Jul 12, 2016

Collocations 15: Towns and cities
68 cards
, 198 answers
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  • Describing towns and cities for visitors
    • city  . . . 
      skyline

      •  . . . 
        cobbled
        streets meaning
        made of a regular pattern of stones

        • a  . . . 
          conservation
          area

          •  . . . 
            quaint
            old buildings meaning
            attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned

            •  . . . 
              upmarket
              shops meaning
              for people with expensive tastes

              •  . . . 
                pricey
                restaurants meaning
                expensive, in a negative sense

                •  . . . 
                  overpriced
                  restaurants

                  •  . . . 
                    good
                    value

                    •  . . . 
                      relaxed
                      atmosphere

                      • street  . . . 
                        runs

                        •  . . . 
                          lined
                          with shops

                          •  . . . 
                            lively
                            bars

                            •  . . . 
                              fashionable
                              clubs

                              •  . . . 
                                pavement
                                cafes

                                •  . . . 
                                  tree-lined
                                  avenues

                                  •  . . . 
                                    residential
                                    areas

                                    •  . . . 
                                      high-rise
                                      flats

                                      •  . . . 
                                        inner
                                        city meaning
                                        central part of a city where poorer people live and where there are often social problems

                                        •  . . . 
                                          imposing
                                          buildings

                                          • 1. The  . . . 
                                            city skyline
                                            is a wonderful mix of old and new, and the city itself has a lot of busy, narrow  . . . 
                                            cobbled streets
                                            . The old town is a  . . . 
                                            conservation area
                                            and it has a lot of  . . . 
                                            quaint old buildings
                                            dating back to the city’s foundation in the 1500s.

                                            • 2. Doradella Street has a lot of  . . . 
                                              upmarket shops
                                              and rather  . . . 
                                              pricey
                                              , sometimes  . . . 
                                              overpriced
                                              , restaurants, but not far away is the Genasia district, where you’ll find restaurants which offer  . . . 
                                              good value
                                              and a more  . . . 
                                              relaxed atmosphere
                                              .

                                              • 3. Royal Avenue  . . . 
                                                runs
                                                from north to south, and is  . . . 
                                                lined with shops
                                                . Behind it, the streets are full of  . . . 
                                                lively bars
                                                and  . . . 
                                                fashionable clubs
                                                . The  . . . 
                                                pavement cafes
                                                and shops of Luna Square are pleasant but very expensive.

                                                • 4. As you drive into the city, the  . . . 
                                                  tree-lined avenues
                                                  of the  . . . 
                                                  residential areas
                                                  are soon replaced by the  . . . 
                                                  high-rise flats
                                                  of the  . . . 
                                                  inner city
                                                  . Then come the  . . . 
                                                  imposing buildings
                                                  of the Parliament and government departments.

                                                • Towns and cities and their problems
                                                  •  . . . 
                                                    inner-city
                                                    areas

                                                    • urban  . . . 
                                                      wasterland
                                                      meaning
                                                      a city area which is empty and in a bad condition

                                                      •  . . . 
                                                        no-go
                                                        areas meaning
                                                        where the police and other authorities are afraid to enter

                                                        • strewn  . . . 
                                                          with litter

                                                          •  . . . 
                                                            run-down
                                                            buildings meaning
                                                            in very bad condition

                                                            •  . . . 
                                                              deprived
                                                              areas meaning
                                                              not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life

                                                              •  . . . 
                                                                industrial
                                                                zones

                                                                •  . . . 
                                                                  sprawling
                                                                  city meaning
                                                                  spread over a large area (slightly negative)

                                                                  •  . . . 
                                                                    bumper-to-bumper
                                                                    traffic meaning
                                                                    so many cars and so close that they are almost touching each
                                                                    other

                                                                    •  . . . 
                                                                      exhaust
                                                                      fumes

                                                                      •  . . . 
                                                                        volume
                                                                        of traffic

                                                                        •  . . . 
                                                                          incessant
                                                                          roar meaning
                                                                          very loud noise which never stops

                                                                          •  . . . 
                                                                            comfortable
                                                                            suburbs meaning
                                                                            a place from which many people travel in order to work in a bigger town or city

                                                                            •  . . . 
                                                                              shanty
                                                                              towns meaning
                                                                              very poor houses made of discarded materials (e.g. tin, cardboard, plastic, etc.)

