Тема 1. East or west, home is best

Lesson 1

1. 

Read this advertisement for new houses in the city, and note the collocations.

Secure your new home now in the exciting city of Lorchester. In Lorchester’s bustling1 centre you can enjoy high-quality urban living, with reliable public transport and shops and restaurants whose long opening hours will suit your busy lifestyle.

Phone us now on 00345 877223 to visit our extensive range of show houses and apartments, or take a virtual tour at www.incitlife.com.

1 full of busy activity

Country life versus city life

Jerome has just moved from his home village into a big town. He emails Rosie about it.

Hi Rosie,
Well, I did it. I moved into town. I must say I don’t miss the rustic charm1 of life in the back of beyond2! For some people Little Snoring is a rural idyll, but for me it was always just a quiet backwater3 in the middle of nowhere where nothing ever happened and where I was bored rigid4. I’ve only been in town a week, but I love everything about it – the crowded streets, the hectic pace5 of life, the fact that you can get a cappuccino or hail a taxi at two in the morning.
So when are you coming to visit?
Jerome

1 appeal that is simple and picturesque 2 an extremely isolated place 3 a quiet, isolated village 4 (informal) extremely bored 5 very busy and fast pace

City Council plans

GOOD NEWS FOR INNER CITY LIFE
City Councillors last night approved extensive plans for urban regeneration.
Key features of the plan include the restoration of derelict buildings¹ and a tree-planting scheme.
The hope is that the inner city will soon resemble the leafy suburbs as an attractive and desirable place to live.
Planners believe that an increase in the number of residential dwellings² in the town centre will ease the problem of congested roads and night-time crime: with commercial and recreational facilities within walking distance and open all hours, it is hoped that many people will choose to leave their cars at home, and that it will be safer to walk on the street at night.

¹ buildings that are not cared for and are in a very bad condition
² (formal, official) homes