A new look for Talbot Park
Read A new look for Talbot Park and check the IELTS Reading answers. The new Talbot Park is immediately eye-catching because the buildings look quite different to other state-housing projects in Auckland. ‘There is no reason why state housing should look cheap in my view,’ says architect Neil Cotto…
Passage preview
The new Talbot Park is immediately eye-catching because the buildings look quite different to other state-housing projects in Auckland. ‘There is no reason why state housing should look cheap in my view,’ says architect Neil Cotton, one of the design team. ‘In fact, I was anticipating a backlash by those who objected to the quality of what is provided with government money.’ The tidy brick and wood apartments and townhouses would not look out of place in some of the city’s most affluent suburbs, and this is a central theme of the Talbot Park philosophy.
Vocabulary from this passage
9 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- affluent adjective
Having a great deal of wealth, money, or material possessions; financially prosperous
The newly developed commercial district was intentionally designed to attract consumers from affluent suburban neighborhoods.
- amenity noun
A highly desirable or genuinely useful feature, facility, or service provided within a building or location
Convenient access to reliable public transportation is considered a crucial amenity for prospective urban residents.
- controversial adjective
Giving rise to or highly likely to provoke intense public disagreement, debate, or serious contention
The municipal government's controversial decision to increase property taxation sparked widespread protests across the city.
- cosmopolitan adjective
Comprising diverse individuals from multiple countries, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds; internationally sophisticated
Modern metropolises thrive structurally and culturally precisely because of their dynamic, cosmopolitan demographics.
- deteriorate verb
To become progressively worse in quality, condition, or structural integrity over a period of time
The historic building's structural framework began to deteriorate due to prolonged exposure to severe weather.
- durability noun
The proven ability to withstand intense wear, pressure, or damage over an extended operational period
Civil engineers prioritized material durability when designing the foundation for the new coastal suspension bridge.
- petty crime noun
Minor legal offenses or infractions that are typically not considered to be highly serious or dangerous
The strategic installation of enhanced street lighting significantly reduced local incidences of nighttime petty crime.
- socio-economic adjective
Relating to or explicitly concerned with the complex interaction of prevailing social and economic factors
Long-term educational outcomes are frequently influenced by the fundamental socio-economic background of the student population.
- uniform appearance noun
A standardized, identical visual presentation that lacks individual variation or distinctive architectural features
The corporate housing blocks were heavily criticized by urban planners for their monotonous, uniform appearance.
Answers with explanations
- 14. iv
Paragraph A focuses on how the buildings look very different to other state-housing projects and would fit into **affluent suburbs**. This matches heading iv: 'The **unexpectedly high standard** of the housing', as the architect even anticipated a backlash over how high-quality the buildings appear for government money.
- 15. ix
Paragraph B describes the **original** Talbot Park in the 1960s, emphasizing a **strong sense of neighbourliness** and respect among residents. This directly aligns with heading ix: 'A **close community** in the original Talbot Park development'.
- 16. i
Paragraph C lists the issues that arose in the late 1970s, such as dropping standards, deteriorating buildings, and rising petty crime. This perfectly summarizes heading i: 'Some of the **problems that developed** at Talbot Park'.
- 17. x
Paragraph D gives an extensive description of the **architectural designs**, such as free-standing houses, semi-detached properties, multi-apartment blocks, and see-through fences. This corresponds perfectly with heading x: '**Details of the style of buildings** used in the makeover'.
- 18. iii
Paragraph E explicitly details the percentages of different cultural and racial groups living in Talbot Park today. This is the definition of **ethnic makeup**, making heading iii the correct choice: 'The **ethnic makeup** of the new Talbot Park'.
- 19. v
Paragraph F focuses on the economic status of Talbot Park and the **neighbouring** suburb of Tāmaki, describing them as **low socio-economic areas** where most households have low incomes ($5,000 to $15,000). This perfectly matches heading v: '**Financial hardship** in Talbot Park and a neighbouring community'.
- 20. vii
Paragraph G discusses the **tenancy management** system, detailing how managers set rules, resolve problems, and organize events to help residents live together smoothly. This is clearly summarized in heading vii: 'How to **co-ordinate and assist** the people who live at Talbot Park'.
- 21. D
James Lundy is quoted stating that the building designs needed to be **flexible** (adaptable) to serve people from a wide variety of **cultural backgrounds** (mixed-race). This explicitly matches statement D: 'Mixed-race communities require adaptable and responsive designs.'
- 22. A
Graham Bodman emphasizes the need for **inspections**, **guidelines**, and **boundaries** for tenants. This closely mirrors statement A: 'Good tenant management involves **supervision** (inspections) and **regulation** (guidelines/boundaries).'
- 23. C
Stuart Bracey points out that because people are living closely together, managers must help them connect by **organising morning teas and street barbecues** (social events). This directly aligns with statement C: 'Organising **social events** helps tenants to live close together.'
- 24. density
The summary mentions concerns about the 'higher [24] of accommodation'. The text notes that the new development has made the **density** of housing greater (higher). The noun 'density' fits the grammatical and meaning requirement exactly.
- 25. architects
The summary states that 'a team of various [25] worked on the project to ensure the buildings were not uniform'. The passage explains that they mixed up the housing by employing different **architects**. The plural noun 'architects' is the correct fit.
- 26. budget
The summary notes that functional interiors were built within their '[26]'. The text confirms that the no-frills approach to the interiors was chosen to ensure the project did not go over **budget**. The noun 'budget' completes the sentence meaningfully and grammatically.