Several cities bought electric buses, but depots lacked chargers. Transport managers said they would be installed before the new fleet arrived. In sentence 2, 'they' refers to:

Urban colleges opened evening courses for workers. Many applicants said they fitted better around shifts than daytime lectures. In sentence 2, 'they' refers to:

A survey compared printed textbooks with tablets in lectures. It found they caused fewer distractions than the tablets did during note-taking. In sentence 2, 'they' refers to:

New filters were fitted to factory chimneys last year. Inspectors reported that they cut visible smoke by half. In sentence 2, 'they' refers to:

Local firms tested a four-day week with staff in design teams. Managers noted that they completed projects on schedule. In sentence 2, 'they' refers to:

Two wetlands border the airport road, and new houses overlook the northern one. Planners fear they may be flooded in winter. In sentence 2, 'they' refers to:

Digital badges were offered beside certificates in a training scheme. Employers said they were easier to verify online. In sentence 2, 'they' refers to:

Bus use fell after fares rose, while bicycle trips increased on protected lanes. Officials said this shift changed morning traffic. 'This shift' refers to:

More employees work from home on Mondays, and city cafés report fewer early customers. Analysts say this pattern may alter peak demand. 'This pattern' refers to:

Rainfall has become less predictable, and farmers are planting later than before. Researchers call this change a risk to yields. 'This change' refers to:

Online lectures expanded rapidly, while attendance at campus seminars declined. The report argues that this development affects student support. 'This development' refers to:

Older workers delayed retirement, and fewer entry-level posts opened for graduates. Economists regard this trend as temporary. 'This trend' refers to:

Two policies were tested: rent controls and transport subsidies. The former reduced moving costs for tenants, while the latter helped commuters. 'The former' refers to:

A pilot compared peer tutoring with recorded feedback. The latter was cheaper to deliver, but the former led to stronger revision. 'The latter' refers to:

The council considered a river barrier and raised pavements. The former would protect shops, whereas the latter would keep footpaths usable. 'The latter' refers to:

Two training models were offered: short workshops and year-long mentoring. The former attracted many applicants; the latter improved retention. 'The former' refers to:

A recycling scheme collects phones from offices. It sends them to a depot for checking. Most of these are resold after minor repairs. 'These' refers to:

A research team interviews hospital cleaners. It records their comments after each shift. These are later coded for common themes. 'These' refers to:

A charity lends bicycles to refugees. It repairs them in a central workshop. Some of these need new brakes before use. 'These' refers to:

A publisher sells online practice tests. It updates them after syllabus changes. Several of these include new listening tasks. 'These' refers to:

A city plants street trees along main roads. It waters them during dry months. Many of these survive only if pavements are widened. 'These' refers to:

Some argue that exams should be replaced because coursework shows steady effort. Critics say this claim overlooks plagiarism risks. 'This claim' is the idea:

Supporters say higher fuel taxes will cut car use in suburbs. Opponents argue that this assumption ignores areas without trains. 'This assumption' is the idea:

The report states that smaller classes improve feedback because teachers know pupils better. Researchers warn that this conclusion needs longer evidence. 'This conclusion' is the idea:

Engineers suggest that white roofs reduce cooling costs in dense districts. Planners note that this proposal requires owners' consent. 'This proposal' is the idea: