City & Town — Vocabulary, Reading & Communication (A2–B1)

1

Lesson overview

Comparing a quiet town with a busy city trip.

Objectives

Students learn and recycle city-and-town vocabulary, understand a short narrative and dialogue, talk about places they visit, and use past forms to describe a completed trip.

A2–B1 is appropriate: the readings and core vocabulary are mainly A2, while the extended discussion, writing and contrast between tenses move towards B1.

2

Active Vocabulary

Words and phrases taken directly from the two source texts.

town

city

shops

buildings

cars

museum

exhibits

city center

street performers

shopping mall

restaurant

park

souvenirs

peaceful

eventful

3

Grammar in Context

Only the three grammar areas named in the source.

Present Simple

I live in a small town.
It's a quiet place.

Use it for present facts and descriptions.

Past Simple

We went to the city.
We visited a museum.
I bought a new dress.

Use it for completed actions during the trip.

Past Progressive

The street performers were playing music and doing tricks.

Use it for actions that were in progress at a particular moment in the past.

4

From Greenfield to New York City

A2–B1 reading about a day trip from a quiet town to a busy city.

From Greenfield to New York City

A2–B1

I live in a small town called Greenfield. It's a quiet place with only a few shops and a park.

Last weekend, my family and I went to the city for a day trip. The city was very busy, and there were lots of people everywhere. We saw tall buildings and lots of cars on the roads.

We visited a museum and saw some interesting things from history. Then we walked around the city center and saw some street performers. They were playing music and doing tricks. We also went to a big shopping mall and bought some clothes and souvenirs.

For lunch, we went to a restaurant and tried some new food. I had a delicious burger!

After lunch, we went to a park and played some games. The park was very big and had lots of trees and flowers.

In the evening, we went back home to our quiet little town. It was nice to visit the city, but I like living in Greenfield because it's peaceful and calm.

Greenfield to New York City — Gap-fill

Complete the text with the source words.

placeperformersmuseumtown ×2buildingscentercarscitytreesshopsparkshoppingcalmrestaurant

I live in a small ______(1) called Greenfield. It's a quiet ______(2) with only a few ______(3) and a park.

Last weekend, my family and I went to the city for a day trip. The ______(4) was very busy. We saw tall ______(5) and lots of ______(6) on the roads.

We visited a ______(7), walked around the city ______(8), and saw some street ______(9). We also went to a big ______(10) mall.

For lunch, we went to a ______(11). After lunch, we went to a ______(12). The park had lots of ______(13) and flowers.

In the evening, we went back home to our quiet little ______(14). Greenfield is peaceful and ______(15).

Greenfield to New York City — Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

Where does the author live?
- AIn a big city
- BIn a small town
- CIn the countryside
- DIn a village
What is Greenfield like?
- ABusy and crowded
- BQuiet and peaceful
- CExciting and fun
- DDirty and polluted
What did the family do last weekend?
- AStayed at home
- BWent to the beach
- CVisited the city
- DWent to a theme park
What did they see in the city?
- ATall buildings and lots of cars
- BBeaches and oceans
- COnly gardens
- DOnly old houses
What did they see at the museum?
- AInteresting things from history
- BA movie
- CA concert
- DA sports event
What did they see in the city center?
- AStreet performers
- BA beach
- CA zoo
- DA stadium
What were the street performers doing?
- APlaying music and doing tricks
- BSelling food
- CGiving speeches
- DPainting houses
Where did the family go for lunch?
- AA shopping mall
- BA park
- CA restaurant
- DA museum
What did the author eat?
- AA burger
- BFish and chips
- CPizza
- DSushi
Why does the author like Greenfield?
- AIt is busy
- BIt is peaceful and calm
- CIt has tall buildings
- DIt has many shopping malls

Greenfield to New York City — True or False

Choose True or False.

1. Greenfield is a big city with lots of shops and parks.

TrueFalse

2. The author's family went to the city for a day trip.

TrueFalse

3. The city was quiet and there were only a few people around.

TrueFalse

4. The author saw interesting things from the future at the museum.

TrueFalse

5. The street performers were only doing magic tricks.

TrueFalse

6. The author bought clothes and souvenirs at a small shop.

TrueFalse

7. The author had a burger for breakfast.

TrueFalse

8. The park had only a few trees and flowers.

TrueFalse

9. The author prefers living in Greenfield because it is peaceful and calm.

TrueFalse

10. The author does not like visiting the city because it is too busy and noisy.

TrueFalse

5

A Weekend in New York City

Dialogue and optional teacher-read listening script.

Jenna and Tia Talk About the Weekend

Listening option: read the dialogue twice before showing the text.

Jenna: Hey, Tia! How was your weekend?

Tia: It was great. My family and I went on a day trip to the city.

Jenna: Oh, wow! Which city did you visit?

Tia: We went to New York City!

Jenna: That sounds amazing — what did you do there?

Tia: We visited a museum and saw some really interesting exhibits. Then we walked around the city center and watched some street performers.

Jenna: Nice! Did you go shopping? Did you pick up any cool clothes or souvenirs?

