1 People & relationships

Aims: Describing personality I Talking about relationships

Using tenses correctly I Pronunciation : Strong and weak forms of prepositions
Exam technique: What it means to 'know' a word

Vocabulary: Character and personality

1 Use a dictionary to find the meanings of the adjectives describing character and
personality below.

ambitious good fun nosy reliable

blunt hard-working open - minded self-assured
clever impatient outgoing sociable
creative judgemental over-sensitive stingy

8 Speaking for IELTS

 Unit 1

2 Which adjectives in Exercise 1 are negative and which are positive? Draw a table like the
one below and put the words into the correct column.

Positive Negative

3 Which adjectives from Exercise 1 would you use to describe yourself?

I consider myself to be _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
I would say I was ________________________________

Vocabulary: Relationships

4 Match phrases 1-8 with definitions a-h.

1 get on with somebody
2 look up to somebody
3 be in touch with somebody
4 fall out with somebody
5 grow apart from somebody e know somebody well and see or talk to them often
6 take after somebody
7 grow up together/with
somebody
8 be close to somebody
a argue and stop being friendly with somebody
b have a good relationship
c gradually have a less close relationship with somebody
d be in communication with somebody
have many ch ildhood and adolescent experiences in
common wi th somebody
g respect somebody
h resemble somebody in your fam ily [in appearance or
personality]

5 Using phrases from Exercise 4, make eight sentences describing relationships you have.
Example: I take after my dad - we're both quite careless.

6 Listen to three people talk about their relatives, Make notes as you listen. How do they
describe their relatives and their relationships with them?
1
2
3
Listen again and make more notes. Look up any language you do not know in your
dictionary and make a note of it.

Family matters 9
 Vocabulary: Modifying

0 01
7 Listen to Track 1 again and notice how the adjectives describing character and personality
are modified. Complete sentences 1-10 with the modifying adverbs you hear.
CD1
1 She's outgoing and 6 She's nosy.
sociable. 7 She's _ _ _ _ blunt.
2 She's hard-working . S She can be _ _ _ _ stingy.
3 She can be impatient. 9 She's _ _ _ _ clever.
4 He was creative. 10 She's _ _ _ _ self-assured and
5 He 's not reliable . ambitious.

8 Read the following guidance on modifying adjectives.

1 We can use adverbs like really and so before a positive adjective.
Example : She's really outgoing.
He was so creative.
2 We can use the same adverbs before a negative adjective, but we normally do this only
if we do not like the person or are angry with them.
Example : She 's so nosy
3 If we say something negative about someone, e.g . She is impatient, or He is unreliable,
it can sound rude or too direct . We often 'soften ' negative comments for this reason .
Here are two ways of doing this:
• with can be a bit
Example : She can be a bit impatient.
• with not very + a positive adjective
Example : He's not very reliable .

0 9 Listen to Track 1 again and repeat. Pay particular attention to your pronunciation,
: ....................................................................................................................................................................................................
01
CD1 Exam tip: If you use a character adjective to describe someone in the exam, you should
expand on it or explain it.
Examples :
She 's really outgoing and sociable - she's always going out with friends and colleagues.
He 's not very reliable, so, for example, if I email him, he won 't respond.
She 's terribly blunt, which means she quite often upsets us with the things she says.

10 Write descriptions, similar to those you heard in Track 1, of four members of your family,
Use some of the adjectives from Part 1 of this unit. Remember to modify the adjectives
and explain or expand on each characteristic. Include at least one negative point for
each person,

10 Speaking for IELTS

 Unit 1

To practise your speaking skills and help you to remember the vocabulary you have learnt,
tell an English-speaking friend about your relatives, or record yourself. Do not write down
what you want to say and read it out; you will not be able to do that in the exam. You must
not memorize whole sentences or whole answers. You must speak spontaneously.

o Exam information
Part 1: Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
In Part 1 of the Exam, the examiner will introduce him/herself and ask you to introduce
yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner will then ask you general questions on
three familiar topic areas. The first topic will be Studies , Work or Where you live . In each
unit of this book, you will practise answering Part 1 questions on one topic.
Part 1 tests your ability to communicate opinions and information on eve ryday topics
and common experiences.

IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 1

12 You are going to hear questions that are typical of Part 1 of the exam. Listen to each
question and give your answer. Try to use some of the vocabulary and language you have
learnt in this unit.
Now listen to the sample answers.

o Exam information
Part 2: Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
The examiner will give you a task card that asks you to talk about a particular topic and
includes points that you can cover in your talk. You do not have to cover all the points
and you do not have to talk about them in order. You will be given one m inute to prepare
your talk, and you will be given a pencil and paper to make notes [do not write on the
task card). You must talk for one to two minutes on the topic. The examiner will then ask
you one or two questions on the same topic.
Part 2 tests your ability to talk at length, organising your ideas coherently.

IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 2

13 Read this Part 2 question. Give yourself one minute to plan your answer, making notes
if you wish. Then talk for one to two minutes. Remember: you can use. the vocabulary you
have learnt in this unit to talk about friendship too.

Describe a close friend .

You should say:

how long you have known this person
how you met
what kind of person he/she is
and ,explain why you like him/her.

Family matters 11
 People: character and behaviour

--�·A Your month of birth and your character

You are good company' but you Although you can be painfully shy
may have a selfish streak2 . July in social situations, at work you give
the impression of being supremely
You have an outgoing personality
confident.
and a good sense of humour.
You have a tendency to make
You have a vivid imagination, but
snap decisions4 .
you tend to lose your temper too
easily. You have a strong sense of
April You are highly intelligent with a
Se ptember responsibility and always keep
yourword5 .
razor-sharp mind.
May You are good at keeping secrets
You set high standards for yourself October and never bear a grudge6 .
and are fiercely3 loyal to your
friends. You find it hard to keep your
November temper7 1f you think someone is
The best aspect of your personality
making a fool out of you 8.
is the way you always put others
first. You can be brutally honest9 and
sometimes hurt others' feelings

1 6
people enjoy being with you resent for a long time bad things
2 you sometimes act in a selfish way others have done to you
3 stronger than extremely 7
not get angry
4
quick decisions 8 trying to deceive or trick you
5
do what you say you will do, 9 honest in a way that may hurt
keep your promises

B Behaviour: verb + noun collocations

collocation example
play a joke/trick The children played a joke on the
teacher by hiding under their desks
before she came into the room.
take a joke Fortunately, the teacher could take a
joke and didn't punish them.
swallow your pride Jane swallowed her pride and
admitted that she was wrong.
throw a tantrum The child threw a tantrum when I
wouldn't buy him any sweets.
lose your patience Finally I lost my patience and shouted
at her.
come to terms with Nick has found it hard to come to
terms with his illness.
reveal your true Jack's failure to support her has certainly
character revealed his true character.
comment
NOT fflftke a joke/trick
= didn't mind a joke being played on her
= she did it even though it was
embarrassing for her
'
= behaved in a very uncontrolled
manner
I
= lost my temper, became angry
= accept something psychologically
opposite = conceal/hide your true
character

I Associating these collocations with people you know may help you to learn them.

38 English Co/locations in Use

 9 Home
Aims: Describing places I Comparing now and then I Adding suffixes
Pronunciation: Silent letters I Using passive and causative forms
Exam technique: Clarifying, paraphrasing and giving examples

VocabuLary: Describing pLaces

1 1 Would you rather live in a city or in the country?

2 Decide if sentences 1-6 refer to the city or the country.
1 Urban regeneration involves bringing derelict buildings back into use.
2 It's very remote .
3 I live right in the centre, within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants and bars.
4 I like living here because I love all the hustle and bustle .
S Where my auntie lives is idyllic and the pace of life is very slow.
6 You don't see many detached houses here. It's all high-rise flats .

2 Complete the sentences below with words a-no

Ia backwater b far c middle d easy e picturesque

My village is :
in the [1) of nowhere.
a real [2) _ _ __
within [3) reach of the nearest big town/city.
not [4) from a big town/city.
idyllic and the countryside is really [5) _ _ _ _

If congested g cosmopolitan h destination

My city/town is:
very [6) . You can meet people from all over the world.
a tourist [7) _ _ __
pretty polluted and [8) _ _ __

72 Speaking for IELTS

 Unit 9

spacious k heart m ou tski rts

walking l cramped n sub urbs

My house is :
[9] _ _ _ _ . I wish it was bigger.
big and [10] _ _ __
in the [11] _ __ _
on the [12] _ _ _ _ of a town called Sopron .
right in the [13] of the village.
within [14] distance of the local shop.

