Page 95 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

Towns

Look at this description of Cork, one of Ireland's main towns. Underline any words or
phrases that might be useful for describing your own or any other town.

ork city is the major metropolis of the south; indeed with a population of about
135,000 it is the second largest city in the Republic. The main business and
shopping centre of the town lies on the island created by two channels of the
River Lee, with most places within walking distance of the centre. (The buses tend to be
overcrowded and the one-way traffic system is fiendishly complicated.) In the hilly area of
the city is the famous Shandon Steeple, the bell-tower of St Anne's Church, built on the
site of a church destroyed when the city was besieged by the Duke of Marlborough. Back
across the River Lee lies the city's cathedral, an imposing 19th century building in the
French Gothic style. Cork has two markets. Neither caters specifically for tourists but
those who enjoy the atmosphere of a real working market will appreciate their charm. The
Crawford Art Gallery is well worth a visit. It regularly mounts adventurous exhibitions by
contemporary artists. The fashionable residential districts of Cork city overlook the
harbour. There are other residential areas on the outskirts.

Towns can be convenient places to live in because they have many facilities. Check with a
teacher or a dictionary if you are not sure what anything means.
Sports: swimming pool sports centre golf course tennis courts football pitch
skating rink
Cultural: theatre opera house concert hall radio station art gallery
Educational: school college university library eveningclasses museum
Catering and night-life: restaurant cafe nightclub take-away hotel
B and B (bed and breakfast) youth hostel dance-hall disco
Transport: bus service taxi rank car hire agency car park parking meters
Other: health centre law courts registry office citizens' advice bureau
job centre bottle bank department store chemist's estate agent
garden centre police station Town or City Hall suburbs housing estate
industrial estate pedestrian precinct

Towns also have their own special problems. Here are some to be found in London now.
Traffic jams: every day, particularly in the rush-hour, the streets get so packed with traffic
that travel is very slow or even comes to a standstill. This is particularly stressful for
commuters, people who travel to work in the town
I
Slums: certain parts of the city which are poor and in a very bad condition
Vandalism: pointless destruction of other people's property
Overcrowding: too many people live in too small a place
Pollution: the air and the water are no longer as pure as they were
Crime: see Unit 55

Here are some useful adjectives for describing towns.
picturesque historic spacious elegant magnificent atmospheric
quaint lively hectic deserted (e.g. at night) bustling crowded
packed filthy run-down shabby

English Vocabulary in Use