Table of Contents
Passage
A. An architecture of disguise is almost complete at Talbot Park in the heart of Auckland’s Glen Innes. The place was once described as a state housing ghetto, rife with crime, vandalism and other social problems. But today after a $48 million urban renewal makeover, the site is home to 700 residents — 200 more than before — and has people regularly inquiring whether they can buy or rent there. “It doesn’t look like social housing,” Housing New Zealand housing services manager Dene Busby says of the tidy brick and weatherboard apartments and townhouses which would look just as much at home in “there is no reason why public housing should look cheap in my view,” says Design Group architect Neil of the eight three-bedroom terrace houses his firm designed.
B. Talbot Park is a triangle of government-owned land bounded by Apirana Ave, Pilkington Rd and Point England Rd. In the early 1960s it was developed for state housing built around a linear park that ran through the middle. Initially, there was a strong sense of a family-friendly community. Former residents recall how the Talbot Park reserve played a big part in their childhoods — a place where the kids in the block came together to play softball, cricket, tiggy, leapfrog and bullrush. Sometimes they’d play “Maoris against Pakehas” but without any animosity. “It was all just good fun”, says Georgie Thompson in Ben Schrader’s We Call it Home: A History of State Housing in New Zealand. “We had respect for our neighbours and addressed them by title Mr. and Mrs. soand-so,” she recalls.
C. Quite what went wrong with Talbot Park is not clear. We call it Home Records that the community began to change in the late 1970s as more Pacific Islanders and Europeans moved in. The new arrivals didn’t readily integrate with the community, a “them and us” mentality developed, and residents interacted with their neighbours less. What was clear was the buildings were deteriorating and becoming dilapidated, petty crime was on the rise and the reserve — focus of fond childhood memories — had become a wasteland and was considered unsafe.
D. But it wasn’t until 2002 that Housing New Zealand decided the properties needed upgrading. The master renewal plan didn’t take advantage of the maximum accommodation density allowable (one unit per 100 sq metres ) but did increase density to one emit per 180 sq m by refurbishing all 108 star flat units, removing the multis and building 111 new home. The Talbot strategy can be summed up as mix, match and manage. Mix up the housing with variety plans from a mix of architects, match house styles to what7 s built by the private sector, match tenants to the mix, and manage their occupancy. Inevitably cost comes into the equation.” If you’re going to build low cost homes, you’ve got to keep them simple and you can’t afford a fancy bit on them. ” says Michael Thompson of Architectus which designed the innovative threelevel Atrium apartments lining two sides of a covered courtyard. At $300,000 per two bedroom unit, the building is more expensive but provides for independent disabled accommodation as well as offering solar hot water heating and rainwater collection for toilet cisterns and outside taps.
E. The renewal project budget at $1.5 million which will provide park pathways, planting, playgrounds, drinking fountains, seating, skateboard rails, a half-size basketball hard court, and a pavilion. But if there was any doubt this is a low socio-economic area, the demographics for the surrounding Tamaki area are sobering. Of the 5000 households there, 55 percent are state houses, 28 per cent privately owned (compared to about 65 percent nationally) and 17 percent are private rental. The area has a high concentration of households with incomes in the $5000 to $15,000 range and very few with an income over $70,000. That’s in sharp contrast to the more affluent suburbs like Kohimarama and St John’s that surround the area.
F. “The design is for people with different culture background,” says architect James Lunday of Common Ground which designed the 21 large family homes. “Architecturally we decided to be relatively conservative — nice house in its own garden with a bit of space and good indoor outdoor flow.” There’s a slight reflection of the whare and a Pacific fale, but not overplayed “The private sector is way behind in urban design and sustainable futures,” says Bracey. “Redesigning sheets and parks is a big deal and very difficult to do. The private sector won’t do it, because It’s so hard.”
G. There’s no doubt good urban design and good architecture play a significant part in the scheme. But probably more important is a new standard of social control. Housing New Zealand calls it “intensive tenancy management”. Others view it as social engineering. “It’s a model that we are looking at going forward,” according to Housing New Zealand’s central Auckland regional manager Graham Bodman.1 The focus is on frequent inspections, helping tenants to get to know each other and trying to create an environment of respect for neighbours, ” says Bodman. That includes some strict rules — no loud parties after 10 pm, no dogs, no cats in the apartments, no washing hung over balcony rails and a requirement to mow lawns and keep the property tidy. Housing New Zealand has also been active in organising morning teas and sheet barbecues for residents to meet their neighbours. “IVs all based on the intensification,” says Community Renewal project manager Stuart Bracey. “We acknowledge if you are going to put more people living closer together, you have to actually help them to live closer together because it creates tension — especially for people that aren’t used to it.”
