Vocabulary
Trend/ トレンド(名詞) – A general direction in which something is developing
Healthy eating has become a major trend among young people.
健康的な食生活は若い人たちの間で大きなトレンドになっています。
Reduce / 減らす(動詞) – To make something smaller or less
I started exercising to reduce my stress levels.
ストレスを減らすために運動を始めました。
Accomplishment / 達成(名詞) – Something that has been achieved successfully
Finishing my first garden project felt like a big accomplishment.
初めての庭づくりプロジェクトを完成させることは大きな達成感がありました。
Crowded / 混雑した・いっぱいの(形容詞) – full of people or things
The train was so crowded that I could hardly move.
電車はとても混雑していて、ほとんど動けませんでした。
Obstacles / 障害・妨げ(名詞) – things that block your way or make progress difficult.
Starting a business comes with many obstacles, but it can be worth it
起業には多くの障害がありますが、それだけの価値はあります。
Article
The Rise of Urban Gardening
In many big cities around the world, more people are turning small spaces into green gardens. This trend, known as urban gardening, has become popular as people look for ways to relax, reduce stress, and grow their own food. Even those who live in apartments can grow plants on balconies, rooftops, or window ledges.
Urban gardening offers several benefits. First, it provides fresher and healthier food options. Many people enjoy growing vegetables like tomatoes, herbs, and lettuce. Second, it helps improve air quality by adding more plants to crowded city environments. Finally, gardening gives people a sense of accomplishment. Watching a plant grow from a small seed into something you can eat can be rewarding.
However, urban gardening also comes with challenges. Limited space, lack of sunlight, and the cost of materials can make it difficult to start. Still, with creativity like using recycled containers or vertical shelves many city residents find ways to overcome these obstacles.
As cities continue to grow, urban gardening is likely to become even more common. It gives city dwellers a simple way to reconnect with nature, even in the middle of tall buildings and busy streets.
Source: Mainichi
Comprehension Questions
Answer the questions following the article in English.
- What is urban gardening?
- Why has urban gardening become popular?
- Name two benefits of urban gardening mentioned in the article.
- What challenges do people face when starting an urban garden?
- How do some city residents overcome limited space?
Summary
In your own words, attempt to summarise the article in 4 sentences or less.
Discussion
Discuss these topics with your tutor, and support your answers with examples or experience.
- Would you like to try urban gardening? Why or why not?
- What plants or herbs would you grow if you had a small garden?
- Do you think cities should create more green spaces?
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