тексти для читання " Amsterdam-Canals, bicycles and historic charm" та Singapore — a Modern Garden City

Text 1. Singapore — a Modern Garden City

Singapore is a remarkable city-state in Southeast Asia with about 6.16 million residents in 2025. Despite its small size, Singapore plays a major role in global trade: it is the biggest port in Southeast Asia and one of the busiest ports in the world, thanks to its location at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.

One of the most striking features of Singapore is its green vision. The city aims to be a “garden city,” and nowhere is this ambition clearer than in the famous Gardens by the Bay — a futuristic park covering 101 hectares. The Gardens feature 18 impressive “Supertrees”: tall, steel-and-concrete structures ranging from 25 to 50 metres in height. These are not ordinary monuments — they are vertical gardens, covered with more than 162,900 plants from over 200 species, including ferns, orchids, bromeliads and tropical climbers.

But Supertrees aren’t only decorative. Some of them have photovoltaic panels to collect solar energy; others collect rainwater for irrigation or serve as air-exhaust towers for the park’s large cooled conservatories. In the evening the Supertrees light up and offer a dramatic “Garden Rhapsody” — a light and music show that attracts many visitors. An aerial walkway (the OCBC Skyway) lets people walk among tree-tops at 22 metres height and enjoy panoramic views of the city skyline and the Bay.

Singapore is also a vibrant multicultural society. There are four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil. Many people speak more than one language, and thanks to this diversity, the city’s street food and restaurant culture is rich — you can try Chinese, Malay, Indian dishes and much more. Because English is widely used in schools and official institutions, visiting Singapore is easier for international travellers or foreign residents.

In addition to nature and multicultural life, Singapore is known for strong economy, modern transport and high living standards. As a city-state with 100% urban population, it offers well-developed urban infrastructure. For many people Singapore feels like a city of the future — where concrete towers, lush gardens, technology and global culture live together in harmony.

If you visit, don’t miss the Gardens by the Bay — both for its plants and for the idea that a city can truly be green.

Вправи до тексту про Singapore

1. Vocabulary Match (поєднай слово з його значенням)

Match the words with their definitions:

1. Urban                   a) a payment you must make as a punishment
2. Multicultural       b) very modern, related to the future
3. Futuristic             c) tall, going from bottom to top
4. Irrigation             d) variety of cultures, languages and traditions
5. Conservatories     e) connected with a city
6. Vertical                 f) the process of supplying plants with water
7. Diversity               g) glass buildings for growing plants
8. Fine                       h) including people from different cultures

2. True / False

Read the statements and decide if they are True (T) or False (F):

1. Singapore is one of the most polluted cities in Asia.
2. “Supertrees” are used only for decoration.
3. Some Supertrees can collect solar energy.
4. English is one of Singapore’s official languages.
5. Singapore has a weak transport system.
6. Gardens by the Bay includes an aerial walkway.

3. Answer the Questions (повні відповіді)

1. Why is Singapore sometimes called a “Garden City”?
2. What makes the Supertrees special?
3. What cultures influence Singapore’s food?
4. Why is it easy for international visitors to communicate in Singapore?
5. What makes Singapore feel like a “city of the future”?

4. Fill in the Gaps (встав слова за змістом)

Use the words: modern, energy, languages, clean, structures, culture

Singapore is famous for being a very ______ city. The Supertrees are tall ______ that can collect solar ______. The city has four official ______. Thanks to its multicultural ______, visitors can try many kinds of food. Singapore is known for strict rules that help keep the city ______.

5. Speaking Task

Discuss in pairs:

Would you like to visit Singapore? Which place would you choose first and why?

Text 2. Amsterdam — Canals, Bicycles and Historic Charm

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, known for its historic canals, hundreds of bridges, a lively cultural life, and thousands of bicycles.

The heart of the city is the famous water system — the canal network. Amsterdam has about 165 canals, combined into a system of roughly 75 km of waterways. These canals divide the city into around 90 islands and are crossed by over 1,200–1,500 bridges. The three main canals — Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht — were dug during the 17th century, when Amsterdam was at the centre of global trade. That period is known as the Dutch Golden Age.

Because of its canals and bridges, Amsterdam is often called the “Venice of the North.” The canal belt — the concentric ring of canals around the city centre — is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

One of the first things many visitors notice in Amsterdam is the enormous number of bicycles. There are more bikes than residents in the city — cycling is the main way people move around. This makes Amsterdam a friendly, eco-conscious city: bike lanes are everywhere, and riding a bicycle is often faster and more convenient than driving a car or taking public transport.

Amsterdam is also a city of art and history. It is home to world-renowned museums, including the Rijksmuseum, which holds masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age. Classic, narrow canal houses with tall, thin facades, leaning slightly forward, line many canals — they reflect centuries-old architecture and remind visitors about life in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Another interesting fact: many buildings in Amsterdam are built on wooden poles that penetrate deep into marshy, soft soil — without them, houses would sink.

The canals are still an important part of city life: they connect neighbourhoods, influence tourism, and shape the character of Amsterdam. Boat trips, houseboats, waterside cafés, historic bridges and reflections of old buildings in the water create a unique atmosphere. The city is also multicultural — visitors can find many international restaurants, markets, and dynamic cultural events.

Despite being one of the oldest cities in Europe and having deep historical roots, Amsterdam successfully blends old charm and modern lifestyle. History, water, bikes, art and open-minded culture make it one of the most fascinating and charming cities in Europe — a place where past and present live side by side.