3 Use any appropriate vocabulary above to practise talking about where you live. After each
sentence add extra details that explain what you have said.
Example : My city is very cosmopolitan. 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.
In addition, you can use this vocabulary to talk about your home.
I live in a:
detached/semi-detached/terraced house.
bungalow.
maisonette.
g rou nd -/fi rst -/second-/top-floor flat.
Practise once, then practise again without looking at the vocabulary.

Vocabulary: Comparing now and then

4 1 Listen and complete the texts about changes to the speakers' hometowns,
1 [1] , this was a nice place to live. Everyone knew eve ryone
and people looked out for each other. I'm sorry to say that, [2] _ __ _ _ __ _
the population has risen dramatically and this has led to a breakdown in the
community ties that used to unite us . Also, second-home owners buy holiday
homes here , and that has meant that the price of property has escalated
[3] , forcing young people to move away from the area .
2 My city is becoming more and more vibrant [1] . I love it!
[2] really dull, with nothing much for young peop le to do ,
[3] bars and clubs have begun opening up. The city's no
longer just for the older generations, with theatres and museums - it's got a new
lease of life, with a great nightlife and an increasing student populat ion to enjoy i .
3 [1] , this town was a hive of activity, with its ma ny factories
and its port. [2] , however, it's nowhere nea r as bustling,
as manufacturing has moved ~lsewhere . But I for one don 't bewail the cha nges.
There 's a certain poignancy and beauty to the disused industria l arc hitecture. And,
in fact, many of the old factories [3] into flats, and they're
extremely popular with trendy young couples who are now moving in to the tow.

Pe ople a d ' ~
o20
2 Listen to Track 20 again.
a What tense is used to describe how things were in the past?
C02 b What tenses are used to describe the current situation?

IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 1

021
5 You are going to hear questions that are typical of Part 1 of the exam. Listen to each
question and give your answers. Try to use the vocabulary you have learnt so far. Focus on
C02 your use of tenses, particularly when talking about changes to your town or city.
Now listen to the sample answers .
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
~ Exam tip: It is perfectly acceptable to say negative things about your hometown or
. any other topic - for example, There is not much for young people to do or It used to be
peaceful but now it's built up and congested. However, focusing exclusively or almost
exclusively on the negative in all your answers will affect the impression the examiner
gains of you . Althou gh you will not be judged specifically on your attitudes, it is probably
better to present yourself as a predominantly positive person .

Vocabulary: Suffixes

~ Exam tip: Suffixes are letters added to the end of a word to form another word, e.g.
: possibility. Possible is an adjective and adding -ity turns it into a noun. Using suffixes
~ allows you to make new words from words you already know, dramatically improving
~ your ability to express yourself.

6 1 Add the following suffixes to words 1-12 below to make nouns. Use each suffix twice.
-ness -ee -ism -hood -ment -ship
1 mother__ 5 alcoho~ 9 disappoint __
2 forgetfu~ 6 craftsman __ 10 hero __
3 address__ 7 aware __ 11 leader__
4 treat __ a employ__ 12 neighbour__
2 Write down at least two more words formed using each suffix.
Example : -ment: management, understatement
Other noun suffixes include -ence/-ance [independence], -tion/-sion[information], -age
[marriage], -y [efficiency], -[e]ry [misery], and -ant [assistant].
3 Complete sentences 1-5 with the noun form of the words in brackets.
1 There is a real of affordable housing in my town . [short]
2 Fortunately there is almost full in this part of the country. [employ]
3 The of natural resources means we have to import an awful
amount. [scarce]
4 _ _ _ _ _ _ is quite common when you're away from home for long periods.
[homesick]
5 I have a _ _ _ _ _ _ for flats over bungalows. [prefer]

74 Speaking for IELTS

 Unit 9

7 1 Forming adjectives: Put the noun roots below in the correct gaps to form adjectives.
Take care with any spelling changes.
road mess mountain plenty child
1 This region is extremely ous.
2 My car is not worthy at the moment, so I"ll have to take the bus home.
3 Our home is completely proof. We 've had to make sure of that since
having Jake.
4 Our house is always y because none of us is very house-proud .
5 We have a ful supply of organic produce due to the large number of
farms in the surrounding area.
2 Write down at least two more examples of adjectives formed with the suffixes above.
Other suffixes used to form adjectives include -ible/-able Ibreakablel. -ive lattractivel.
-ish Ismallishl. and -alloptionalJ.

