Ciudades que respiran
“No es necesario que una ciudad elija entre crecimiento económico y calidad de vida.
- ~194 words
- ·
- 1.6 min read
- ·
- 10 sentences
- ·
- Tap any word
Ciudades que respiran
Reviewed by Francisco · Updated
- Topic
- Sustainable cities
- Learning goal
- Argue how urban design can improve health and public life
- Grammar focus
- subjunctive in hypothetical clauses · relative clauses · se trata de
- Length
- 194 words
- Reading time
- 1.6 min
Tap a word for meaning · tap a line for grammar
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English translation▾
A city does not have to choose between economic growth and quality of life.
In Barcelona, so-called “superblocks” have returned entire streets to pedestrians: where traffic jams once ruled, there are now benches, trees, and children playing football.
In Medellín, green corridors reduced the urban temperature by several degrees and connected neighborhoods that had lived in isolation for decades.
These experiences show that sustainable urbanism is not a utopia but a political decision that demands willpower and citizen participation.
The city council members driving these projects know that green infrastructure goes beyond planting trees on sidewalks.
It is about rethinking how we move, how we consume space, and how we coexist.
Community gardens, protected bike lanes, and car-free plazas foster a social harmony that the automobile had destroyed.
If cities truly wanted to improve the health of their residents, it would be enough to return the streets to those who walk them.
The greatest obstacle is not money or technology, but convincing a car-dependent generation that there is another way to live in the city.
That way is more humane, slower and, paradoxically, more efficient.
Key vocabulary
Comprehension check
Use the language
Writing prompt
Propose three changes that would make a city healthier and explain who would benefit.
Speaking prompt
Summarize the examples from Barcelona and Medellín, then explain the author’s main argument.
Answer key and explanations
They returned entire streets to pedestrians
The text says the superblocks returned streets to pedestrians, with benches, trees, and children playing football.
Reduced urban temperature
The green corridors reduced urban temperature.
It means 'It is about' or 'refers to'
'Se trata de' means 'It is about' or 'refers to'.