We Explored China’s Silicon Valley (C2)

Questions

1. What inspired the team to investigate Shenzhen, China, also known as „China’s Silicon Valley”?
2. What three factors does economist Robert Solow highlight as essential for a country’s growth?
3. What was surprising about the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Shenzhen when the team checked it?
4. What is WeChat, and how is it described in the text?
5. Why are electric vehicles (EVs) so common in Shenzhen, especially among taxis?
6. How has automation transformed factories in Shenzhen, according to the team’s observations?
7. Why is labor in China no longer considered cheap, and what makes the country competitive in manufacturing?
8. What was Shenzhen’s status before 1979, and what changed its trajectory?
9. What is the „sponge city” concept mentioned in the text, and why is it implemented in Shenzhen?
10. What lessons does the author believe India can learn from China’s development, particularly Shenzhen?

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