8 1 Using the suffixes -ise, -en, or -ify below, complete sentences 1-5 with the verb form
of the word in brackets. Ensure the verbs are in the correct tense.
1 Sadly, my mum was last week. It means I'm having to do all the
housework. Ihospital)
2 I would my uncle's house as 'a mansion '. Iclass]
3 Driving to the shops the journey by twenty minutes but I prefer to walk
because it's healthier. Ishort]
4 They've the motorway because it was always so congested. Iwide]
5 The local council is trying to the city by planting flowers and cleaning
up. Ibeauty]
2 Find at least two more examples of verbs formed using each of the suffixes. Another
typical verb suffix is -ate, as in abbreviate, How many more verbs ending in -ate do
you know?

IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 2

9 Read this Part 2 question. Give yourself one minute to plan your answer, making notes if
you wish, Then talk for one or two minutes. Practise using the vocabulary you have learnt
so far in this unit.

Describe a place that you enjoy visiting .

You should say:

where the place is
what you can see and do there
how it has changed since you first visited it
and explain why you enjoy visiting th is place.

- Now listen to the sample answers.

People and places 75

 On the move
7 Tourism, travel

■ Tourism
1.1 Answer these questions about the place where you live.
1 What would you take a visitor to your hometown to see?
2 Which of the following best describes the place where you live?
A coastal B mountainous c rural o urban

1.2 ® 7a Listen to four people describing where they live and complete
the table below. Use the correct adjective from 1.1 for the 'Type of
place' column. Write down any words that helped you decide.

Speaker Type of place Words that helped you decide

1

3
4

1.3 ® 7a Listen again and decide which of the speakers' hometowns can be reached:
A by air.. ........... B by rail............. c by road ............. o by sea ............ .

1.4 Complete the sentences using the correct form of the

words in the box. You may use the words more than once. M Vocabulary note
at low When ta lking about statistics we say that
of peak reac h trend travel trough
figures reach a peak of or peak at: The
number of visitors reached a peak of10,000
Harbour City Tourism / peaked at 10,000. The op posite of a peak is
%
a low. The word trough also has this meani ng,
but is usually used together with the word
peak: The number of visitors fell to a low of
only 556 in 1978. The tourism industry has its
peaks and troughs.

D city hotel occu pancy D rai l travel

D coastal hotel occupancy D air travel
1970 1985 2000 ■ adventu re tourism

38
 On the move 7

1 The chart shows the .......................... in tourism in Harbour City in 1970, 1985 and 2000.
2 Adventure tourism rose from a low .......................... 20 per cent in 1970 to a peak .......................... 50 per cent in
2000.
3 The occupancy of coastal hotels .......................... at close to 90 per cent in 1985.
4 In 2000 the number of passengers .......................... by air .......................... a peak of 80 per cent.
s The number of train passengers fell to a .......................... of approximately 25 per cent in 2000.
6 The two greatest .......................... occurred in adventure tourism in 1970 and rail travel in 2000.
7 The percentage of coastal hotel occupancy experienced the greatest .......................... and .......................... .
8 City hotel occupancy peaked .......................... almost 80 per cent in 1985.

