Urbanization has transformed societies worldwide since the Industrial Revolution began. Cities expanded as factories required laborers, and rural workers sought better wages and opportunities. Early urban centers grew around ports, railways, and industrial zones. (12) ____.
Local governments built infrastructure like sewage systems, electricity grids, and public schools to support rising populations. (13) ____, inadequate planning left many neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding, disease, and overcrowding. Across Latin America and Southeast Asia, informal settlements appeared on hillsides and riverbanks. (14) ____.
Urban planners struggled to provide clean water, sanitation, and affordable housing fast enough. Existing infrastructure could not keep pace with demand, (15) ____. Despite these challenges, cities remained magnets for migration because they offered education, healthcare, and jobs. Gradually, investments in metro systems, social housing, and parks improved living conditions, (16) ____.