Two cities, two ways of life

"Dos ciudades, dos formas de vida"
Spanish C1 writing exercise

Compare Barcelona and Buenos Aires through the eyes of someone who has experienced life in both cities.

Pay attention to the hints!

Some vocabulary you may want to look up before or during this exercise: "public space", "crowds", "identity", "monument", "to appreciate", "to be forced to", "after all" and "Mediterranean".

I’ll give you some sentences to translate into Spanish

  • I’ll show you where you make mistakes
  • I’ll keep track of what you need to practise
  • Change my choices if you want
Start the exercise
How the test works

Here's a preview of the text for the writing challenge, when you're ready click the start button above:

Having lived in both Barcelona and Buenos Aires, I am often asked which city I prefer. The truth is that choosing between them is far from easy. While Barcelona looks towards the Mediterranean, Buenos Aires has developed its identity beside the Río de la Plata. What struck me most was how differently they use public space. However busy Barcelona may be, there are still places where you can escape the crowds. Buenos Aires, meanwhile, seems to invite you to stay outside longer. It is not unusual for conversations to continue late into the night. Neither city can be understood through its monuments alone. To truly appreciate them, you have to observe how people live. Were I forced to choose just one, I would probably change my mind several times. After all, what makes a great city is not only what it offers, but also the way it makes you feel.

Thinking...