■ Travel
2.1 Correct the seven vocabulary mistakes in the text.
Thanks to modern transport people can nowjmtmey
a lot more easily than in the past. However, modern-
day trip also has its problems: airports can be very
crowded and there are often long queues of people
waiting to collect their luggages. One way to make this
job easier is to tie a colourful ribbon around each of
your luggage so they are easier to spot on the conveyor
belt. If you are going away on a short journey of only
a few days then you may be able to limit yourself to
hand luggage and save even more time. For longer
travels, make sure you take plenty of snacks and
drinks, especially if you are trip with small children.
trQ.,ve(,
s
2 6
3 7
4 bags: Put your luggage/suitcases here. Not Put your
M Vocabulary note
Travel = a verb and an uncountable noun used to
talk about travelling in a general way: Air travel has
became cheaper than rail travel in some places.
Trip = short holiday or ti me away: I have to go on a
business trip to Japan. Trip can also be used to refer
to a journey. The bus trip was really long.
Journey = getting from A to B: When driving a long
way it is best to break your journey up into
two-hour blocks.
Tourism = the i ndustry or business of providing
holiday transport, accommodation and entertainment.
Error warning r------ ®
Travel/Travelling = movi ng from one place t o
another: / think travel/travelling helps to educat e
you about the world. NOT I think to1:1rism helps to
eri1:1cateyou. NB Tra velling= UK spelling, Traveling=
US spelling.
Luggage is uncou ntable and refers to all of you r
/1:1ggeges ...

2.2 Think of a suitable word or words to complete the sentences. Then read the following travel advice and check
your answers.
1 I gave my parents a copy of my ................................ before I left so that they would know where I was.
2 It i s difficult to get tickets at that time of year so we booked ours well ................................................................ .
3 My bank has a lot of branches overseas so I could ................................ my own account easily.
4 Driving a car during ................................ periods can be horrendous.
s Your passport, tickets and money are the only really ................................ items on any trip.
6 In the duty free shop they asked to see our tickets and some form of ................................ .
7 The exchange rate can ................................ a great deal, so shop around for the best deal.
8 When we finally reached our ..... ........................... we were very tired.

39
7 On the move

Travel advice
The price of holidays can fluctuate a great deal throughout the year so try to be flexible with your travel dates
and avoid peak holiday times. It can also be cheaper if you book well in advance. Before you r departure,
make sure you do as much research about your destination as you can. Find out if you requi re any special
visas or permits to travel there. Think about currency as well. Will you be able to access your own money
easily enough or will you need to take cash with you? Think about eating larger lunches and smaller evening
meals to help make your spending money go further, as lunch is generally cheaper. Make sure that you
keep sufficient identification with you at all times. It may also help to email a copy of your passport details to
yourself in case it is lost or stolen. Label your suitcases clearly so that they can be easily identified as yours.
It can be useful to store a copy of your itinerary in a prominent place in your suitcase so that the airline will
know where to find you if your luggage gets lost. Be sure to pack any medication or other essential items in
your hand luggage. If your flight is delayed or your luggage is lost these can be difficult to obtain in an airport
or foreign country.
[ 2.3 Complete the essay below with suitable words from the box. Then, in your notebook, write a conclusion for
the essay.
affects effect eco-tourism remote transport trend tourism tourists

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism?

Since the aeroplane became a common form of (1) ............................... people have become more adventurous in
their choice of holiday destination and expect to be able to fly to even the most (2) ............................... parts of the
world. But what (3) ............................... do tourists have on their surrounding environment?
The arrival of a group of (4)............................... i n a small community can mean the end of peace and quiet as
they indulge in one long party. When on holiday, away from parents, young people can sometimes change their
normal standards of behaviour. Fuelled by alcohol and too much sun they can do damage to themselves as well as
the community around them. This invasion (5) ............................... the local people in many ways, disrupting their
normal routine and increasing their working hours.
However, (6) ............................... can also be of benefit to a small community, bri nging jobs and a source of income
that may not have existed before. This may mean that younger people are encouraged to stay in the community
rather than seeking work in the city. There is also a growing (7)............................... towards different types of
holidays. Nowadays we hear a great deal about the popularity of (8) ............................... , which I think indicates that
people are more aware of the environment and wish to protect it rather th an harm it.

[ 3 PRONUNCIATION ' ® ?b All of these words contain the letters ou, but they are not all pronounced in the
same way. Put these words into the correct box according to their pronunciation. Then listen and check.
boundary bou ght cough course country double doubt drought enough
journal journey nought rough south southern tourism tourist trouble trough

3: (as in bird) u;,i (as in pure) A (as in cup)

jou.rney

au (as in cow) o (as in not) ::i: (as in ball)

40
 solutions, big city life

■ Problems and solutions

1.1 Consider whether you can ever have too much, too many,
too little or too few of the following.
time traffic people money space work rubbish

1.2 [(!) 14i!J Listen to a conversation between two women and decide which two topics they talk about.

