Mixer #5 – City vs.

Country
Listen to six people discuss where they would rather
live.
1) How does Jeyong feel about the people in the
city?
a) They make it difficult to move around
b) It is crowded in a good way
2) Why would Al want a house in the city?
a) He likes the noise and energy
b) He wants to socialize there
3) What does Joel like about his life in the country?
a) He lives on a farm
b) He has time for his hobbies
4) Why was growing up in the country difficult for Martin?
a) The animals were a big problem
b) There wasn't very much to do
5) What does Mitchell dislike about the city?
a) Life is fast and stressful
b) It is too relaxed
6) Shuan prefers life in the city because he _________.
a) gets scared when he's alone
b) he likes to go places
7) Why DON'T people want to live in the country?
a) It's too expensive
b) There aren't any restaurants
c) It is a boring place
d) Farms smell bad

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Transcript
Jeyong, Korea
I like living in cities more than the country because I like the crowdiness of people all
busy walking around and especially like going to clubs, being with many people and
talking to new people is something that I live very much.

Al, England
I think ideally I'd like to do both, so have, be rich and have a house in the country and
a house in the city and spend my weekdays in the country, in a stone house, and go to
the city on weekends and party.

Joel, United States

Well, I've lived in very big cities for most of my life: Tokyo, Bangkok, Los Angeles, and
now is the first time ever that I've lived in the country and I'm finding that I like it a lot
better. I have time to do things that I could never do in the city, like play guitar or
even read the news, and I'm enjoying a peaceful lifestyle a lot more than the busy city
life.

Martin, United States

If I wanted to live in the city or country, I'd have to say nowadays, in the city. I grew
up in the country in a very small farm and it was kind of boring. I enjoyed the clean air
and the wildlife around but it was boring. The city is much more exciting and a lot
more to do and see and experience, so by and large, the city for me is the way to go.

Mitchell, United States

I would rather live in the countryside because I'm from the islands and everything’s
more peaceful, relax, and time seems to go by slowly. Compared to the city, it seems
like every one is in a rush, moving around fast, trying to get things done as soon as
possible, that's why I'd rather live in the countryside.

Shuan, Canada
I think that living in the city would be so much better than living in the country. I like
being active, and I like going out so living in the country would be, I would think,
boring, compared to the city.

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Vocabulary
crowdedness
Actually, the correct form of the adjective is 'crowded'. When a place is crowded, it means that
there are many people in a small area. The noun form is “crowd” – so to make this sentence
grammatically correct, it should be “I like the crowds of people all busy walking around…”

 The beach is always crowded during the summer.

 My girlfriend hates crowded places.
party
Here, party is a verb, an action. When you say you are going to party, it means that you are
going out to have fun; usually dancing, drinking, karaoke, or other social activities. Notice the
following:

 We always party on weekends.

 I used to party a lot in college, but not anymore.
nowadays
The word 'nowadays' is used to talk about modern times. Notice the following:

 Nowadays, teenagers download most of their music.

 The city used to be safe, but nowadays, it's become dangerous.
wildlife
Wildlife means animals that are in nature. Wildlife can be birds, monkeys, or even elephants
and tigers. Dogs and cats are not wildlife. Notice the following:

 Nowadays, much of the world's wildlife must be protected.

 Many tourists travel to Africa to observe the amazing wildlife.
by and large
The phrase 'by and large' is a way of saying 'in general'. It is a way of making a concluding
statement. Notice the following:

 By and large, it is expensive to live in most big cities.

 By and large, it is cheaper to study in Australia than in the US.

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Vocabulary Quiz
crowded • partying • nowadays • wildlife • by and large

1. I'm tired because I was up late _____________ last night.

2. _______________ it is almost impossible to keep in contact with others if you don't
have the internet.
3. Most of the time I don't mind using public transportation, but sometimes it's very
_____________.
4. _______________, national travel is really cheap in Laos.
5. The biggest reason he wants to go to Alaska is to see _______________.

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