A. Describing a city

The words city and town are sometimes used interchangeably but a city is generally large with a wider range of facilities. This is a description of Cork, one of Ireland’s main cities. Which words or phrases might be useful for describing your own or another town?

Cork city is the major metropolis of the south; indeed, with a population of about 119,500, it is the second largest city in the Republic. The main business and shopping centre of the town lies on the island created by two channels of the River Lee, with many of the suburbs within walking distance of the centre. The buses tend to be overcrowded and the one-way traffic system is extremely complicated. In the hilly area of the city is the famous Shandon Steeple, the bell-tower of St Anne’s Church, built on the site of a church destroyed when the city was besieged by the English in 1690. Back across the River Lee lies the city’s cathedral, an imposing 19th-century building in the French Gothic style. Cork has two markets. Neither caters specifically for tourists but those who enjoy the lively atmosphere of a real working market will appreciate their charm. The town has good sports and arts facilities. The Crawford Art Gallery is well worth a visit. It regularly puts on adventurous exhibitions by contemporary artists. The fashionable residential districts of Cork city overlook the picturesque harbour. There are other residential areas on the outskirts.

B. Facilities

• Sports: swimming pool, sports centre, golf course, tennis courts, football pitch, skating rink
• Culture: theatre, opera house, concert hall, radio station, art gallery
• Education: school, college, university, library, adult education centre, museum
• Catering, accommodation and night-life: restaurant, take-away, hotel, B&B (bed and breakfast), youth hostel, club
• Transport: bus service, taxi rank, car hire, car park, parking meters
• Other: health centre, law courts, registry office, citizens’ advice bureau, job centre, department store, chemist’s, garden centre, police station, Town/City Hall, estate agent, housing estate, industrial estate

C. Problems in cities

D. Adjectives to describe a city

• picturesque (very pretty and attractive)
• historic, spacious (with plenty of space)
• elegant, magnificent, lively, deserted (no one on the streets, e.g. at night)
• bustling (with lots of movement), packed (very crowded)
• filthy (very dirty), run-down (in a very bad condition)