Read the following leaflet and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 7 to 12.
BRIEFING NOTE: THE RISE OF URBAN LONELINESS
Current picture: In many large cities, more people are living alone, yet a rising (7)__________ of social concern suggests that daily contact is becoming weaker rather than richer.
Why it is growing
(8)__________ busy routines, long commutes, and frequent relocation, many residents have fewer chances to build lasting ties. As a result, casual exchanges are often replaced by brief digital contact.
Common signs
• Some of these residents still maintain a few close friendships, while (9)__________ rely mainly on screens for interaction.
• This pattern may weaken community (10)__________, especially in neighbourhoods where residents rarely know one another.
• Instead of meeting in person, many simply (11)__________ updates on their phones without starting real conversations.
A wider view: Urban loneliness is increasingly seen not as a private matter but as a (12)__________ challenge.
