Questions 31 to 40 Complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Designing Friendlier Urban Spaces
Main aim and comfort
In large cities, planners often try to reduce [31] ____________ among residents.
People choose spaces that feel [32] ____________ from wind, traffic, or crowds, while still being able to see around them.
Seating and social contact
Benches arranged in small groups can encourage [33] ____________ between strangers.
Single seats placed far apart tend to increase [34] ____________ in a park.
Lighting
With warm lighting, people often walk [35] ____________, because they feel calmer and less rushed.
Extremely bright lighting can reduce [36] ____________ by creating glare and harsh shadows.
Paths and movement
Informal desire paths show where people [37] ____________ across grass or soil, rather than following planned routes.
Noise, cleanliness, and signs
Trees and low walls can reduce street [38] ____________ near busy roads.
Litter can reduce local [39] ____________, because it signals that a place is not cared for.
Clear signs improve [40] ____________ for visitors and older residents, so they feel less stressed.
Keys
31 isolation 32 sheltered 33 conversation 34 separation 35 slowly 36 safety 37 walk 38 noise 39 pride 40 orientation
Transcripts
Part 4: You will hear part of a lecture about designing friendlier urban spaces.
Today’s lecture is about designing friendlier urban spaces, such as parks, walkways, small squares, and areas outside shops or stations. When people discuss city design, they often focus on buildings and transport. But psychology shows that small design choices can shape how we behave and how we feel. In large cities, one central aim is to reduce isolation, because many residents live close to others but still feel alone. Some planners call this the social side of design. It is not about decoration. It is about how a place feels to use.
A key idea here is comfort. People avoid places that feel exposed, confusing, or stressful. Instead, they choose spaces where they feel sheltered from wind, traffic, or crowds, while still being able to see what is around them. Even small details like the direction of a bench can change the feeling of a space. Think of a bench under a tree or a seating area with a low wall behind it. This does not mean closing spaces off completely. It means giving people a sense of support without making the space feel hidden. In practice, designers often test a space by watching where people pause, not just where they walk.
Seating design is one of the simplest tools. When benches are arranged in small groups, they often encourage conversation. This can happen even when people do not know each other. People can sit facing each other or at a slight angle, and that small change makes it easier to pause and talk. By contrast, single seats placed far apart tend to increase separation. Sometimes that is intentional, for example in a quiet area where people want to read. But if a whole park is designed like that, it discourages friendly contact. You can often see the effect at lunchtime, when people choose where to sit.
Lighting is another strong influence. With warm lighting, people often walk slowly through a space. They look around more, they stop more, and they feel less rushed. Warm light can also make surfaces look softer and less harsh. Extremely bright lighting can reduce safety in a surprising way. Many people assume brighter equals safer, but very strong light creates glare and harsh shadows, and it can make faces harder to read. In some areas, the problem is not darkness. It is uneven lighting that makes it difficult to see clearly.
Paths tell us how people truly use a space. Planners draw routes on maps, but real life is messy. This is why observing behaviour is so important. Informal desire paths across grass or soil show where people actually walk, even when it is not the official route. If a lot of people cut across a corner, it usually means the planned path is inconvenient, and designers can learn from that instead of blaming users. Over time, these tracks can become permanent, so they offer useful evidence.
Noise also shapes whether people stay. A park beside a busy road may look beautiful, but if traffic dominates the soundscape, people leave quickly. Some cities measure sound levels at different times of day before making changes. Trees and low walls can reduce street noise. They do not remove sound completely, but even a small reduction can make a space feel more relaxing. Another approach is to add sound that people find pleasant, such as moving water.
Cleanliness is often ignored in design talks, but it matters. Maintenance is part of design, not something separate. Litter can reduce local pride. When people see rubbish, they assume the place is not cared for, and they behave less carefully, which can start a cycle of decline. Simple additions, like bins placed where people naturally pass, can improve the situation. Even the design of a bin matters, because if it is hard to use, people avoid it. A clean space also encourages people to stay longer.
Finally, signs and information affect how comfortable people feel. It is not just tourists who need signs. Clear signs improve orientation, especially for visitors and older residents. If people understand where they are and where to go, they feel calmer and more willing to explore. A friendly city is not only about beauty. It is about comfort, clarity, and small opportunities for sociability. Good spaces make it easy to do simple things, like meet a friend or take a short walk.
