10 words
- urban sprawlphrase/UR-bun SPRAWL/
the uncontrolled spread of a city into surrounding countryside
urban sprawl has swallowed up farmland around the capital.
Collocation: limit urban sprawl · Similar: suburban spread, overdevelopment
- congestionnoun/kun-JES-chun/
so much traffic that vehicles move very slowly
A charge for driving into the centre has reduced congestion.
Collocation: traffic congestion · Similar: traffic jams, gridlock
- gentrificationnoun/jen-trih-fih-KAY-shun/
richer people moving into a poor area and raising prices
gentrification has pushed rents beyond what long-term residents can afford.
Collocation: the effects of gentrification · Similar: urban renewal, upmarket redevelopment
- infrastructurenoun/IN-fruh-struk-chuh/
basic systems a place needs, such as roads, power and water
The city must invest in its ageing infrastructure before it fails.
Collocation: transport infrastructure · Similar: public works, basic systems
- densely populatedphrase/DENS-lee POP-yoo-lay-tid/
having a very large number of people in a small area
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places on Earth.
Collocation: a densely populated area · Similar: crowded, heavily populated
- amenitiesnoun/uh-MEE-nih-teez/
useful local services like parks, shops and libraries
The estate has good amenities like a park, a gym and shops.
Collocation: local amenities · Similar: facilities, services
- pedestrianisedadjective/puh-DES-tree-uh-nyzd/
closed to cars so only people on foot can use it
Since the main square was pedestrianised, children can play there safely.
Collocation: a pedestrianised zone · Similar: car-free, traffic-free
- derelictadjective/DER-uh-likt/
empty, abandoned and in very poor condition
The derelict factory has been turned into luxury flats.
Collocation: derelict buildings · Similar: abandoned, run-down, dilapidated
- regenerateverb/rih-JEN-uh-rayt/
to improve a neglected area and bring new life to it
The council plans to regenerate the old docks with new homes.
Collocation: regenerate the city centre · Similar: revitalise, redevelop
- high-riseadjective/HY-ryz/
very tall, with many floors
Many families live in high-rise flats with views across the river.
Collocation: high-rise flats · Similar: multi-storey, tower
Grammar check
Choose the right option, then open the answer.
1. I wish the council ___ more cycle lanes years ago.
built · had built · would build · has built
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had built: 'Wish' about the past ('years ago') takes the past perfect: 'had built'.
2. If they had built the metro in the 1990s, traffic ___ so bad now.
wouldn't be · wouldn't have been · won't be · isn't
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wouldn't be: Mixed conditional: an unreal past cause with a present result ('now'), so 'wouldn't be'.
3. It is in the suburbs ___ most new housing is being built.
which · what · there · that
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that: An 'It is ... that' cleft sentence emphasises the place: 'in the suburbs'.
4. No sooner had the new road opened ___ it became congested.
when · than · then · that
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than: 'No sooner' is always followed later by 'than', not 'when'.
5. Residents ___ near the airport often complain about noise.
live · lived · living · are living
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living: A reduced relative clause: 'Residents who live' becomes 'Residents living'.
Use the words: speaking questions
- What are the main problems facing big cities today, and how could they be solved?
- Is it better for children to grow up in a city or in the countryside?
- How might cities change to cope with growing populations in the future?
Answer them out loud with Dodo in the app for a band and better versions of your answers.