Collin Speaking Unit 9: Describing Places

1. Exercise 2 Would you rather live in a city or in the country? Decide if sentences 1-6 refer to the city or the country.

2. 1 Urban regeneration involves bringing derelict buildings back into use. City

3. 2 It's very remote. ​ (a)  

4. 3 I live right in the centre, within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants and bars. ​ (b)  

5. 4 I like living here because I love all the hustle and bustle. ​ (c)  

6. 5 Where my auntie lives is idyllic and the pace of life is very slow. ​ (d)  

7. 6 You don't see many detached houses here. It's all high-rise flats. (e)  

• country
• city
• City

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.

My village is: in the [1) ​ (a)   of nowhere

a real [2) ​ (b)   within [3) ​ (c)  

not [4)​ (d)   from a big town/city.

It is idyllic and the countryside is really [5) ​ (e)  

• middle
• backwater
• easy reach
• far
• picturesque

Exercise 2.2 Complete the sentences with the words in the box.

My city/town is: very [6) ​ (a)   . You can meet people from all over the world.

a tourist [7) ​ (b)   pretty polluted and [8) ​ (c)  

• congested
• destination
• cosmopolitan

Exercise 2.3 Complete the sentences with the words in the box.

My house is [9] ​ (a)   I wish it was bigger, big and [10] ​ (b)   in the [11] ​ (c)   on the [12] ​ (d)   of a town called Sopron.

It is right in the [13] ​ (e)   of the village. within [14] walking distance of the local shop.

• cramped
• spacious
• suburbs
• outskirts
• heart

Exercise 3. Use some of the vocabulary from Exercises 1 and 2 to practise talking about where you live. After each sentence, add extra details that explain what you have said. For example: My city is very cosmopolitan.

Supporting sentences: We have people from all over the world living here, and that's reflected in the cuisine. You can eat lots of different types of food.

Exercise 4. Practice talking about your home using the vocabulary below.

My apartment is:  (1) ________. I feel relaxed at home.  It is modern and (2) ________. 

in the (3) ________ of Rach Gia City on the (4) ________ of the urban. 

right in the (5) ________ distance of many conveniences, such as cafés and shops. 

And it’s very (6) ________ to get everywhere. 

Exercise 5. Listen and complete the texts about changes to the three people's hometowns. Questions 1-3

Then list out collocations relating to:

1. Your town before:

2. Your town after:

Answer explanation

1. 1 Back in the 1980s

since the 60s

in recent years

2

Before: Looked out for each other

After: population has risen dramatically

breakdown in community ties
price of property has escalated
move away

Exercise 5. Listen and complete the texts about changes to the three people's hometowns. Questions 4-6

(a)  

Exercise 5. In the dialogue 2, write out collocations based describing:

The town before:

The town after:

Answer explanation

Before: It used to be really dull

After:

More cafes and bars have begun opening up

becoming more and more vibrant
new lease of life
great nightlife
increasing student population

Exercise 5. Listen and complete the texts about changes to the three people's hometowns. Questions 7-9

Then list some collocations about:

1. Before:

2. 2. After:

Answer explanation

A century ago

Nowadays

are being converted
Before:

manufacturing has moved elsewhere
disused industrial architecture

After:

hive of activity
are being converted into flats
extremely popular with trendy young couples