[D] Parks Instead of Cars for the World's Cities

LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐

urban

[ ˈur-buhn ]

adjective

- of or in a city or town

Over 82% of Texans live in urban areas.

commuter

[ kuh-ˈmyoo-ter ]

noun

- someone who regularly travels between work and home

The train was packed with commuters.

livable

[ ˈliv-uh-buhl ]

adjective

- (of a building or place) suitable or good for living in

It was rated the most livable city in the United States.

measure

[ ˈmezh-er ]

noun

- a way of achieving something, or a method for dealing with a situation

These measures were designed to improve car safety.

afford

[ uh-ˈfawrd ]

verb

- to have enough money or time to buy, keep, or do something

I don’t know how he can afford a new car.

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the passage aloud. Then, read it silently.

TRE_Parks Instead of Cars for the World-s Cities

COMPREHENSION CHECK 🧠 A. Direction: Choose the correct answer to the following questions.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

What is a major issue facing big cities around the world?
a. Lack of job opportunities
b. Traffic and pollution
c. Lack of parks
d. Shortage of shopping malls
What measures did the mayor of Bogota take to improve the city?
a. Reduced the number of public parks
b. Increased taxes on cars
c. Built cycling paths and pedestrian zones
d. Removed public transport
Which city has a high percentage of people commuting by bicycle?
a. Atlanta
b. Paris
c. Amsterdam
d. Shanghai
What percentage of workers in Atlanta use a car to commute?
a. 40%
b. 95%
c. 50%
d. 25%
What trend has been observed in the United States regarding public transport since the mid-1990s?
a. Public transport usage has increased by 2%
b. Public transport usage has decreased by 5%
c. More people are driving to work
d. Public transport has become free

B. Direction: Answer the following questions based on the article.

What is happening to air quality in megacities like Mexico City, Shanghai, and Cairo?
How did the citizens of Bogota contribute to improving their city?
What is one of the consequences of traffic jams in cities?
What percentage of Amsterdam’s population uses bikes to commute to work?
Why are traffic problems just beginning in Third World cities?

C. Direction: Match the words in column A with their synonyms in column B.