Part 4: Suburban Lecture
Part 4
Questions 31-40
Questions 31-36
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
SUBURBS
People living in the suburbs:
labor workers 31 ……………………………….
Advantages of living in the suburbs:
Tax and the prices of 32 …………………………. are low.
It is easy to start a 33 …………………………….
Building 34 ……………………………… housing area to meet the demand of growing population
People have more 35 ………………………. because of wider roads.
Problem:
lack space for 36 ……………………… in the suburbs
Questions 37-40
What does each of the interviewees think of the life in the suburbs compared with that in the cities?
Choose four answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-F, next to Question 37-40
Comments
A People there are friendlier
B People there are healthier
C It is less crowded
D It is more convenient
E People there are happier
F There are some similarities
37 Jack Simons ………………………………….
38 Ellen Simpson ………………………………
39 Robert Gregory ……………………………..
40 Sarah Godfrey ……………………………..
Key
- wealthy residents
- food
- business
- large-scale
- mobility
- trade/trade activities
- B
- C
- F
- E
Transcript
Lecturer: You will hear part of a lecture for students about suburbs.
Lecturer: In the beginning of human civilization, there were no cities. There were just small settlements. They grew with time and became villages and towns. Then at a certain stage when the size became big enough, we call it a city. So what about suburbs?
Generally speaking, a suburb is a mixed use or residential area existing as either part of a city, or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a
city. Some small towns near a big city were absorbed by the city and became its suburbs.
Suburban Residents
Lecturer: Many labor workers such as carpenters, construction and factory workers live in the suburbs of the city. They usually have a lower income than the middle class and can’t afford the expensive houses or apartments in downtown area. They live in the suburbs where the infrastructure is poor and the rent is low.
Interestingly, you may also see wealthy residents, most of whom are highly paid engineers, lawyers and doctors, enjoy their life in the suburbs. They live in the expensive neighborhoods, which are located in the nicer areas. They usually have a very big house and a garden and a garage.
Traditional View vs. Benefits of Suburbs
Lecturer: Traditionally, many people think that living in the suburbs is less convenient than living downtown, where there were supermarkets, shopping malls and other facilities. These facilities are not concentrated or even available in the suburbs. Sometimes, people there have to travel for half an hour to get to the nearest market or grocery store.
Lecturer: Actually, there are many good things about living in the suburbs. For instance, people pay relatively low taxes than people in the city, so they can have a more disposable income, and food is cheaper than those in the cities. Many people have noticed that vegetables and some kinds of fruits are usually produced in the suburbs, or transported to the suburbs first before they reach the city.
Lecturer: Because of lower taxes and other beneficial policies, it’s much easier to start one’s own business in the suburbs, for instance, open a café or set up a shop. That’s why we can see a lot of start-ups in the suburban region. It could also save a lot of money and effort.
Development and Mobility
Lecturer: Because of the ever-increasing population, now you can see many large-scale housing areas constructed in almost all city suburbs, as there is no room for new apartment buildings or houses in the cities. Outside of many big cities such as London, there are big residential areas.
Lecturer: Also, the roads are designed and built much later, so they are usually much wider than the roads downtown. This will provide greater mobility for suburban residents. They can travel faster from one place to another since there are fewer traffic jams, despite the growing number of automobiles on the roads. This is one of the reasons why more people are moving out of the city these years.
Challenges and Resident Feedback
Lecturer: Yet, the suburbs are also facing some troubles in its development. Many suburbs are usually occupied by houses and residential areas. As a result, there were not enough room for trade activities. Even some supermarkets and small restaurants are suffering from this. People usually have to drive a car to the nearest grocery store. This warns the urban planning department to improve their work and have the vision to think ahead of time.
Lecturer: I think you might be interested in an interview that we did with some residents in the suburban area of London. Their opinions can give us a picture of what suburban life is like compared to life downtown.
- Jack Simmons (Office worker, Western suburbs of London): Though there are few public gyms or clubs, people in the suburbs actually do more exercise, such as jogging and swimming. He concluded that suburban folks enjoy a much healthier lifestyle.
- Ellen Simpson (Housewife, Northern suburbs): Living in the city center is a nightmare; it is always congested with both cars and people. She still prefers to live in suburban areas.
- Robert Gregory (Engineer, works downtown, lives in suburbs): The architectural style in the suburbs is quite the same as that in the city nowadays. People in the suburban area also pursue similar goals to city people, and don’t seem to be more satisfied with their life.
- Sarah Godfrey (English teacher, works in city): People in cities are not necessarily less friendly, but suburban residents always smile. They go to the parks and have gatherings more often. These activities are important in improving life quality and the level of happiness.
