Sample topics and questions

Disadvantages of living in a city

• 
  Traffic congestion
  
• 
  Pollution
  
• 
  Air pollution / noise pollution / traffic pollution / water pollution 
  
• 
  Overcrowding
  
• 
  Dense population
  
• 
  Growth of slums 
  
• 
  High rate of unemployment
  
• 
  High cost of living
  
• 
  Wealth inequality
  
• 
  Growing gap/disparity between the rich and poor
  
• 
  High levels of stress 
  
• 
  You get stuck in the rat race  (=working 9 to 5 every day and stuck in a boring routine)
  

Cities and Their Problems

Urban wasteland (in bad condition)
No-go areas (with the high crime)
Run-down buildings (falling apart)
Deprived areas (without necessary things, e.g. enough money, good living conditions)

1. 
   Bumper-to-bumper traffic all day long
   
2. 
   The volume of traffic (amount)
   
3. 
   Exhaust fumes
   
4. 
   The incessant roar of trucks and buses (very loud noise)
   

The City Where I live: Santander

It has rather dreary weather = dull weather
Mild climate = not hot or cold
Overcast (adj).= cloudy
As for the weather, it’s often overcast in my city.
The city looks over the bay
Holiday-makers = people on holiday
People like to nibble snacks in the bars = to eat in small bites (usually snacks)  
Local people love going for a stroll in the afternoon = go for a short walk
Big attraction = popular attraction
There is a lot of heavy rain 
It often throws it down = it often rains heavily  

Collocations related to cities:

• 
  Bustling center
  
• 
  Urban living
  
• 
  Reliable public transport
  
• 
  Long opening hours (shops and restaurants)
  
• 
  Upmarket shops
  
• 
  Pricey /overpriced restaurants(expensive)
  
• 
  Lively bars
  
• 
  Fashionable clubs
  
• 
  High-rise flats
  

Adjectives+cities
For good points of cities you could use the following adjectives: 

• 
  picturesque
  
• 
  historic
  
• 
  spacious
  
• 
  elegant
  
• 
  magnificent
  
• 
  lively 
  

The comfortable suburbs (the suburb is just outside the city center)
For the negative points of cities you could use the following adjectives: 

• 
  deserted( no one on the street at night) city
  
• 
  packed (very crowded) 
  
• 
  filthy (very dirty)/
  
• 
  run-down ( in a very bad condition) 
  
• 
  sprawling city
  
• 
  a shanty town (=houses made of discarded materials, e.g.tin cardboard, plastic)
  

Bustling (=with lots of movement) can be positive or negative 
Cities and their problems:
Urban wasteland (in bad condition)
No-go areas (with the high crime)
Run-down buildings (falling apart)
Deprived areas (without necessary things, e.g. enough money, good living conditions)

1. 
   Bumper-to-bumper traffic all day long
   
2. 
   The volume of traffic (amount)
   
3. 
   Exhaust fumes
   
4. 
   The incessant roar of trucks and buses (very loud noise)
   

Cities
In your opinion, what makes a city a good one to live in?
High standarts of living
Collocations related to cities:

• 
  Bustling center
  
• 
  Urban living
  
• 
  Reliable public transport
  
• 
  Long opening hours (shops and restaurants)
  
• 
  Upmarket shops
  
• 
  Pricey /overpriced restaurants(expensive)
  
• 
  Lively bars
  
• 
  Fashionable clubs
  
• 
  High-rise flats
  

Adjectives+cities
For good points of cities you could use the following adjectives: 

• 
  picturesque
  
• 
  historic
  
• 
  spacious
  
• 
  elegant
  
• 
  magnificent
  
• 
  lively 
  

What are the advantages of living in a city?