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Listen to an Academic Talk Test #073
Listen to an Academic Talk
1. What is the main topic of the talk?
A) The history of urban planning
B) A theory about social environments
C) The effects of the internet on society
D) How to design effective workplaces
2. According to the talk, which of the following is an example of a "second place"?
A) A public library
B) The home
C) An online forum
D) The workplace
3. What might be a consequence of the decline of third places?
A) People will spend more time at work
B) The economy of a community will improve
C) People may feel more disconnected from one another
D) The quality of housing will decrease
4. What is the professor's purpose in mentioning online communities?
A) To suggest a solution to social isolation
B) To present a modern aspect of the topic
C) To criticize how young people interact
D) To provide another example of a third place
Professor: In sociology, we often talk about the environments that shape our social lives. The sociologist Ray Oldenburg introduced a useful concept called "third places." He defined our "first place" as the home and our "second place" as the workplace.
So what's the third place? These are public spaces that host the regular, voluntary, informal gatherings of individuals. Think of places like cafes, parks, public libraries, or barbershops. They are the anchors of community life and facilitate creative interaction.
In his 1989 book, Oldenburg argued that third places are essential for civil society and democracy.
However, one of the major concerns in modern urban planning is the decline of these physical third places. Some argue this decline contributes to social isolation. While online communities have emerged, there's an ongoing debate about whether they can truly fulfill the same vital social functions as a neighborhood coffee shop.
So what's the third place? These are public spaces that host the regular, voluntary, informal gatherings of individuals. Think of places like cafes, parks, public libraries, or barbershops. They are the anchors of community life and facilitate creative interaction.
In his 1989 book, Oldenburg argued that third places are essential for civil society and democracy.
However, one of the major concerns in modern urban planning is the decline of these physical third places. Some argue this decline contributes to social isolation. While online communities have emerged, there's an ongoing debate about whether they can truly fulfill the same vital social functions as a neighborhood coffee shop.
Highlights
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