NBT VIP Practice Exam — Advanced Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy & Mathematics

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. 'The rapid expansion of cities in sub-Saharan Africa has created a paradox of progress. While urbanisation has historically been linked to economic growth, the informal settlements that ring major African cities tell a different story. These areas, sometimes housing over 60% of a city's population, lack reliable water, sanitation, and electricity. Municipal authorities, constrained by limited budgets and political pressures, often focus development spending on city centres where the middle class and business interests are concentrated, leaving peripheral communities in a cycle of poverty and neglect. Critics argue that this approach is not merely inefficient — it is actively counterproductive, as inadequate infrastructure reduces workforce productivity, increases healthcare costs, and fuels social unrest.' The author's primary purpose in this passage is to:

Questions 2–29 and full explanations are VIP-exclusive.