Level 3 · Reading series
Lesson 49 · The Vote That Changed the Park
Audio track 49
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The town asked residents to choose between a new basketball court and a quiet garden for the park. At first, I wanted the court. Then we went to a meeting and listened to people who used the park every day.
A younger child wanted a safe place to play. An older resident asked for more seats. A wheelchair user explained that the path to the open space was too narrow. None of these needs fit neatly into the two choices.
The town changed the plan and asked for a second vote on a smaller court, a wider path, and benches. I still voted for the court, but I understood more of what my vote included. The first question had been too small for the real park.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
镇上请居民投票，选择把公园改成新的篮球场，还是安静的花园。起初，我想要篮球场。后来我们参加了一场会议，听经常使用公园的人说话。
一名年幼的孩子想有个安全的游戏场所。一位老年居民希望多些座位。一位坐轮椅的居民指出，通向空地的小路太窄。这些需要，都没法整齐地塞进原来的两个选项。
镇上修改方案，发起第二次投票：方案包括小一点的球场、更宽的小路和长椅。我仍投票支持球场，却更明白自己的一票还关系到什么。最初的问题，容不下真实公园里的全部需要。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- resident
- 居民；镇上请他们参与选择。
- choose between
- 在两者间选择；最初只有球场或花园。
- court
- 球场；主人公想要的设施。
- meeting
- 会议；让不同使用者说出需求。
- safe place
- 安全的地方；孩子想在那里玩。
- wheelchair user
- 轮椅使用者；指出小路太窄。
- fit into
- 归入、塞进；需求难以归入原选项。
- second vote
- 第二次投票；对修改后的方案表态。
- include
- 包括；新方案涉及小球场、小路和长椅。
- real
- 真实的；公园的需求比二选一复杂。
Background notes (Chinese)
公共空间往往由不同的人共同使用。听取孩子、老年居民和轮椅使用者的意见后，镇上把过于简单的二选一问题改为包含多种需求的新方案。