Some people think that it is best to live in a horizontal city – while others think of a vertical city.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Individuals argue that low-rise cities offer a better lifestyle, while others contend that high-rise urban areas are more practical. In my opinion, although horizontal urban planning can lead to improved living standards, all governments should develop horizontal cities to maximize living space.
On the one hand, a horizontally planned city can greatly enhance residents’ overall quality of life. When residential blocks, schools, and hospitals are more evenly distributed across the city, air quality tends to improve and roads become less congested, allowing for smoother transportation and easier access to communal parks. For instance, in Canberra, Australia, housing areas are widely spread out, enabling individuals to travel freely even during peak hours without facing severe traffic jams. Furthermore, an evenly developed city landscape fosters stronger social bonds among residents, as people are more likely to walk, cycle, and interact with their neighbors on a daily basis. This sense of community, which is evident in cities like Stockholm, Sweden, contributes to a healthier and more fulfilling urban lifestyle.
On the other hand, living in vertically developed cities can be a more practical solution, particularly in areas with limited land resources. Concentrating the population within high-rise buildings allows governments to utilize land more efficiently, leaving more space available for businesses to operate. For example, in land-scarce cities such as Singapore, the construction of numerous skyscrapers has made it possible to accommodate a large population while still supporting rapid economic growth. Moreover, minimizing horizontal land expansion helps prevent large-scale environmental degradation, as fewer natural habitats need to be cleared for development. In contrast, in places like Los Angeles, the spread of housing developments into natural areas such as oak woodlands has led to habitat fragmentation and a decline in local wildlife species.
In conclusion, although horizontally developed cities can contribute to citizens living more comfortably, all cities should be vertically developed to reduce damage to the environment and optimize living space.
argue : cho rằng, lập luận rằng
low-rise : thấp tầng
lifestyle : lối sống
contend : tranh luận, cho rằng
high-rise : cao tầng
practical : thực tế, thiết thực
horizontal urban planning : quy hoạch đô thị theo chiều ngang
lead to : dẫn đến
improved living standards : tiêu chuẩn sống được nâng cao
develop : phát triển
maximize : tối đa hóa
living space : không gian sống
enhance : cải thiện, nâng cao
residents : cư dân
overall quality of life : chất lượng cuộc sống tổng thể
residential block : khu dân cư
distributed : phân bố
air quality : chất lượng không khí
congested : tắc nghẽn
transportation : giao thông
access : tiếp cận
communal : chung, công cộng
spread out : trải rộng
enable : cho phép
peak hours : giờ cao điểm
traffic jam : kẹt xe, ùn tắc giao thông
foster : thúc đẩy, nuôi dưỡng
social bond : mối liên kết xã hội
interact : tương tác
sense of community : tinh thần cộng đồng
evident : rõ ràng
fulfilling : viên mãn, trọn vẹn
vertically developed : phát triển theo chiều dọc
practical solution : giải pháp thiết thực
land resources : tài nguyên đất
concentrate : tập trung
utilize : sử dụng, tận dụng
efficiently : hiệu quả
available : có sẵn
accommodate : chứa, đáp ứng
economic growth : tăng trưởng kinh tế
minimize : giảm thiểu
expansion : mở rộng
prevent : ngăn chặn
large-scale : quy mô lớn
environmental degradation : suy thoái môi trường
habitat : môi trường sống
fragmentation : chia cắt, phân mảnh
decline : suy giảm
species : loài
contribute to : đóng góp vào
comfortably : thoải mái
reduce : giảm thiểu
optimize : tối ưu hóa