Meaning: 'Patronage' means the support or regular use of a service, particularly in terms of public transport.

Wrong options:

• consumption: 'Consumption' refers to the act of using resources, which does not fit the context of increasing public transport usage.
• comparable: 'Comparable' is an adjective that describes something that can be compared, which does not fit as it does not relate to transport usage.
• alternative: 'Alternative' is a noun or adjective that suggests a different option, which does not align with the context of maximizing transport use.
• expectation: 'Expectation' refers to a belief about what will happen in the future, which does not fit the context of public transport usage.
• affordability: 'Affordability' refers to the cost of something being within one's financial means, which does not relate to transport patronage.
• contemporary: 'Contemporary' is an adjective that describes something modern or current, which does not fit the context of transport usage.

Correct answer: consumption

Explanation: The word 'consumption' is a noun that refers to the use of resources, in this case, land for housing. It fits grammatically as it follows the preposition 'of,' indicating what is being reduced. Contextually, the sentence discusses urban development and land use, making 'consumption' the appropriate choice.

Meaning: 'Consumption' means the act of using up resources, particularly land in this context.

Wrong options:

• patronage: 'Patronage' refers to support or financial aid, which does not relate to the use of land for housing.
• comparable: 'Comparable' is an adjective that describes something that can be compared, which does not fit as it does not relate to land use.
• alternative: 'Alternative' suggests a different option, which does not fit the context of reducing land use for housing.
• expectation: 'Expectation' refers to a belief about what will happen, which does not relate to land consumption.
• affordability: 'Affordability' refers to the cost of something being within financial means, which does not relate to land use.
• contemporary: 'Contemporary' describes something modern, which does not fit the context of land consumption.

Correct answer: comparable

Explanation: The term 'comparable' is an adjective that describes areas that can be compared to one another. It fits grammatically as it modifies 'areas,' indicating that the employment data is lacking for those areas that are similar in nature. Contextually, it aligns with the discussion of mixed-use developments and the need for relevant data.

Meaning: 'Comparable' means similar enough to be compared, particularly in terms of characteristics or data.

Wrong options:

• patronage: 'Patronage' refers to support or financial aid, which does not fit as it does not describe the type of areas being discussed.
• consumption: 'Consumption' refers to the use of resources, which does not fit as it does not describe the nature of the areas.
• alternative: 'Alternative' suggests a different option, which does not fit the context of describing areas for which data is lacking.
• expectation: 'Expectation' refers to a belief about what will happen, which does not relate to the comparison of areas.
• affordability: 'Affordability' refers to the cost of something being within financial means, which does not relate to the nature of the areas.
• contemporary: 'Contemporary' describes something modern, which does not fit the context of comparing areas.

Correct answer: affordability

Explanation: The word 'affordability' is a noun that refers to the degree to which something is affordable or within financial means. It fits grammatically as it follows the verb 'affect,' indicating what will be impacted by the lack of housing supply. Contextually, it aligns with the discussion of housing and urban development in Sydney.

Meaning: 'Affordability' means the quality of being affordable, particularly in terms of housing costs.

Wrong options:

• patronage: 'Patronage' refers to support or financial aid, which does not relate to the impact of housing supply on costs.
• consumption: 'Consumption' refers to the use of resources, which does not fit the context of housing affordability.
• comparable: 'Comparable' is an adjective that describes something that can be compared, which does not fit as it does not relate to affordability.
• alternative: 'Alternative' suggests a different option, which does not fit the context of housing costs.
• expectation: 'Expectation' refers to a belief about what will happen, which does not relate to the impact on affordability.
• contemporary: 'Contemporary' describes something modern, which does not fit the context of housing affordability.