1.3 J (!) i 4 a Listen again and write down all the verbs that are used with the words problem and issue.

························································································································································•·····································
··•· ··························································································································································································

1.4 Complete the sentences using the verbs you wrote in 1.3. There may be more than one possible answer, so try
to use a different verb for each sentence.
1 One of the biggest problems ......................... the world today is poverty.
2 Your problems won't go away if you ignore them, you need to ......................... them.
3 The problem was ......................... by a blocked pipe, which eventually burst.
4 Here is a list of the issues that will be ......................... during the meeting.
s Unfortunately we were unable to ......................... the issue, even after two days of talks.
6 The main speaker did not arrive, which ......................... an awkward problem for the organisers of the conference.

1.5 Match the nouns in column B with the correct 1.6 Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
verbs in column A. Which two verbs can be used
1 I am not sure we will ever .solve Hie isstre" of
with the words problem and compromise? unemployment.
A B
2 We need to resolve a solution to this situation as
find a compromise soon as possible.
overcome an issue
solve a situation 3 What can we do to solve this difficulty?
remedy a difficulty 4 At last scientists have solution the problems
resolve a solution associated with solar-powered cars.
reach a problem s Finally, the members of the city council were able
to solve a compromise and the building work was
allowed to start.
1 ~9.~Y.1:-: ..~ ~.?.".?.~~ .. / .r.E:-~. ~~~~ ..~~..~~~.~~...........................
2 4 .................................... .

3 .................................... .
5 ·····································

72
 Urbanisation 14

1.7 Cross out the one word in each list that is NOT a synonym for the word in capitals.
1 PROBLEM difficulty, dilemma, ~ . challenge, obstacle M Vocabulary note
2 SOLUTION answer, key, remedy, resolution, setback We usually use a hyphen
3 WORSEN compound, deteriorate, enhance, exacerbate between two wo rds if
they are joined together
4 IMPROVE advance, aggravate, flourish, progress, reform
to form an adjective:
5 CHANGE acclimatise, adapt, adjust, amend, linger, modify, transform user-friendly. We don't
use a hyphen if the
1.8 Use a hyphen to combine one of the words in box A with one of the first word ends in -ly:
words in box B. Then complete the sentences. environmentally friendly
A double long short one 8 edged sighted sided term

1 We need a ................................ plan for our transport systems that will take into account future growth.
2 Awarning sign was put at the site of the accident as a ................................ measure until a new wall was built.
3 This argument appears to be a little ................................. I'd like to hear the other side as well.
4 The management agreed to employ five more members of staff, which in hindsight was a very ................................
decision because within a few weeks we were still understaffed.
5 Globalisation is a ................................ sword. It promotes multiculturalism while it erodes the local culture.

■ Big city life

2.1 1 Complete the text with suitable adjectives
from the box. More than one adjective may be possible.
adequate basic booming catastrophic decent
enormous pressing staggering

Megacities
The world's population is 1...... ... ........... ... ......... , no more so
than in its cities. Today, t here are 21 megacities, each
cont aining more than 10 million inhabitants, three-quarters of them in developing nations. By 2020, t here
are expected to be at least 27 megacities. Such a 2 ...... ...... ..... .. ............. rate of urbanisation brings its own
problems, especially in developing nations, where the majority of the megacities will be found.
Employment and educational opportunities are the main attraction of urban centres. But hopes for a better
life are often dashed as overpopulation puts an 3... ...... .. ..... ... .... .. ....... strain on the infrastructure of the cities
and their ability to provide 4 ....... .. ... ...... .............. necessities such as clean water and a place to live.
Many rural migrants fail to find 5.. ...... ........... ... .......... work, and t herefore cannot afford 6 ............. .. ...... ......... . .
housing. In some megacities up to 50 per cent of t he residents live in slums. This problem is
7
. ........... ..... . .......... .... , w ith the United Nations predicting that half the world's population will be living in
cities by next year. If the infrastructure within those cities does not grow at the same rate the result wil l be
8

73
14 Urbanisation

2.2 Find words in the text on page 73 that match these definitions.
1 People that live in a particular place ................................ .
2 Areas of the world that are poorer and have less advanced industries .................................
3 The process by which more people leave the countryside to live in the city.................................
4 The problem of having too many people ................................ .
s The basic systems and services of a city.................................
6 Very poor and crowded areas of a city.................................

