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. Question 7: A. number B. range C. level D. deal Question 8: A. Unlike B. During C. Beyond D. Amid Question 9: A. each other B. another one C. both others D. all the others Question 10: A. privacy B. cohesion C. separation D. boundary Question 11: A. scroll through B. look through C. come across D. flick through Question 12: A. personal B. domestic C. private D. societal | 