Use of English Mastery
Test 2 · Parts 1–4

For years, the independent bookshop seemed certain to vanish. As online retailers offered lower prices and instant delivery, many small shops were driven out of business, and the printed book itself was widely dismissed as a (1) ____ of the past. Yet, against all expectations, independent bookshops are now thriving once more.

What (2) ____ for this surprising turnaround? Part of the answer lies in a growing weariness with screens. Having spent their working hours staring at devices, many people now (3) ____ for the physical world: the weight of a book, the smell of paper, the simple pleasure of browsing without an algorithm (4) ____ what they should read next.

Independent shops have also learned to play to their (5) ____ . Unable to compete on price, they instead offer expert recommendations, author events, and a sense of belonging that no website can easily (6) ____ . As one owner puts it, a good bookshop does not merely sell books; it (7) ____ a community around them.

For their devoted customers, then, the appeal is clear. Convenience, it (8) ____ out, was never quite enough.

The idea of a four-day working week, once dismissed ⁹ unrealistic, is now being taken seriously by governments and companies alike. In trials around the world, employees work fewer hours ¹⁰ any reduction in pay, and the results have been striking. ¹¹ than falling, productivity has often risen.

Supporters argue that a shorter week benefits everyone. Workers, ¹² are less exhausted, make fewer mistakes and take fewer days off sick. Employers, in ¹³ , gain a more loyal and motivated workforce. There is even evidence that the change is good for the environment, ¹⁴ fewer commutes mean lower emissions.

Critics, however, point ¹⁵ that not every industry can adapt so easily. A hospital or a shop cannot simply close for an extra day. ¹⁶ remains to be seen is whether the model can work beyond the offices where it has so far been tested.

Across the world, cities are rediscovering the value of nature. For decades, urban planning prioritized roads and buildings, often with little ¹⁷ (CONSIDER) for green space. The ¹⁸ (CONSEQUENT) of this approach are now painfully clear: polluted air, rising temperatures, and a population cut off from the natural world.

Fortunately, attitudes are changing. Planners increasingly recognize that parks and trees are not a luxury but a ¹⁹ (NECESSARY). Recent studies have shown ²⁰ (CONVINCE) that access to green space improves both physical and mental health. As a result, many cities are investing ²¹ (HEAVY) in rewilding projects, transforming neglected land into thriving habitats.

The benefits are not purely ²² (ENVIRONMENT). Green spaces bring communities together and make neighborhoods more ²³ (DESIRE) places to live. For city planners, the ²⁴ (IMPLY) is clear: a greener city is a healthier and happier one.