2.3 WORD BUILDING Complete the table.

Noun Verb Adjective

competition
excluded
include
isolate
poor
responsibility ................... responsibility
tolerant

3.1 Answer these questions. Write one or two sentences. M Vocabulary note
1 What are the main problems associated with living in a big city? To refer to a group of people we can use the
2 Can anything be done to solve those problems? + adjective: the elderly, the poor.
the young.
3 Whose responsibility is it to solve these problems? E.g. We should look after the elderly.

3.2 Now complete these answers to the questions with suitable words from 2.3.
1 Big cities can be overcrowded, so there are a lot of people c................................ for each job and for
accommodation. The lack of jobs usually means that there is a lot of p................................ in big cities. And
although there are a lot of people around you, many people feel very i ................................ in big cities and it's
particularly difficult for the elderly.
2 I think we need to be more t... ............................. of each other. I think it helps if we try to create small
communities within the bigger city so we should try to i. ............................... people rather thane ............................... .
them.
3 Well, we all have tot... ............................. r................................ for these problems and we can all do something to
help. But the government is also r. ............................... to a certain extent as well. They need to make sure that the
p................................ are looked after and that they ha ve access to the facilities they need.

4 PRONUNCIATION (!) l4b If we have -ed at the end of a word, it can be pronounced with at or d sound.
Look at the following words and write tor d depending on their sound. Now listen and check your answers,
then practise saying the words.
accepted crowded developed excluded included isolated
overpriced overworked resolved stressed solved

74
 15 Countryside

A Writing about the landscape

From my room I look out over the surrounding countryside. It's very different from the
familiar landscafe I see from the windows at home.At home it's a gentle landscape'
with open fields . Here it's a bleak landscape with rocky mountains in the distance.
1 a landscape with nothing extreme or threatening about it
2
fields uninterrupted by woods or houses

Yesterday we followed a path down to the lake. As we turned a corner, we caught a

glimpse of3 a kingfisher standing in the water.John tried to take a picture4 of it but it
caught sight of us and flew off.A little further on we rounded a bend 5 and St John's Abbey
came into view.The Abbey fell into ruin6 about three hundred years ago.Although it lies in
ruins, it is well worth seeing as it stands in a dramatic setting on a steep slope beside a
fast-flowing river with mountains towering7 above it.
3 5 7
saw for a moment turned a corner mountains rising dramatically
4 6
take a photo became a ruin

The cottage is in some wonderful unspoilt countryside 8 on the edge of a dense forest9.
Unfortunately the trees block the view of the snow-covered mountains. It has a little
garden with a stream at the end of it.The stream winds 10 through the forest.They wanted to
build a timber factory here but the local people said that it would destroy the countryside
and, fortunately, their campaign to protect the environment succeeded.
8
countryside that has not been changed by industry or modern buildings
9 10
thick forest makes lots of bends, doesn't flow in a straight line

--- B The language of tourism

co/location example
uninterrupted view From most rooms there are uninterrupted views of the castle.
[nothing blocks the views of the castle]
panoramic view From the top floor restaurant diners have a panoramic view of the
countryside. [view over a very wide area]
spectacular view From the balcony there is a spectacular view of the mountains.
[very dramatic view]
enjoy/admire a view We stopped for a few minutes to admire the view.
breathtaking scenery The area has some breathtaking scenery - mountains, cliffs, lakes.
[extremely striking and beautiful views]
dominate the landscape The castle dominates the landscape for miles around.
[can be seen from a long way away]
beach stretches A beautiful beach stretches for miles along the coast. I

sandy beach The hotel has its own sandy beach.

I
r
secluded beach You'll love the secluded beaches. (without many people]
golden sands You can wander for miles along the golden sands.
peaceful/tranquil You can quickly go from the hustle and bustle of the town to the
countryside tranquil countryside. [formal]
�

34 English Collocations in Use

 16 Towns and cities

A Describing towns and cities for visitors

Look at these extracts from a magazine article about tourist cities.