Questions
Questions 14-20
Reading Passage has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs, A-G from the list below.
Write the correct number, i-xi, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i Financial hardship of community
ii A good tendency of strengthening the supervision
iii Details of plans for the community’s makeover and upgrade
iv Architecture suits families of various ethnic origins
v Problems arise then the mentality of alienation developed later
vi Introduction of a social housing community with unexpected high standard
vii A practical design and need assist and cooperate in future
viii closer relationship among neighbors in original site
ix different need from a makeup of a low financial background should be considered
x How to make the community feel safe
xi a plan with details for house structure
14 Paragraph A
15 Paragraph B
16 Paragraph C
17 Paragraph D
18 Paragraph E
19 Paragraph F
20 Paragraph G
Questions 21-23
List of people
A Michael Thompson
B Graham Bodman
C Stuart Bracey
D James Lunday
E Dene Busby
Use the information in the passage to match the people (listed A-E) with opinions or deeds below.
Write the appropriate letters, A-E, in boxes 21-23 on your answer sheet.
21 Design should meet the need of mix-raced cultural background
22 for better living environment, regulations and social control should be imperative
23 organising more community’s activities helps strengthening relationship in community
Questions 24-27
Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 24-27 on your answer sheet.
In the year 2002, the Talbot decided to raise housing standard, yet the plan was to build homes go much beyond the accommodation limit and people complain about the high living 24…………….. And as the variety plans were complemented under the designs of many 25…………….together, made house styles go with the part designed by individuals, matched tenants from different culture. As for the finance, reconstruction program’s major concern is to build a house within low 26……………..; finally, just as expert predicted residents will agree on building a relatively conventional house in its own 27……………., which provides considerable space to move around
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage The Reconstruction of Community in Talbot Park, Auckland (Passage 2, Questions 14–27).
Questions 14–20: Matching Headings (paragraphs A–G)
14. Paragraph A
Answer: vi (Introduction of a social housing community with unexpected high standard)
Key words: “It doesn’t look like social housing” … there is no reason why public housing should look cheap
Synonyms: social housing with an unexpectedly high standard = public housing that doesn’t look cheap = “the tidy brick and weatherboard apartments … ‘It doesn’t look like social housing’ … ‘there is no reason why public housing should look cheap'”
Explanation: Paragraph A introduces a state-housing site whose quality is surprisingly high → vi.
15. Paragraph B
Answer: viii (closer relationship among neighbours in the original site)
Key words: a strong sense of a family-friendly community … “We had respect for our neighbours”
Synonyms: closer relationship among neighbours originally = the early, family-friendly community with neighbourly respect = “Initially, there was a strong sense of a family-friendly community … ‘We had respect for our neighbours'”
Explanation: Paragraph B recalls the close, neighbourly community of the original 1960s site → viii.
16. Paragraph C
Answer: v (Problems arise as the mentality of alienation developed later)
Key words: a “them and us” mentality developed, and residents interacted with their neighbours less … buildings were deteriorating
Synonyms: mentality of alienation and problems = a “them and us” attitude, less interaction, decline = “The new arrivals didn’t readily integrate … a ‘them and us’ mentality developed … petty crime was on the rise”
Explanation: Paragraph C describes the later social alienation and resulting decline → v.
17. Paragraph D
Answer: iii (Details of plans for the community’s makeover and upgrade)
Key words: The master renewal plan … refurbishing all 108 star flat units … building 111 new homes … mix, match and manage
Synonyms: details of the makeover plans = the master renewal plan’s density, refurbishment and “mix, match and manage” strategy = “The master renewal plan … did increase density … by refurbishing all 108 star flat units … The Talbot strategy can be summed up as mix, match and manage”
Explanation: Paragraph D gives the detailed upgrade plan → iii.
18. Paragraph E
Answer: ix (different needs of a low financial background should be considered)
Key words: this is a low socio-economic area … high concentration of households with incomes in the $5000 to $15,000 range
Synonyms: needs of a low financial background = the low socio-economic demographics that must be taken into account = “if there was any doubt this is a low socio-economic area, the demographics … are sobering … very few with an income over $70,000”
Explanation: Paragraph E stresses the area’s low incomes, a factor the project must consider → ix.
