Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 11 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 3: Cities and Places

Why is Venice sinking?

Venice is built on a lagoon, and it faces a double problem: the land is slowly sinking while the sea is rising. Learn to describe places with relative clauses and to talk about problems that threaten cities.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Cities and water

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Which city do you like best, and why?
  2. What is the most beautiful place you've ever visited?
  3. Have you ever seen a flood?
  4. Would you like to live near the sea?
  5. Is there a historic building near where you live?
  6. What would you save first if your city were in danger?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about a city you know.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Venice was built on a with many small islands.
  2. Boats travel along the .
  3. Parts of the city may a few millimetres every year.
  4. A rise in sea is a threat to coastal cities.
  5. After heavy rain, the covered the square.
  6. The new closes the lagoon when the tide is high.
  7. Old buildings are and need careful repair.
  8. Many have left the city because it is too expensive.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a lagoon is a
  2. to sink = to
  3. fragile =
  4. heritage is the
  5. vulnerable =
  6. to restore = to
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to describe places.

  • It's a city which...Це місто, яке...It's a city which is built on water.
  • people who...люди, які...Residents who live in Venice face many problems.
  • the place where...місце, де...The square where the water rises is famous.
  • ..., whose......, чий...Venice, whose buildings are very old, is sinking.
  • The water level is rising.Рівень води підіймається.The water level is rising every year.
  • It is at risk of...Йому загрожує...The city is at risk of flooding.
  • Something has to be done.Щось потрібно робити.Something has to be done to protect it.
  • That's the reason why...Ось чому...That's the reason why many people are worried.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

A city on the water

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Why is Venice sinking?

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it is also one of the most vulnerable. It stands on more than a hundred small islands in a lagoon, and its buildings are supported by wooden piles driven into the soft ground.

The city is sinking in two ways. The land has been going down slowly for centuries, by a small amount every year. In the twentieth century the problem became worse when large amounts of water were pumped out of the ground nearby. That pumping has now stopped, but the sea is rising because of climate change. As a result, floods, which are known as "acqua alta", have become more frequent.

In November 2019, the water reached about 187 centimetres, one of the highest levels ever recorded, and the city was badly damaged. Since 2020, a system of mobile barriers called MOSE has been used to close the lagoon during high tides.

However, the barriers are only part of the answer. Scientists warn that they cannot be used too often, and many residents, who have lived in the city all their lives, are leaving. Saving Venice means protecting both the buildings and the community.

Do you know a place which is at risk?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Venice stands on islands in a lagoon.
  2. The city is sinking only because of the sea.
  3. Pumping water out of the ground made the problem worse.
  4. The MOSE barriers solve the problem completely.
  5. Some residents are leaving the city.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. What is the best way to protect a historic city?
  2. Would you live in a city that floods?
  3. Who should pay to protect a place like Venice: residents, tourists or governments?
  4. Which other cities are in danger?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Defining relative clauses

Use who for people, which or that for things, whose for possession and where for places. A defining clause gives essential information and has no commas.

The people who live there are worried. The barrier that closes the lagoon is called MOSE. A city whose buildings are old needs care. The square where the water rises is famous.

Leaving out the pronoun

When the pronoun is the object of the clause, you can leave it out. A preposition often stays at the end.

The city (that) I visited was beautiful. The man (who) I talked to lives there. The boat we went on was old.

Block 3 preview

Grammar you will use in this block.

relative clauses (L11) · quantifiers (L12) · comparing (L13) · non-defining clauses, same and different (L14) · preferences, review (L15)

Common mistakes: who for people, which / that for things, and no extra pronoun. ✗ The people which live there → who live there. ✗ The boat I went on it → The boat I went on.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. The people
    live there are worried.
  2. The barrier
    closes the lagoon is new.
  3. A city
    buildings are old needs care.
  4. The square
    the water rises is famous.
  5. The city
    was beautiful.
  6. The man
    I talked to lives there.
  7. Venice is a city
    is built on water.
  8. That's the reason
    many people are worried.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. The people which live there are worried. →
  2. The city where I visited is beautiful. →
  3. The man who's house is flooded is leaving. →
  4. The boat I went on it was old. →
  5. The place that is the water rises is famous. →
  6. The town what I visited was lovely. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use who, which, where and whose.

