IELTS Speaking Part 3 - Buildings and City Life IELTS Speaking Part 3 Masterclass High-Frequency Topic 19: Buildings and city life 1. Study Material (Lý thuyết) 2. Practice Exercises (Bài tập) Q1: Have the buildings in your hometown changed much in the past few decades? [Point] My hometown is a small city and over the past few decades it has continued to grow by adding more and more buildings. [Extension 1] The buildings have gotten taller and more modern both in the residential areas and downtown. There are also new shopping centres opening up, giving us more to do and see on weekends. [Point 2] Many of my city's historical and cultural sites have been restored and improved over the last few decades as a lot of them had fallen into disrepair, which has made the place more beautiful. More perspectives: Famous buildings —malls, monuments, new buildings in hometown Housing choices —apartments, villas, lofts Styles —different architectural styles, developments or trends in the buildings Q2: What do you think are the advantages of modern buildings over old buildings? [Point 1] Modern buildings tend to be more structurally sound than before. [Extension] Many old buildings were made quickly and cheaply when people had less money, so the materials used were not so good. Engineers today, by contrast, have access to better technology, making modern buildings more resistant to fires, storms, and earthquakes. [Point 2] Moreover, newer buildings are designed for better views of the surroundings. [Extension] Many high-rises have observation decks where visitors or residents can have a magnificent bird's eye view of the entire city. More perspectives: Individuality —modern buildings have less character or individuality than older ones Safety —outdated materials, higher safety standards and precaution measures Cost —the application of green energy and fuel efficiency improvements Q3: Which do you think is more important, the outside or the inside of a building? [Point 1] I think that the inside of a building is more important because that is where the people who live or work there will spend their time. [Extension] If you live in a house or an apartment where the interior is decorated in a creative way, your mood and health will be more influenced by this. [Point 2] On the other hand, the outside of the building affects the whole city. [Extension] One could argue that since we will travel past so many buildings every day, our experience of seeing all of these buildings will affect our attitude towards our city or community. More perspectives: Prestige —the exterior appearance may make others judge the social status of the residents Cost —people will pay a lot for ho...