Town and City
Below is the list of commonly used words for Town and City. Meaning has been given for each word together with an exemplary usage in a sentence. After you finish going through this list, there is a real IELTS Question to test your vocabulary. A model answer has also been provided for your reference. If you want to skip the vocabulary part and go to the IELTS Speaking Practice Question right away, then click on the button below.
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 conditions 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
IELTS Speaking Sample 1 - Town and City
Now, try to use these new words you just learnt to answer the following real IELTS Speaking Question. Read the question and speak your answer. You may also record your answer using a mobile phone or any other device. Then compare your answer with the model answers given after each question.
Part 1
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 … it’s nice …
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 … I’m a bit of a culture vulture as well so it’s great to have access to art exhibitions and that kind of thing …
Not really no … I live in the inner-city and the area is a little run down … it’s basically a lot of high-rise flats and many of the shops are boarded up … so nothing to interest tourists really …
Part 2
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.
Anyone who comes to my country really should spend some time in Barcelona … it’s a beautiful place … it’s not what you would call a sprawling city … it’s quite compact really and you could walk across the city in a couple of hours … but there’s no need to do that as we have a fantastic public transport system so it’s easy to get around … there are various districts all with their own character … you have the upmarket shops in the centre … you’ll find lots of chain stores you’ll 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 … there’s 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 …
Part 3
I think it’s having access to local facilities really … local shops as well as access to larger shopping malls in the city centre … and if you’re well-off you can afford to live in the suburbs away from the busy traffic …
Some can be yes … especially those with a historical interest … but sometimes they’re full of ugly office blocks … multi-story car parks … and residents living in poor housing … it depends on the city doesn’t it?
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 …