Objectives for this topic

Comparing rural and urban environments
Using the comparatives tan and tan…como
Answering questions about a reading passage

Introduction

In this module, you will learn how to compare rural and urban environments, and their pros and cons.

Working through your coursebook

Please work through the following sections in your coursebook, completing all listed exercises:

Listen to Audio Track 24 and complete Exercise 1, deciding whether the people are talking about the countryside or the city.

LISTEN - Audio Track 24

Then, listen to Audio Track 25 and complete Exercise 2 by matching up the Spanish with their equivalents in English. Practise saying the Spanish phrases aloud.

LISTEN - Audio Track 25

Read the Gramática box on page 104 and the complete Exercise 3 by matching the sentences with the pictures. Then, translate the sentences into English, paying attention to the use of the comparatives.
Next, complete Exercise 4 on page 105: Listen to Audio Track 26. Do the people speaking have a positive opinion (P), negative opinion (N), or both (P+N) about the countryside)?

LISTEN - Audio Track 26

Read the Estrategia box on page 105 about answering questions on a reading passage.
Page 105 Exercise 5 - Read the information about Rodrigo and Rosalinda, then answer the questions for each of them in full sentences in Spanish. Try and use the tips from the Estrategia box to help you!

Review

Complete Exercise 6 on page 105. You need to write about whether you prefer to live in the countryside or in a town. Make sure you justify your opinion. You can use expressions like: en mi opinión, yo creo que, yo pienso que, prefiero, me gusta más, me parece.

Interactive Kerboodle Activities

Log onto Kerboodle and complete the interactive activities for this module:

COMPLETE - City or countryside?

Support activity for this topic

Watch these videos and listen carefully - do these people live in a city or in a village?

WATCH - ¿Dónde vives? (YouTube)

Log onto Language Nut and choose the Vocab Trainer page.

Complete activities in the following sections:

Where I live Part 1
Where I live Part 2

Extension activity for this topic

Make five comparative sentences about el campo y la ciudad. Include one with tan…como.

Example: Prefiero vivir en el campo porque hay más tranquilidad y menos ruido que en la ciudad.

Cultural Understanding

Don Quixote is said to be one of the most important books of all time and the first modern novel. It was written by Miguel de Cervantes who is a very important figure in Spanish literature. Don Quixote de la Mancha was a knight who loved books and above all the adventures of the great knights in old Spain. Watch the video below which is based on the original book written by Miguel de Cervantes but has been adapted for kids.

Check your answers

If you would like to check your answers to this topic, you can do so by consulting the Claro 1 module answers for Topics 1.5 and 1.8.

CHECK - Topic 1.5

CHECK - Topic 1.8

Grammar Alert

Read the Gramática box on page 104 about using the comparative tan and tan como… (as…as). Can you write 5 sentences of your own using comparatives?

Vocabulary

Go to page 117 in your coursebook and learn section 5.5 ¿En la ciudad o en el campo? (In the city or the countryside?)