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Listen to an Academic Talk Test #062
Listen to an Academic Talk
1. What is the main subject of the lecture?
A) The history of urban planning
B) A concept related to social environments
C) How to overcome social isolation
D) The changing nature of the workplace
2. According to the lecturer, what is a primary function of third places?
A) To provide a place for formal meetings
B) To encourage economic activity
C) To build a sense of community
D) To offer privacy and solitude
3. What does the lecturer imply about modern society?
A) People have more leisure time than in the past
B) Community bonds may be getting weaker
C) Public libraries are becoming more popular
D) Work has become less stressful for many people
4. Why does the lecturer mention cafés and public libraries?
A) To illustrate the concept of third places
B) To contrast them with home and work
C) To argue that they should be government-funded
D) To describe places studied by Ray Oldenburg
Lecturer: In sociology, we talk about "third places." This term refers to social environments separate from our two usual ones: the home—our first place—and the workplace—our second place. The concept was popularized by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book. Think of places like cafés, public libraries, parks, or community centers. These are the anchors of community life. They are where we relax, interact with familiar faces, and have spontaneous conversations. Unlike home or work, third places are low-pressure environments where our social role is less defined. The key is that they foster a sense of community and belonging. Unfortunately, many sociologists argue that the number of true third places has been declining in modern society, which may contribute to a sense of social isolation for many people.
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