There’s no better place to live than a big city. Do you agree with this statement? What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city?
I can absolutely agree with this statement. Life in the city is easier and more comfortable, although there are some disadvantages such as noise and pollution.
One of the major advantages of living in the city is better education. It doesn’t mean that there are no good schools in small towns or villages, and I believe some of them may be even better, but in a large city you have more choice and more opportunities to attend good schools. All universities are located in big cities so young people who live there don’t have to look for accommodation and their education is cheaper.
Job prospects are better in the city than in the country. It’s easier to find a good and interesting job because of the variety on offer. The unemployment rate is always lower in a big city.
You are never bored in the city. You can go to the cinema, the theatre, a club or a restaurant. You have access to wide range of cultural events as the majority of festivals or concerts are organized in large cities. There are museums and galleries, so those who are interested in culture can always find something worth seeing.
You have a lot of possibilities for spending your free time in an active way. Naturally, you can’t go to the forest for a walk, but there are parks, swimming pools, tennis courts and football pitches.
In the city you have everything close at hand, which makes your life easier and more comfortable. Hospitals, libraries and shopping centres are located not far from the place where you live.
There are of course some disadvantages which might make a city dweller think of moving to the country. The biggest problem is heavy traffic. You sometimes spend hours in traffic jams, risk your life crossing the road or waste your time trying to find parking space.
The cost of living is higher in the city than in the country. Accommodation is much more expensive. You can’t grow your own vegetables or fruit so you always have to pay for them. You have to spend money on public transport or petrol, because the majority of people living in the city have to commute.
The crime rate in large cities is higher than in small towns or in the country. You can always become the target of a pickpocket or a mugger, and your flat can be burgled.
In spite of all these disadvantages I can’t imagine living in the country. There’s never a dull moment in the city and you’ve got more opportunities to succeed in life.
Pytanie, które może zadać egzaminator
A lot of people work in the city but live in the country. What is your opinion about such way of living?
I think it’s great to have a house in the country as you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside every day. The air is clean and fresh, and you can grow your own fruit and vegetables. But there are some negative aspects of such life. You have to commute and sometimes it takes you a lot of time to get to work. In the afternoon, when you are back home you don’t feel like going to the city again, so you rarely go to the cinema or the theatre. The cost of living is higher because people who have to commute spend a lot of money on transport and they often do shopping after work in the city.