  1. Describe a city which you know well.
  2. What is the place where you feel most relaxed?
  3. Do you know any people who live in a city at risk of floods?
  4. What is the most beautiful building that you have ever seen?
  5. How would you protect a city which is sinking?
  6. What do you think is the biggest threat to coastal cities?
5

Three people and Venice, and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and Venice

Three people have a connection to Venice. Compare their views. Who is the most worried? Who seems the most hopeful? What would you do in their place?

Person 1

Marco, 60

  • Has lived in Venice all his life
  • Runs a small shop
  • Worries about floods
  • Does not want to leave
Person 2

Elena, 32

  • Moved to the mainland
  • Works in a hotel in Venice
  • Pays high rent
  • Thinks young people are leaving
Person 3

Dr Rossi, 45

  • Is an engineer
  • Works on the barriers
  • Says they are only part of the answer
  • Believes the city can be saved
5.2

Mini-talk: a place I know

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: describe a city or a place you know (use who, which, where).
  3. Part 2: a problem that this place has.
  4. Part 3: what could be done to protect it.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Which city do you like best?
  2. What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited?
  3. Have you ever seen a flood?
  4. Would you like to live near the sea?
  5. What do you do in a place you love?
  6. Is there a historic building near you?
  7. What would you save first in a disaster?
  8. Where would you like to live in the future?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family lives by the sea?
  2. Who has been to Venice?
  3. Who knows a lot about history?
  4. Who loves old buildings?
  5. Who do you know that has moved to another city?
  6. Who would you take on a trip to Italy?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Should old cities be preserved at any cost?
  2. Who should pay to save historic places?
  3. Is climate change the biggest threat to cities?
  4. Should people be allowed to live in dangerous places?
  5. Is it right to charge tourists to protect a city?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Describing a city

You

Guide

You are a guide (your teacher is a tourist). Describe a city you know:
  • say where it is and what it's like
  • describe a place which visitors love
  • mention a problem which the city has
  • suggest what visitors can do
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use relative clauses with who, which, where and whose.
Your teacher

Tourist

Says things like:
  1. What is the city famous for?
  2. Where should I go?
  3. Is there anything I should know?
  4. How can I help?
7.2

Discussing a local problem

You

Resident

You are a resident (your teacher is a reporter). Talk about a problem:
  • say what the problem is
  • explain how it affects people who live there
  • say what has been done
  • say what else should be done
You do most of the talking. Use: the people who... · the problem which... · the area where...
Your teacher

Reporter

Says things like:
  1. What is the problem?
  2. Who is affected?
  3. What has been done?
  4. What do you want to happen?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

lagooncanalssinklevelfloodbarrierfragileresidents
  1. Venice was built on a with many small islands.
  2. Boats travel along the .
  3. Parts of the city may a few millimetres every year.
  4. A rise in sea is a threat to coastal cities.
  5. After heavy rain, the covered the square.
  6. The new closes the lagoon when the tide is high.
  7. Old buildings are and need careful repair.
  8. Many have left the city because it is too expensive.
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. The man lives next door is a doctor.
  2. The book I bought is great.
  3. She's a woman car was stolen.
  4. The café we met is closed.
  5. The film was boring.
  6. That's the reason I left.
  7. This is the house my grandfather built.
  8. I met a man dog saved a child.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. The people who live there are worried.
  2. The people which live there are worried.
  3. The city I visited was beautiful.
  4. The boat I went on it was old.
  5. The square where the water rises is famous.
  6. The man who's house is flooded is leaving.
  7. A city whose buildings are old needs care.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. It's a city which
  2. Residents who live in Venice
  3. The square where
  4. Venice, whose buildings are very old,
  5. The water level
  6. The city is at risk
  7. Something has to be done

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.