Passage Reference: Forrester's preliminary and admittedly crude model shows that the normal practice of raising local taxes may be self-defeating, in that it drives out persons and industries capable of supporting the city.

Common Mistake: Some students choose Support because taxes are often seen as helping cities. This is a Contradiction trap because the passage explicitly says taxes make the situation worse.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'raising local taxes may be self-defeating' = Statement: 'raising taxes'

Tips: When the passage clearly says an action is harmful, the answer is Reject, not opinion-based.

Key Vocabulary:

• self-defeating = causes harm to itself
• capable of supporting = able to help financially

Question Focus: Negative evaluation - motorways make problems worse

Passage Reference: Building expensive motorways and mass transit systems from the suburbs to the inner city can also be counterproductive by making the flight to the suburbs easier.

Why this is correct: The answer is Reject. The author says building motorways is counterproductive because it makes it easier for people to leave the city, which harms urban stability.

Common Mistake: Students often choose Support because transport sounds beneficial. This is a Paraphrase trap - better transport does not mean better cities here.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'building motorways can be counterproductive' = Statement: 'building motorways'

Tips: Do not assume something is good in real life. Always follow the author's evaluation.

Key Vocabulary:

• counterproductive = has the opposite effect
• flight = leaving quickly

Question Focus: Policy judged as harmful in the long run

Passage Reference: Allowing old housing to stand, or converting it to low-rent housing projects, may also be self-defeating in the long run.

Why this is correct: The answer is Reject. The passage says that converting old housing to low-rent projects may be self-defeating, so the author would not support this action.

Common Mistake: Some students pick Support because helping low-income residents sounds positive. This is a Partial truth trap - social help is mentioned, but the long-term effect is negative.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'converting it to low-rent housing projects may be self-defeating' = Statement: 'converting old houses'

Tips: Watch for phrases like 'in the long run' - they often signal evaluation.

Key Vocabulary:

• low-rent = cheap to live in
• long run = long-term future

Question Focus: Recommended action to control migration and help industry

Passage Reference: By removing old housing and refusing to replace it, a city can stop or slow migration of the unskilled, and at the same time provide space for new industries, which can then generate jobs or taxes for the benefit of existing unemployed citizens.

Why this is correct: The answer is Support. The author explains that removing old housing can stop migration of the unskilled and provide space for new industries, which benefits the city.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose Reject because demolition sounds destructive. This is a Context shift trap - here demolition is shown as a solution, not a problem.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'removing old housing' = Statement: 'demolishing old houses'

Tips: Look carefully at cause and result. If the result is positive, the author supports it.

Key Vocabulary:

• demolish = destroy buildings
• generate jobs = create employment

Question Focus: General trend mentioned but no approval or rejection

Passage Reference: Already more than 20% of mankind live in urban areas with populations greater than 100,000, and this figure is expected to increase to at least 40% by the year 2000. The rural-urban population shift in the US (Fig. 1) typifies the trend to urbanization in a developed country. But this trend is not limited to developed countries. In developing countries too (Fig. 2), where the population is still predominantly rural, rapid urbanization is occurring. In fact, urbanization in developing countries is taking place more rapidly than that in developed countries. In the former, the population of large cities is doubling every 10 to 15 years, and that of many urban slums yevery 5 to 7 years. These major population shifts within a country or throughout the world - both in developed and developing countries - affect the life cycles of cities.

Why this is correct: The answer is Can't be inferred from the text. The passage describes urban population growth as a trend, but it never says the author supports or rejects increasing urban population.

Common Mistake: Students choose Support because growth is discussed often. This is a Not Given trap - description does not equal opinion.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'urbanization is occurring' = Statement: 'increasing urban population'

Tips: If you cannot find a clear opinion word, choose Can't be inferred.

Key Vocabulary:

• urbanization = growth of cities
• trend = general pattern

General Tips:

• These questions test the author's opinion, not general knowledge.
• Scan for evaluation words like 'self-defeating', 'counterproductive', or 'benefit'.
• Description of a trend does not mean support for it.
• Questions follow passage order - use the previous answer to find the next.