English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 25: Towns
Cambridge has the 1 oldest university in England (after Oxford). It has a 2_____ of around 108,900, many of whom are students. The main tourist 3_____ of the town lies in the city centre, around the university colleges. A number of the old university buildings are built on the 4_____ of former monasteries or convents. Most of the more picturesque colleges 5_____ the River Cam. Most of the main hotels in the town are within walking 6_____ of the centre. The town centre has a lively fruit and vegetable 7_____ and it 8_____ to be very crowded on Saturdays. The Fitzwilliam Museum is well 9_____ visiting as is an art gallery called Kettle’s Yard which regularly puts on quite varied 10_____ by a range of artists. The town also has plenty of sports 11_____ catering for both young and old. An interesting new Science Park has been built on the 12_____ of the town, about two kilometres from the city centre.
The words city and town are sometimes used interchangeably but a city is generally large with a wider range of facilities. This is a description of Cork, one of Ireland’s main cities. Which words or phrases might be useful for describing your own or another town?
Cork city is the major metropolis of the south; indeed, with a population of about 119,500, 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 many of the suburbs within walking distance of the centre. The buses tend to be overcrowded and the one-way traffic system is extremely 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 English in 1690. 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 lively atmosphere of a real working market will appreciate their charm. The town has good sports and arts facilities. The Crawford Art Gallery is well worth a visit. It regularly puts on adventurous exhibitions by contemporary artists. The fashionable residential districts of Cork city overlook the picturesque harbour. There are other residential areas on the outskirts.
Sports: swimming pool sports centre golf course tennis courts football pitch skating rink
Culture: theatre opera house concert hall radio station art gallery
Education: school college university library adult education centre museum
Catering, accommodation and night-life: restaurant take-away hotel B&B (bed and breakfast) youth hostel club
Transport: bus service taxi rank car hire car park parking meters
Other: health centre law courts registry office citizens’ advice bureau job centre department store chemist’s garden centre police station Town/City Hall estate agent housing estate industrial estate
| problem | effect | cause |
| traffic jams | traffic very slow; commuters get very stressed | too much traffic, especially in the rush hour |
| slums | housing in a bad condition | poverty - people don’t have money to spend on housing |
| vandalism | pointless destruction of property | poverty; lack of hope |
| overcrowding | difficult living conditions | too many people living in one place |
| pollution | deterioration in health | traffic and industrial |
picturesque [very pretty and attractive], historic, spacious [with plenty of space], elegant, magnificent, lively, deserted [no one on the streets, e.g. at night], bustling [with lots of movement], packed [very crowded], filthy [very dirty], run-down [in a very bad condition]
There are a lot of open spaces in the centre of London. (NOT There are a lot of open places in …)
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for pre-intermediate and intermediate level (B1) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.