Life in the City And in the Country

9. Life in the city and in the country

1. Let’s talk about life in the city and in the country. Tell me about the house/ flat you live in.

We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the fourth floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot running water, a lift and a chute to carry rubbish down. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. The living-room is the largest and most comfortable room in the flat. In the middle of the room we have a square-table with six chairs round it. To the right of the dinner-table there is a wall-unit which has several sections: a sideboard, a wardrobe and some shelves. At the opposite wall there is a piano and stool before it. Between the two large windows there is a little table with a colour TV set on it. Near the TV set there are two cosy armchairs. A small round table, a sofa and a standard lamp are in the left-hand corner. This small table is for newspapers and magazines. My father is used to having a rest sitting on this sofa reading books, newspapers, magazines or watching TV.

The bedroom is smaller than the living-room and not so light as there is only one window in it. In this room there are two beds with a bedside-table between them. An alarm-clock and a small lamp with a pink lamp-shade are on the table. In the left-hand corner there is a dressing-table with a big mirror. In this room we have a built-in wardrobe with coat-hangers to hang clothes on. There is a thick carpet on the floor and plain light-brown curtains on the window.

It’s really wonderful to have a room for yourself. My room is not large but very cosy. There isn’t much furniture in it, only the most necessary. It has a writing-table and an armchair before it. In the right-hand corner there is a bookcase full of books, magazines and newspapers. A small table with a tape-recorder is standing in the left-hand corner. Near it there is a sofa with some cushions. In my opinion, the study is the best room in our flat. But the warmest place in our flat is the kitchen, I think — the place where the whole family gathers every evening not only to have supper together, but also to speak and rest. I like the English proverb: “My home is my castle” because my flat is, indeed, my castle.

2. Where would you like to live: in a city or in the country? Why (not)?

Both a city and a village have advantages and disadvantages.

One of the advantages of living in a city is that everything is close to home: shops and supermarkets, schools and hospitals and other facilities. Besides, life in the city is more comfortable. There are more opportunities to find a good, well-paid job and make a successful career or it is easier to open a company. Moreover, if you are a city-dweller you have a better choice of schools and higher quality of education. There is a good selection of entertainments, for example, cinemas, theatres, discos, water parks, museums, galleries and sport facilities. In addition, cities have better and more convenient infrastructure.

On the other hand, living in the city has also disadvantages. The air in the cities is very polluted. There is heavy traffic and it is difficult to find a parking place, especially in the centre. Another point is that the cities are overpopulated.  Shops, streets and public transport are overcrowded. People feel mental discomfort connected with living conditions. At the same time, in a small town, you have to own a car to ensure a comfortable living. You can’t get around without one because there isn’t any kind of public transportation. There aren’t many entertainments in the country. It is sometimes difficult to get to school, hospital or shops. In the country it is difficult to find a good job.

At the same time life in the country is quieter and more peaceful, there is no traffic, no noise. People can relax, go to the forest, enjoy beautiful landscapes, the air is also much cleaner. The life in the country is safer and not as expensive as the life in the city. When you want to save your health and to have a healthy family you must live in the country!

3. What questions would you like to ask a teenager who lives in the country?

-Would you like to move to a big city?

-What is the greatest advantage living in the country?

- Have your parents got a car?

- Is your school close to your house?

- How do you get to your school?

4. If your parents ask for your opinion where to move: to the city or to the country, what would you recommend them to do?

As I have already said both a city and a village have advantages and disadvantages.

I would recommend my parents to think everything over and then to make a decision.

5. They say that living in the country is better than living in a city. What do you think about this?

I agree with this. I think that life in the country is quieter and more peaceful, there is no traffic, no noise. People can relax, go to the forest, enjoy beautiful landscapes, the air is also much cleaner. The life in the country is safer and not as expensive as the life in the city. When you want to save your health and to have a healthy family you must live in the country!