Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 15 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 3: Cities and Places

Can a city be built for people, not cars?

For most of the twentieth century, cities were designed around cars. Today many cities are testing a different idea. Learn to compare ways of living and to express preferences, and give the final talk of Block 3.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

City life

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you live in a city, a town or a village?
  2. What is the best thing about your neighbourhood?
  3. How do you travel around your city?
  4. Would you like to live in a car-free area?
  5. Is there enough green space where you live?
  6. What would you change in your city first?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about your neighbourhood.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Most people in areas live in cities.
  2. My has a park, a market and a school nearby.
  3. Many people to work by bike.
  4. Air is lower in streets without cars.
  5. The street is , so children can play safely.
  6. Small shops can when more people walk.
  7. A is a safe path for bicycles.
  8. The city wants to the main square.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. urban = connected with a
  2. to commute = to travel
  3. car-free =
  4. accessible =
  5. to thrive = to
  6. a shortage is when there is
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to express preferences and opinions.

  • I'd rather live in... than in...Я б краще жив у..., ніж у...I'd rather live in a quiet neighbourhood than in the centre.
  • I prefer cycling to driving.Я віддаю перевагу велосипеду перед авто.I prefer cycling to driving.
  • Everything is within walking distance.Усе в межах пішої доступності.Everything I need is within walking distance.
  • It would be better if...Було б краще, якби...It would be better if there were fewer cars.
  • There should be more...Має бути більше...There should be more green spaces.
  • Not everyone agrees.Не всі погоджуються.Not everyone agrees with car-free streets.
  • On balance,...Загалом,...On balance, I think the plan is a good idea.
  • The one thing that worries me is...Єдине, що мене турбує, це...The one thing that worries me is the cost.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

A city for people

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

Can a city be built for people, not cars?

For most of the twentieth century, cities were designed around cars. Wide roads and car parks took up a large part of the space, and pedestrians had to wait at crossings. Today many cities are trying to change this.

One well-known idea is the "15-minute city", developed by the researcher Carlos Moreno, in which most daily needs, such as shops, schools and parks, are within a short walk or bike ride. Paris has used this idea in its plans, which include more cycle lanes and less space for cars.

In Barcelona, the city has created "superblocks", where traffic is limited on the inner streets of a group of blocks, and the freed space is used for people. In Pontevedra, in Spain, cars have been mostly removed from the centre since 1999, and local officials say that this has made the neighbourhood quieter and safer. Copenhagen, where a large share of people commute by bike, is often named as a model.

Critics point out that such changes can be expensive, that shop owners worry about fewer customers, and that new green areas can push up property prices. Supporters reply that cleaner air, less noise and more public life are worth the effort.

Would you like to live in a car-free neighbourhood?

3.2

True or false?

  1. The 15-minute city idea says that daily needs should be within a short walk or ride.
  2. Barcelona's superblocks limit traffic on some inner streets.
  3. All shop owners support car-free streets.
  4. Pontevedra is in Portugal.
  5. The text says critics worry about cost and property prices.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Would you give up your car for a better neighbourhood?
  2. Who should benefit first: pedestrians, cyclists or drivers?
  3. How can a city help shops during big changes?
  4. What does your ideal neighbourhood look like?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Review: comparing, quantifiers, relative clauses

Compare with -er, more and as … as. Use fewer + countable and less + uncountable. Use who, which, where and whose to add information.

A car-free street is quieter than a busy one. There are fewer cars and less noise. The area where we live is calm.

Preferences

would rather + base verb (+ than + base verb). prefer + noun or -ing + to + noun or -ing.

I'd rather walk than drive. I prefer cycling to driving. She'd rather live in a small town than in a big city.

Block 3 review

Use the grammar from this block.

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

Common mistakes: would rather + base verb, prefer … to …, and fewer / less. ✗ I'd rather to walk → I'd rather walk. ✗ I prefer walking than driving → I prefer walking to driving.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I'd rather
    than drive.
  2. I prefer cycling
    driving.
  3. There are
    cars on the street now.
  4. There is
    noise in the evening.
  5. The area
    we live is calm.
  6. A car-free street is
    than a busy one.
  7. She'd rather
    in a small town.
  8. Cities
    have many cycle lanes are healthier.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I'd rather to walk than drive. →
  2. I prefer walking than driving. →
  3. There are less cars now. →
  4. The area which we live is calm. →
  5. He is more fast than me. →
  6. I'd rather live here that in the centre. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use comparatives, quantifiers, relative clauses and preferences.