The city skyline is a wonderful mix of old and new, and the city itself has a lot of busy, narrow cobbled'
streets. The old town is a conservation area and it has a lot of quaint2 old buildings dating back to the
city's foundation in the 1500s.
1
made of a regular pattern of stones
2
attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned

Doradella Street has a lot of upmarket3 shops and rather pricey", sometimes overpriced, restaurants,
but not far away is the Genasia district, where you'll find restaurants which offer good value and a more
relaxed atmosphere.
3
for people with expensive tastes
" expensive, in a negative sense

Royal Avenue runs from north to south, and is lined with shops. Behind it, the streets are full of lively bars
and fashionable clubs. The pavement cafes and shops of Luna Square are pleasant but very expensive.

As you drive into the city, the tree-lined avenues of the residential areas are soon replaced by the high-rise
flats of the inner city5. Then come the imposing buildings of the Parliament and government departments.
5 central part of a city where poorer people live and where there are often social problems

Towns and cities and their problems

Here are some descriptions of the more negative aspects of towns and cities.

Some of the inner-city areas are an urban wasteland I and are somewhat dangerous for
visitors. In fact some streets have become no-go2 areas, with high crime. Many streets are
strewn with litter and there are numerous run-down buildings. There are some
3

deprived areas round the city centre with huge social problems. The industrial zones
4

which lie on the edge of the city are grey and polluted.
1
a city area which is empty and in a bad condition
2
where the police and other authorities are afraid to enter
3
in very bad condition
4
not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life, e.g. enough money, good
living conditions

Triope is a sprawling5 city with bumpe�to-bumper6 traffic all day long. The exhaust fumes
can be a nightmare. The volume of traffic has increased in recent years and the incessant roar7
of trucks and buses makes the city centre an extremely noisy place.
The comfortable suburbs8 away from the city centre contrast sharply with the poor shanty
towns9 one sees on the way to the airport.
5 spread over a large area ( lightly negative)
6 so many cars and so close that they are almost touching each other
7 very loud noise which never stops
8
a place from which many people travel in order to work in a bigger town or city
9 very poor houses made of discarded materials (e.g. tin, cardboard, plastic, etc.)

36 English Co/locations in Use

 22 Houses, flats and rooms

A Finding somewhere to live

Look at the e notice on a university notice-board. U eful collocations are in bold .

•
Are you looking to move into a
flat or house next. terms? The
Harmer Agency has a wide range
of suitable accommodation.
Call us on 4446677. •
Newly-1,uilt apartment availa!,1e soon
. Spa;fous o
accommodation, fully-fitted kitch
_ enl Off-road
par king . To let furn,;;ned or uri�mif,hed
elng le academic or mature stud
vv Jld suit
ent. Tel: 3215786.

1
can be rented for hort period of time
2
small flats designed for one person
3
kitchen that is already equipped with modern cooker, washing machine, cupboards, etc.

Describing your house/flat/room

In these e-mail people are describing their living accommodation.
C)

Hi Mave,
Luke and I have just moved into our dream home. It's a
big old four-storey house. It's got a spacious living
room which has a wonderful view of the park, and a cosy
study where we can both work. And there are some lovely
light, airy bedrooms which overlook the garden.
There is a separate basement flat. which we might turn
into a granny flat for my mother. And if we want to add
an extension I there's room for that too. It needs to be
completely refurbished, but Luke and I have always
wanted to do up2 an old house.
Come and visit.
Love, Julia
1
we can also say build an extension= build an extra room or n.vo onto an exi ting hou e
2
repair, repaint and decorate (a hou e)
Hi Julia,
You're so lucky! I'd love to move out of my awful one­
room flat. It's in such a dilapidated building. You go into a
draughty hall. down a chilly corridor and into this really
cramped room. I want to buy a place of my own but
there's a shortage of affordable housing here and I don't
want to take out a big mortgage. I'd love to see your
house. I hope you'll invite me to your house-warming
party.
Big hug,
Mave
---,

C Collocations with home

She le& home to go to university, but moving away from her family made her feel
homesick.
Peter' back from a year abroad. His family are throwing a party to welcome him home.
(To a guest who's just arrived) Come in and make yourself at home while I finish getting
dinner ready. [relax and make yourself comfortable]
I haven't lived in Oxford for long but I already feel at home there.
I'd like to buy a second home near the coast. [hou e used only for weekend , holidays, etc.]

48 English Co/locations in Use