                                                                            • Which of the collocations below do these drawing illustrate?
                                                                              • 1.
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • a tree-lined avenue
                                                                                • quaint old buildings (on a cobbled street)
                                                                                • a city skyline

                                                                              • 2.
                                                                                • a tree-lined avenue
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • quaint old buildings (on a cobbled street)
                                                                                • a city skyline

                                                                              • 3.
                                                                                • quaint old buildings (on a cobbled street)
                                                                                • a city skyline
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • a tree-lined avenue

                                                                              • 4.
                                                                                • a city skyline
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • a tree-lined avenue
                                                                                • quaint old buildings (on a cobbled street)

                                                                            • Which of the collocations below have a positive meaning and which have a negative meaning?
                                                                              • relaxed atmosphere
                                                                                • positive
                                                                                • negative

                                                                              • imposing building
                                                                                • positive
                                                                                • negative

                                                                              • lively bar
                                                                                • negative
                                                                                • positive

                                                                              • shanty town
                                                                                • negative
                                                                                • positive

                                                                              • over-priced restaurants
                                                                                • negative
                                                                                • positive

                                                                              • fashionable club
                                                                                • positive
                                                                                • negative

                                                                              • urban wasteland
                                                                                • positive
                                                                                • negative

                                                                              • run-down buildings
                                                                                • positive
                                                                                • negative

                                                                              • no-go area
                                                                                • negative
                                                                                • positive

                                                                            • Answer these questions using collocations.
                                                                              • 1. What might prevent you from sleeping in a house near a busy motorway? —  . . . 
                                                                                the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • a conservation area
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • the volume of traffic
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • quaint
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • a shanty town

                                                                              • 2. Exhaust fumes will get worse if what increases? —  . . . 
                                                                                the volume of traffic
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • quaint
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • a conservation area
                                                                                • a shanty town
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • the volume of traffic

                                                                              • 3. What is the opposite of a restaurant which is good value? —  . . . 
                                                                                an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • a shanty town
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • quaint
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • the volume of traffic
                                                                                • a conservation area

                                                                              • 4. What kind of area with poor, home-made houses could certainly be called a deprived area? —  . . . 
                                                                                a shanty town
                                                                                • a conservation area
                                                                                • the volume of traffic
                                                                                • quaint
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • a shanty town
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant

                                                                              • 5. If an area is very interesting historically, what may if officially be called? —  . . . 
                                                                                a conservation area
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • quaint
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • the volume of traffic
                                                                                • a shanty town
                                                                                • a conservation area
                                                                                • high-rise flats

                                                                              • 6. What is another way of saying an expensive restaurant? —  . . . 
                                                                                a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • a conservation area
                                                                                • the volume of traffic
                                                                                • a shanty town
                                                                                • quaint
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • high-rise flats

                                                                              • 7. What do we call blocks of flats which have many storeys, perhaps 20 or more? —  . . . 
                                                                                high-rise flats
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • quaint
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • a conservation area
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • the volume of traffic
                                                                                • a shanty town

                                                                              • 8. What adjective could be used about an attractive and perhaps slightly unusual old building? —  . . . 
                                                                                quaint
                                                                                • a pricey restaurant
                                                                                • an over-priced restaurant
                                                                                • the incessant roar of the traffic
                                                                                • high-rise flats
                                                                                • the volume of traffic
                                                                                • a shanty town
                                                                                • a conservation area
                                                                                • quaint

                                                                            • Match the beginnings of each sentence with its ending.
                                                                              • 1. It is a sprawling  . . . 
                                                                                city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.

                                                                              • 2. It is full of upmarket  . . . 
                                                                                shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.

                                                                              • 3. There was bumper-to-bumper  . . . 
                                                                                traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.

                                                                              • 4. I get asthma from the terrible exhaust  . . . 
                                                                                fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.

                                                                              • 5. I live in a residential  . . . 
                                                                                area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.

                                                                              • 6. Some of the more deprived  . . . 
                                                                                areas are not far from the city centre.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.

                                                                              • 7. The main street in town  . . . 
                                                                                runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.

                                                                              • 8. The main street is lined  . . . 
                                                                                with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.

                                                                              • 9. On the outskirts are some industrial  . . . 
                                                                                zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.

                                                                              • 10. The streets were strewn  . . . 
                                                                                with litter.
                                                                                • traffic all the way to the airport.
                                                                                • with shops and cafes.
                                                                                • runs from the castle to the river.
                                                                                • zones and some large supermarkets.
                                                                                • shops, which are too expensive for me.
                                                                                • city covering an enormous area.
                                                                                • fumes in the city centre.
                                                                                • with litter.
                                                                                • area but work in the city centre.
                                                                                • areas are not far from the city centre.

                                                                            tags: English Collocations in Use • Michael McCarthy • Felicity O’Dell • fluent and natural English • self-study • how words work together • collocations examples • collocations exercises
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