Tia: Yes, we went to a big shopping mall. I bought a new dress and some souvenirs for my friends.

Jenna: Where did you have lunch?

Tia: We tried a cool burger place. It was delicious!

Jenna: What else did you do before coming home?

Tia: After lunch, we went to a park and played some games. The park was huge, with lots of trees and flowers.

Jenna: Sounds like it was an eventful trip. Do you wish you lived in the city now?

Tia: Not really. I'm happy to be back in our quiet little town, where everything is peaceful and calm.

A Weekend in New York City — Gap-fill

Complete the dialogue with the source words.

city ×2visitmuseumeventfultownplayedexhibitstripmallparkcenterperformerspeacefulshopping

My family and I went on a day ______(1) to the ______(2). Which ______(3) did you ______(4)? We visited a ______(5) and saw interesting ______(6). Then we walked around the city ______(7) and watched street ______(8). We went ______(9) at a big shopping ______(10). After lunch, we ______(11) some games in a ______(12). It was an ______(13) trip, but I'm happy to be back in our quiet little ______(14), where everything is ______(15) and calm.

A Weekend in New York City — Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

Who did Jenna ask about the weekend?
- ATia's family
- BTia's friends
- CTia
- DJenna
Where did Tia and her family go?
- AThe countryside
- BThe beach
- CThe city
- DAnother state
Which city did they visit?
- ALos Angeles
- BSan Francisco
- CNew York City
- DChicago
What did they do in the city?
- AWent to a cinema
- BVisited a museum
- CWent to a concert
- DWent to a theme park
What did Tia buy?
- AA new dress and souvenirs
- BShoes
- CA phone
- DA laptop
Where did they have lunch?
- AA pizza place
- BA burger place
- CA sushi restaurant
- DA Mexican restaurant
What did they do after lunch?
- AWent to a hotel
- BWent to a park
- CWent to a zoo
- DWent to a beach
What was the park like?
- ASmall with no trees
- BHuge with lots of trees and flowers
- CSmall with flowers
- DHuge with no trees
Does Tia wish she lived in the city?
- AYes
- BNo
- CShe has not decided
- DThe dialogue does not say
What is the tone of the conversation?
- ASerious
- BSad
- CExcited
- DAngry

A Weekend in New York City — Open Questions

Answer in full sentences.

Where did Tia and her family go on the weekend?
Which city did they visit?
What did they do in the museum?
Did they watch any street performers?
Did Tia buy anything?
Where did they have lunch?
What did they do after lunch?
Does Tia wish she lived in the city?

6

Discussion

Ten source questions, lightly cleaned for natural English.

Have you ever taken a trip to a city or town?
What is your favourite thing to do when you visit a new place?
Have you been to a museum with interesting exhibits recently?
Do you enjoy going to shopping centres or malls?
Have you seen street performers while walking around a town or city?

Have you played in a city park before?
Would you prefer an eventful day in a city or a peaceful day in a small town?
What is your favourite place for events and activities in your city or town?
Have you visited any historical landmarks in a town or city?
Which city or town would you like to visit next?

7

Creative Writing

Personal and general topics from the source.

Personal Essay Topics

My favourite place in my city or town and why I love it.
A special memory I have of a place in my city or town.
The best thing about living in my city or town.
A fun adventure I had exploring my city or town.
My dream place to visit in my city or town.

General Essay Topics

Living in a city or town is better than living in the countryside. What do you think?
Cities and towns are too noisy and crowded. Do you agree?
Some people prefer living in small towns rather than big cities. What do you think?
Cities and towns have more opportunities for work and education. Do you agree?
Living in a city or town can be expensive. Is it worth it?

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Answer key

Collapsed by default.

Reading — Gap-fill Answers

1. town · 2. place · 3. shops · 4. city · 5. buildings · 6. cars · 7. museum · 8. center · 9. performers · 10. shopping · 11. restaurant · 12. park · 13. trees · 14. town · 15. calm

Reading — Multiple-choice Answers

1. B · 2. B · 3. C · 4. A · 5. A · 6. A · 7. A · 8. C · 9. A · 10. B

Reading — True / False Answers

1. False · 2. True · 3. False · 4. False · 5. False · 6. False · 7. False · 8. False · 9. True · 10. False

Dialogue — Gap-fill Answers

1. trip · 2. city · 3. city · 4. visit · 5. museum · 6. exhibits · 7. center · 8. performers · 9. shopping · 10. mall · 11. played · 12. park · 13. eventful · 14. town · 15. peaceful

Dialogue — Multiple-choice Answers

1. C · 2. C · 3. C · 4. B · 5. A · 6. B · 7. B · 8. B · 9. B · 10. C

Dialogue — Open-question Answers

Tia and her family went on a day trip to the city.
They visited New York City.
They saw interesting exhibits in the museum.
Yes, they watched some street performers.
Yes. Tia bought a new dress and souvenirs for her friends.
They ate at a burger place.
They went to a park and played some games.
No. She is happy to be back in her quiet little town.