  1. Describe the neighbourhood where you live.
  2. What do you prefer: a quiet district or a lively one? Why?
  3. How many cars are there on your street, and is that a problem?
  4. What would you do to make your city better for people?
  5. Would you rather live in the city or in the countryside?
  6. What is the best city you have ever visited?
5

Three residents and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Three residents

Three residents have different views on a car-free city centre. Compare them. Who benefits the most? Who is the most worried? What would be a fair compromise?

Person 1

Clara, 34

  • Lives in Copenhagen
  • Commutes by bike every day
  • Finds the city calm and clean
  • Wants more green space
Person 2

Luis, 47

  • Owns a shop in a city centre
  • Worries that fewer cars means fewer customers
  • Prefers driving to cycling
  • Says parking is a problem
Person 3

Ms Yoon, 70

  • Lives in a district with few lifts
  • Finds the pavements too narrow
  • Wants more benches
  • Would like safer crossings
5.2

Final talk of Block 3: cities and places

This is the final speaking task of Block 3. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: describe a place you know well, using who, which and where.
  3. Part 2: crowds, noise and traffic in your city, using quantifiers.
  4. Part 3: compare two ways of living and say which you would rather choose.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Where would you rather live: in a city or in the countryside?
  2. What do you like best about your neighbourhood?
  3. How far is the nearest park?
  4. Do you walk or cycle in your city?
  5. What is the noisiest place you know?
  6. What would you change in your city?
  7. Where do you go to relax?
  8. Do you know your neighbours?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family lives in a big city?
  2. Who prefers the countryside?
  3. Who loves cycling?
  4. Who has a car in your family?
  5. Who do you know that moved to a quieter place?
  6. Who would you like to live near?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Should cars be banned from city centres?
  2. Is it better to live in the centre or outside?
  3. Should cities have more parks than car parks?
  4. Is a 15-minute city a realistic idea?
  5. Who should decide how a city looks?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Speaking at a public meeting

You

Resident

At a public meeting (your teacher is a city official), speak about a car-free centre:
  • say what you think
  • compare the old and the new situation
  • mention who will benefit
  • suggest a compromise
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use comparatives, quantifiers and relative clauses.
Your teacher

City official

Says things like:
  1. What do you think of the plan?
  2. Shops are worried.
  3. Who will benefit?
  4. What do you suggest?
7.2

Choosing where to live

You

Friend

A friend (your teacher) can choose between a flat in the centre and one in a quiet district. Help him:
  • ask what matters to him
  • compare the two places
  • say what you would rather do
  • decide together
You do most of the talking. Use: I'd rather... · I prefer ... to ... · fewer · less · where
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. I like both flats.
  2. The centre is noisy but convenient.
  3. The district is calm but far.
  4. What would you choose?
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

urbanneighbourhoodcommutepollutioncar-freethrivecycle laneredesign
  1. Most people in areas live in cities.
  2. My has a park, a market and a school nearby.
  3. Many people to work by bike.
  4. Air is lower in streets without cars.
  5. The street is , so children can play safely.
  6. Small shops can when more people walk.
  7. A is a safe path for bicycles.
  8. The city wants to the main square.
H2

Block 3 review: choose the correct form

  1. I'd rather at home than go out.
  2. I prefer tea coffee.
  3. There are cars than before.
  4. The street I live is quiet.
  5. The metro is than the bus.
  6. A city has parks is healthier.
  7. Venice, is built on water, is sinking.
  8. It is my old street.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 3 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I'd rather walk than drive.
  2. I'd rather to walk than drive.
  3. I prefer cycling to driving.
  4. I prefer walking than driving.
  5. There are fewer cars now.
  6. There are less cars now.
  7. The area where we live is calm.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I'd rather live in a quiet neighbourhood
  2. I prefer cycling
  3. Everything I need
  4. It would be better
  5. There should be
  6. Not everyone agrees
  7. On balance,

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