông tin nào cho thấy người ta bắt đầu xem ông là thiên tài từ bao giờ. Vậy đáp án là NOT GIVEN.
Q28:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: The current climate crisis is predicted to cause more deaths than the plague.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: … the spread of the plague in the 14th century, which caused a global crisis resulting in some 200 million deaths across Europe and Asia. Today, the world is on the cusp of a climate crisis, which is predicted to cause widespread displacement, extinctions and death, if left unaddressed.
Giải thích: … sự lây lan của bệnh dịch hạch vào thế kỷ 14 đã gây ra những khủng hoảng trên quy mô toàn cầu, dẫn tới khoảng 200 triệu ca tử vong khắp châu Âu và châu Á. Ngày nay thế giới cũng đang đối mặt với khủng hoảng về khí hậu, mà được dự đoán là sẽ gây ra mất nhà cửa, tuyệt chủng và chết chóc trên diện rộng, nếu không được giải quyết.
Không có số liệu về số ca tử vong do khủng hoảng khí hậu để so sánh. Vậy đáp án là NOT GIVEN.
Q29:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: Some of the challenges we face today can be compared to those of earlier times.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: Then, as now, radical solutions were called for to revolutionise the way people lived and safeguard humanity against catastrophe.
Giải thích: Ngày xưa, cũng giống như bây giờ, cần có những biện pháp triệt để nhằm cách mạng hóa cuộc sống con người và bảo vệ nhân loại khỏi các thảm họa.
Vậy đáp án là TRUE.
Q30:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘ideal city’ was constructed in the 15th century.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: Around 1486 […] he began to work on an ‘ideal city’ project, which – due to its excessive costs – would remain unfulfilled.
Giải thích: Khoảng năm 1486 (tương đương thế kỷ 15), Leonardo bắt tay vào lên ý tưởng cho dự án ‘thành phố lý tưởng’, mà do chi phí đắt đỏ nên sau này cũng chưa bao giờ được hiện thực hóa.
Vậy đáp án là FALSE.
Q31:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: Poor town planning is a major contributor to climate change.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: Yet given that unsustainable urban models are a key cause of global climate change today, …
Giải thích: Những mô hình đô thị không bền vững chính là nguyên nhân chủ chốt dẫn tới những sự thay đổi khí hậu ngày nay.
Vậy đáp án là TRUE.
Q32:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: In Renaissance times, local people fought against the changes to Pienza and Ferrara.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: … 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.
Giải thích: Những cá nhân xuất chúng thời Phục Hưng đã thúc đẩy những dự án đô thị quy mô lớn như việc cải tạo thị trấn Pienza và mở rộng thành phố Ferrara. Không có thông tin nào liên quan tới người dân địa phương (local people) cũng như việc họ đấu tranh chống lại thay đổi.
Vậy đáp án là NOT GIVEN.
Q33:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: Leonardo da Vinci kept a neat, organised record of his designs.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: 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.
Giải thích: Rất khó để xác định được tầm nhìn của Leonardo về thành phố lý tưởng do cách làm việc lộn xộn của ông với những ghi chép và phác thảo. Leonardo không hề gọn gàng hay ngăn nắp.
Vậy đáp án là FALSE.
Q34:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: This was to provide better _______________ for trade and a less polluted environment.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: He designed the city for the easy transport of goods and clean urban spaces, …
Giải thích: Leonardo đã thiết kế một thành phố có hệ thống vận tải (transport) hàng hóa thuận tiện và môi trường đô thị sạch.
Q35:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: They included features that can be seen in some tower blocks today, such as _______________ on the exterior of a building.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: 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.
Giải thích: Leonardo muốn xây dựng thành phố có nhiều tầng, kết nối với các cầu thang (staircases) ngoài trời theo chiều dọc. Thiết kế này có thể bắt gặp ở một số tòa nhà cao tầng ngày nay nhưng ở thời đó thì không phổ biến.
Vậy đáp án là staircases.
Q36:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t only an architect. His expertise in ______________ was evident in his plans for artificial canals within his ideal city.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: But the true originality of Leonardo’s vision was its fusion of architecture and engineering. Leonardo designed extensive hydraulic plants to create artificial canals throughout the city.
Giải thích: Tầm nhìn thực sự của Leonardo được thể hiện bởi sự kết hợp giữa kiến trúc và kỹ thuật (engineering). Leonardo đã thiết kế một nhà máy thủy điện diện tích lớn để tao ra những con kênh nhân tạo chạy trong thành phố.
Vậy đáp án là engineering.
Q37:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: The design of many cities in Italy today follows this _______________.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: … a rule still followed in many contemporary cities across Italy, …
Giải thích: Một quy luật trong xây dựng mà đến nay vẫn được nhiều thành phố ở Italy tuân theo …
Vậy đáp án là rule.
Q38:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: While some cities from ___________ times have aspects that can also be found in Leonardo’s designs, …
Đoạn chứa đáp án: Although some of these features existed in Roman cities, …
Giải thích: Một số đặc điểm trong thiết kế của Leonardo tồn tại trong các thành phố La Mã.
Vậy đáp án là Roman.
Q39:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: _______________ is one example of a city that was redesigned in the 19th century in the way that Leonardo had envisaged.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: … is an idea that can be found in Georges-Eugene Haussmann’s renovation of Paris under Emperor Napoleon III between 1853 and 1870.
Giải thích: Ý tưởng của Leonardo được tìm thấy trong dự án cải tạo Paris của Georges-Eugene Haussmann trong thời kỳ hoàng đế Napoleon III trị vì từ năm 1853 đến 1870 (tương đương với thế kỷ 19).
Vậy đáp án là Paris.
Q40:
Từ khóa câu hỏi: His ideas are also relevant to today’s world, where building _______________ no longer seems to be the best approach.
Đoạn chứa đáp án: Leonardo’s ideas are not simply valid, they actually suggest a way forward for urban planning. Many scholars think that the compact city, built upwards instead of outwards, […] more efficient and sustainable.
Giải thích: Ý tưởng của Leonardo không chỉ hợp lý, mà còn gợi ý cách phát triển đô thị trong tương lai. Rất nhiều học giả nghĩ rằng ý tưởng về thành phố hẹp, được xây dựng theo hướng cao lên thay vì tỏa ra (outwards) […] sẽ hiệu quả và bền vững hơn. Ta hiểu cách không bền vững chính là xây tỏa ra.
Vậy đáp án là outwards.
Hy vọng rằng bài viết này sẽ giúp bạn hiểu và hoàn thành bài AN IDEAL CITY (CAMBRIDGE 18 – TEST 2 – PASSAGE 3). Chúc các bạn học tốt!
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