UNIT 3: A TRIP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE

Topic: Cities and the country, Hometown

PART 1: Personal Questions
1.

Q: What is it like where you live?

A: I live in a residential area of a busy town in the south of Spain we have all the
facilities you need good public transport a good shopping centre its nice

2.

Q: Do you like living in the city?

A: Yes I do I like going out with my friends and there are lots of lively bars and
restaurants within walking distance of my apartment Im a bit of a culture vulture as
well so its great to have access to art exhibitions and that kind of thing

3.

Q: Do you get many tourists visiting your area?

A: Not really no I live in the inner-city and the area is a little run down its
basically a lot of high-rise flats and many of the shops are boarded up so nothing
to interest tourists really

4.

Q: What is the most important problem in your hometown/city?

A: Air pollution. You know, most large cities have high levels of pollution, and my city is
no exception. Unfortunately, it has been getting worse over the last decade.
or
A: Traffic is the most critical problem in my hometown. The volume of traffic has
increased in recent years and the incessant roar of vehicles makes the city centre an
extremely noisy place. My city suffers from serious air pollution too.
or
A: Heavy traffic jams. Since my hometown is very spread-out. It can sometimes take
hours to go from one part of the city to another, especially in rush hours, traffic is
chaotic, the roads usually become congested and people get held up in traffic jams.

5. Q: What do you like most about your city/town/village?

A: Its sense of space. My hometown is located in a delightful area, and is so spacious,
everywhere is green. There is a great deal of natural beauty and a huge variety of plants
and animals.
or
A: What I like most about my hometown is its people. You know, theres a strong sense
of community in our area. Everyone knows everyone else and that makes you feel very
safe and comfortable.
or
There are so many things that I can mention, but the most important of all is its cultural
sites. There are tons of cultural places and museums in the city where I live
inumlots of things for people to do and be interested in. Its a lovely place, big
enough to have everything and small enough to visit the whole city.

6. Q: What are the people like in your hometown?

A: The people of my hometown have a reputation for being warm-hearted and helpful.
or
A: Its really difficult to generalize. Broadly speaking, they are warm and friendly.
or
A: Well, the people of my hometown are often perceived as being very hospitable and
welcoming.
7. Q: Is there anything special that you dont like about your hometown/city?
A: Yes, there is its air pollution. It has caused many health problems in recent years.
Id feel like a fish out of water. To put it in a nutshell, Im not really a city person.
8. Q: Can you tell me a little about the transport in your hometown?
A: There are all means of public transport in my hometown, but people usually choose
to travel by motorbikes. Its not only convenient but also easy to move around in
crowded roads.
9. What is your hometown well-known for?
10. What would be the best way for a visitor to get to know your city?
11. What recreational facilities are available in your hometown?
12. How easy is it to travel around in your city?
PART 2: Long-turn speaking
#1
Describe an interesting town or city in your country that visitors might enjoy.
You should say:

what the place is called

where the place is

what the facilities are like

and say why visitors might enjoy going there.

Sample answer:
Anyone who comes to my country really should spend some time in Barcelona its a
beautiful place its not what you would call a sprawling city its quite compact really
and you could walk across the city in a couple of hours but theres no need to do that as
we have a fantastic public transport system so its easy to get around there are
various districts all with their own character you have the upmarket shops in the centre
youll find lots of chain stores youll recognise from your own country but also local
brands as well we have the narrow streets in the Gothic district with lots of fashionable
boutiques and tourist attractions theres the Olympic area and the beaches along the
coast and dotted around the city are some lovely public spaces parks and squares in
the city centre and on the outskirts of Barcelona where people relax with their friends and
family and of course pavement cafes everywhere all that and some great
historical places of interest so a great destination for tourists
#2

Talk about the best city/country that you have been to.
You should say:

where it was
how long you were there
what you like or dislike about it
and say if you would like to travel there again.

#3
Describe a day you spent in the country.
You should say:

where and when you went

who you went with
what you did
and say what makes it worth remembering.

#4
Describe a serious problem in your hometown/city.
You should say:

what it is
what has caused this problem
what can be done about it
and explain why you think it is serious.

PART 3: DISCUSSION
1.

Q: What are the advantages of living in a city or big town?

A: I think its having access to local facilities really local shops as well as access to
larger shopping malls in the city centre and if youre well-off you can afford to live in
the suburbs away from the busy traffic

2.

Q: In your experience are city centres usually attractive places?

A: Some can be yes especially those with a historical interest but sometimes
theyre full of ugly office blocks multi-story car parks and residents living
in poor housing it depends on the city doesnt it?

3.

Q: What are some of the challenges facing towns and cities?

A: I suppose traffic congestion is a major problem and the growth in out-of-town
supermarkets and retail parks mean lots of town centre shops are closing down
plus a shortage of good quality housing I think these are the major challenges

4.
5.
6.

How do you imagine city life in the future?

How would you describe an ideal city?
Would you agree that it is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big
city?
In what way do you think the relationships between people in urban areas differ from the
relationships between people in large cities?

7.

USEFUL LANGUAGE

boarded up shops: shops that are no longer doing business

chain stores: well-known brands with shops in multiple cities

to close down: to stop doing business

fashionable boutiques: fashionable clothes shops

to get around: to travel around

high-rise flats: multi-story apartments

inner-city: the central part of a city where people live and where condidions are
often poor

in the suburbs: the outer area of large towns and cities where people live

lively bars/restaurants: bars or restaurants with a good atmosphere

local facilities: local buildings or services serving the public

multi-story car parks: car parks on several floors

office block: a large building that contains offices

out of town shopping centre/retail park: large shopping centres outside of the
town or city

pavement cafe: cafes with tables outside on the pavement

places of interest: buildings that have a particular interest for visitors

poor housing: housing that is not in good condition

public spaces: areas in a town or city that are open to the public

public transport system: public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at
regular times on fixed routes

residential area: an area where people live

run down: old and of a poor standard

shopping centre: an area consisting of multiple shops

shopping malls: large indoor shopping centres

sprawling city: a city that has grown over time and which covers a wide area

tourist attraction: a place of interest to tourists

traffic congestion: heavy traffic making it difficult to move around a town or city

upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops

Advantages and Disadvantages of living in the city and in the country:

Life in the city

become familiar with different
cultures, customs and traditions
recreational facilities
cultural places
shopping opportunities
higher standards of living
better health care systems
more educational facilities
more job opportunities
more attractive and vibrant
overcrowding
heavily polluted
increased traffic jams
higher rates of crime
fast-paced
hectic
stressful
there is much hurry and flurry
not much community spirit

Life in the country

peaceful
quiet
get away from the hustle and bustle
of city life
natural areas
the
greenness
of
nature
is
spectacular
provides many outdoor leisure
activities
low cost of living
a stronger sense of unity
shortage or lack of educational
facilities, medical facilities, recreational
and cultural facilities
there isnt much privacy
low level of income
too slow-paced and uneventful