19. Paragraph F
Answer: vii (A practical design and the need to assist and cooperate in future)
Key words: relatively conservative — nice house in its own garden … “The private sector is way behind … Redesigning streets and parks is a big deal and very difficult to do”
Synonyms: practical design and need to assist/cooperate = conservative, practical homes plus the argument that this hard work needs the public sector = “Architecturally we decided to be relatively conservative … ‘The private sector won’t do it, because it’s so hard'”
Explanation: Paragraph F combines a practical design with the point that such difficult redesign needs cooperation → vii.
20. Paragraph G
Answer: ii (A good tendency of strengthening the supervision)
Key words: a new standard of social control … “intensive tenancy management” … frequent inspections … strict rules
Synonyms: strengthening supervision = intensive tenancy management with inspections and strict rules = “probably more important is a new standard of social control. Housing New Zealand calls it ‘intensive tenancy management’ … The focus is on frequent inspections”
Explanation: Paragraph G is about tighter supervision/management of tenants → ii.
Questions 21–23: Match each opinion/deed with the correct person (A–E)
A Michael Thompson · B Graham Bodman · C Stuart Bracey · D James Lunday · E Dene Busby
21. Design should meet the needs of a mixed-race cultural background.
Answer: D (James Lunday)
Key words: “The design is for people with different culture background,” says architect James Lunday
Synonyms: design for mixed cultural background = design for people with different culture backgrounds = “‘The design is for people with different culture background,’ says architect James Lunday of Common Ground”
Explanation: Lunday designed homes for people of different cultures → D.
22. For a better living environment, regulations and social control should be imperative.
Answer: B (Graham Bodman)
Key words: The focus is on frequent inspections … strict rules … says Bodman
Synonyms: regulations and social control are imperative = intensive tenancy management with inspections and strict rules = “‘The focus is on frequent inspections … an environment of respect for neighbours,’ says Bodman … some strict rules”
Explanation: Bodman champions strict management and rules for a better environment → B.
23. Organising more community activities helps strengthen relationships in the community.
Answer: C (Stuart Bracey)
Key words: “if you are going to put more people living closer together, you have to actually help them to live closer together,” says … Stuart Bracey
Synonyms: organising activities strengthens community relationships = you must help people who live closer together to get along = “‘It’s all based on the intensification,’ says Community Renewal project manager Stuart Bracey. ‘We acknowledge … you have to actually help them to live closer together'”
Explanation: Bracey argues that denser living needs active help (such as community activities) to build relationships → C.
Questions 24–27: Summary Completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
24. People complain about the high living ______.
Answer: density
Key words: did increase density to one unit per 180 sq m
Synonyms: high living ______ = the increased housing density = “The master renewal plan didn’t take advantage of the maximum accommodation density allowable … but did increase density to one unit per 180 sq m”
Explanation: The plan raised the housing density of the site → density.
25. The variety plans were completed under the designs of many ______ together.
Answer: architects
Key words: Mix up the housing with variety plans from a mix of architects
Synonyms: designs of many ______ = variety plans from a mix of architects = “Mix up the housing with variety plans from a mix of architects, match house styles to what’s built by the private sector”
Explanation: Several architects contributed varied designs → architects.
26. The programme’s major concern is to build a house within a low ______.
Answer: budget
Key words: If you’re going to build low cost homes, you’ve got to keep them simple
Synonyms: build within a low ______ = build low-cost homes on a tight budget = “‘If you’re going to build low cost homes, you’ve got to keep them simple and you can’t afford a fancy bit on them'”
Explanation: Keeping to a low budget/cost is the key financial concern → budget.
27. Residents will accept a relatively conventional house in its own ______.
Answer: garden
Key words: a nice house in its own garden with a bit of space
Synonyms: a conventional house in its own ______ = a nice house in its own garden with space = “‘Architecturally we decided to be relatively conservative — nice house in its own garden with a bit of space and good indoor outdoor flow'”
Explanation: The conservative design gives each house its own garden → garden.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | vi | 21 | D |
| 15 | viii | 22 | B |
| 16 | v | 23 | C |
| 17 | iii | 24 | density |
| 18 | ix | 25 | architects |
| 19 | vii | 26 | budget |
| 20 | ii | 27 | garden |
