Academic Reading: 3
Urban Green Spaces
As cities around the world continue to grow larger, many local governments are paying closer attention to urban green spaces, such as parks, gardens, and tree-lined streets. These spaces were once considered a simple decoration for a city, added mainly to make an area look more attractive. Today, however, researchers increasingly view green spaces as an important part of a healthy city, not a luxury to be removed.
One key benefit of urban green spaces is their positive effect on air quality. Trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, while their leaves can also trap small particles of dust and pollution that would otherwise remain in the air people breathe. Green spaces also help to cool cities during hot weather, since trees provide shade and plants release moisture into the air, which lowers local temperatures compared with areas covered mainly in concrete and asphalt.
Beyond these environmental effects, green spaces appear to offer real benefits for mental health. Several studies have found that people who live near parks or who visit green spaces regularly report lower levels of stress and improved mood compared with those who have little access to nature. Some researchers suggest that even brief exposure to natural surroundings, such as a short walk among trees, can measurably reduce feelings of anxiety. Because of these findings, some city planners now say that access to green space deserves the same level of importance as clean water or safe housing, especially in poorer neighbourhoods with fewer parks and trees.
Despite growing awareness of these benefits, creating new green spaces in already crowded cities is not simple. Land in city centres is often extremely expensive, and adding a park usually means giving up space that could otherwise be used for housing, offices, or roads. In response, some cities have tried smaller solutions, such as planting trees along narrow streets, building rooftop gardens, or converting small unused areas into pocket parks. Although these spaces cannot fully replace a large park, planners argue that even small green areas bring similar benefits to nearby residents.
練習問題
According to the passage, how were urban green spaces traditionally viewed?
- As a simple decoration added mainly to make a city look more attractive
- As dangerous places that should be removed
- As a major source of income for local governments
- As essential infrastructure similar to clean water
According to the passage, how do trees and plants help improve air quality in cities?
- They produce special chemicals that neutralize pollution
- They block sunlight from reaching busy roads
- They absorb carbon dioxide and their leaves trap dust and pollution particles
- They directly reduce the number of cars on the road
According to the passage, why do green spaces help cool cities during hot weather?
- Because green spaces are usually far from busy roads
- Because concrete absorbs less heat than plants do
- Because cities plant more grass than trees
- Because trees provide shade and plants release moisture into the air
According to the passage, what have some researchers found about brief exposure to natural surroundings?
- It tends to increase stress in busy cities
- It can measurably reduce feelings of anxiety
- It only benefits people who live directly next to a park
- It has no measurable effect on stress levels
According to the passage, what challenge do cities face when trying to create new green spaces?
- Green spaces require far too much water to maintain
- Trees are generally too expensive to purchase
- Land in city centres is expensive and often needed for housing, offices, or roads
- Most residents strongly oppose the idea of new parks
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