Gated Communities

Around the world, there are areas in cities in which some residences are s_______ by walls accessed solely by gates in various locations. Only the residents and their invited guests are permitted entry into these gated communities, as they are called. The gates themselves are m______ by security personnel, who also p______ the community. Most gated communities, which offer protection from crime, are e_____ for the wealthy or retirement villages for the elderly. Within them, there are normally a_________ such as health clubs, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, beaches, playgrounds, and even restaurants and stores. While gated communities have a great amount of appeal to many people, they have a few drawbacks as well. (→ A l______ number of people are permitted to gain access to them.)

The greatest advantage gated communities offer is that they increase the safety of the people living in them in numerous ways. With no through traffic, there are fewer traffic accidents, which provides parents with children more peace of mind when their young ones are playing outside or returning home from school.( Children have many places where they can spend time playing with their friends. T /F ) Gated communities further provide more protection from criminals. Thanks to their gates, walls, cameras, and security personnel, most criminals are deterred from entering gated communities, so their crime rates are lower than those in neighboring districts. The people who live in gated communities tend to be close to one another, too. One reason is that the communities s_______ frequent social events, so there are chances for families to meet one another and to become friends who look out for the welfare of their neighbors.

This? can create bad feelings at times when requests made by homeowners are rejected by the group for whatever reasons.

On the other hand, the homes in gated communities are typically much more expensive than others, so houses are often out of the price ranges of all but the wealthiest members of society. Furthermore, the cost of maintaining the gates, walls, and security is borne by the people living in the communities. ❶There is also the bothersome task of having to use an access card or key code to open and close the gates to enter and depart the community. ❷Finally, most gated communities have strict rules on what people can and cannot do with their property. ❸Any renovations and landscaping changes must usually be approved by a committee of community representatives.❹

Gated communities are occasionally criticized for the fact that / which  they may appear safer than they actually are / do. While they offer the perception of safety, some do not have lower crime rates than non gated communities. A study carried out in the American state of Florida in 2005 showed that even though / if there were fewer traffic violations and accidents in gated communities, there were similar / different rates of car theft and burglary in gated and non-gated communities. The main problem concerned the proper usage and maintenance of the gates and security systems. Damaged and nonfunctioning gates, broken security cameras, a lack of proper patrolling, and low walls all permitted criminals easily to enter gated communities. Additionally, gates that require access codes are no barrier to keeping nonresidents out since many of them know the codes. For example, family members of the residents almost always know the codes as do individuals working for the residents. Among these people are maids, babysitters, and gardeners. Lastly, delivery personnel from the post office, restaurants, and other places almost always know the proper codes to gain access. With so many people cognizant of the entry codes, it is no surprise that they often end up in the hands of criminals. (→There were fewer car thefts in gated communities than in other places. T/F)

Despite these d________, the number of gated communities is / are growing around the world. In the United States, nearly eleven million households were located inside gated communities in 2009. In other nations, there are wide g____ between the rich and the poor, and crime is rampant, so gated communities are frequently the only bastions of safety for worried citizens. In Brazil, gated communities are popular on the peripheries of the crime- urban areas of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. (→Gated communities appear to provide safe h______ from nearby areas with many criminals.) Mexico and South Africa, which both have high crime rates, are seeing many members of their middle and upper classes hiding them / themselves behind the walls of gated communities. While these places do not always provide the protection that people seek, they at least / most comfort people by providing them with the perception that they are safe.

While most gated communities claim to have lower crime rates, a study has shown that is ____ always true of them.

Because living in gated communities is an expensive venture, only people with access to a lot of ______ can move into them.

People in countries around the world are moving into gated communities in order to e_______ from nearby areas with high crime rates.

are d____________ to go into them

= almost

nothing but = only

anything but = never

regarded as an a______________ by some of the people who live in them

even though는 실제로 일어난 일을 역접

even if 일어날지도 모르는 일

Even though they were working full time, they always remain there with a smile.

Even if you feel useless at first, reminding yourself what you can do and how important you are will start to increase your self-esteem.

= w________

= borders