Describe the ideal home (house or apartment) that you would like to live in You should say:
Where it would be
What type of house it would be Who you would like to live with
And explain why you would like to live in this (kind of) home
Sample:
An ideal home, in my mind, would be one on the foothill of a mountain, with roads connecting to the city where I work. It should be a three-storey house with a yard in front. The ground floor would be made into a store room and a garage, for a car is needed which can make life much convenient. Then the first floor is used for dining room and kitchen, where we have dinner together and receive guests, and it should be big enough even to hold an indoor party. Then the second are designed to be bedrooms with two bathrooms on each. My grandma, parents, brother and I will live in the house, so there's a need for four bedrooms on the second floor. The rooms in third floors are reserved for guests, as well as a study, a place for working and studying.
Besides, stairs will be built, through which we can directly go to the yard, without going down to the ground floor. Some space will be cleared up to lay a wooden table and chairs with shelter, so we can enjoy sitting outdoor even it's raining. A small pool will be constructed to save rainwater, and to store water running down the hill. Half of the extra land of the yard will be used for planting flowers, and the other half for vegetables, with a path in the middle leading to the house. Then grandma could enjoy herself by planting vegetables, and I could appreciate thebeautiful flowers sitting in the chair. The water in the pool could be used for watering the plants.
How wonderful it will be to own a house like that! I may be woken up by the singing of birds and get to sleep by the soft wind outside the wind. Being close to nature, living in a house there is enjoyable.
PART 3: Discussion topics:
1. How is modem home design (both inside and outside appearance) in your country different to that of the past?
Modem homes appear to be the same, for they are in high buildings, created by concrete and steel rods, like boxes rising from the land. The traditional Chinese homes in the past are separate ones, in the shape of a quadrangle. Three sides of the quadrangle are constructed to be rooms, connected by wall, with a wooden door on the forth side. The middle of the quadrangle is open as an inside garden. The inside of homes is not so different. Divided into several rooms by function, modern homes are painted and equipped with
modern furniture. The older homes, enjoying separate rooms for different use, are decorated with wooden furniture.
2. In your country, what type of home do most people live in?
In the city where the housing is in great demand, most people now live in apartment in a high-rise which can sometimes be over twenty storey. But in villages, people enjoy a bigger house, and most people have one three or four-storey house of their won, sometimes with a yard.
3. Do people prefer to live in modern homes or the older-style homes (e.g. from 50 years ago)?
Well, people now may prefer to live in modern ones. The older-style homes of the 50 years ago do not have the modern facilities constructed. For example, there is no running water, not enough sockets for various electrical appliances, and even no close-stool connected to the sewage system. Therefore, people having been used to the modern life will be uncomfortable to live in old ones.
4. How are modem homes different to older homes?
First of all, modern homes are in smaller size than older ones, for the land is in short supply. Then modern ones are always those in a high building, and people will share the lifts to go up and down, while older ones are separate and in most eases, there are yards or gardens around. Thirdly, the modern ones are well-equipped and furnished.
5. What do you imagine people's house will be like in the future?
The houses, where people live and work in the future, may be multi-functional. Maybe concrete and steel are no longer needed, and new materials will be invented to construct houses, so they will be sustainable to earthquake, or other disasters. The high development of science development may make houses changeable. People may make their four-room house change into a five-room one, just by pressing a button.
6. Do people (in your country) prefer to live in cities or in rural environments?
People prefer to live in cities. Though cities are crowded with people, many people would like to live there, for there are more jobs available, as well as complete infrastructure. More people, however, have been tired of city life, and they prefer to live in suburb and commute towork in the city, for they like the clean air and quiet surrounding in a rural environment.
7. What are the differences between living in the countryside, compared to living in a city?
Life in the countryside may be more relaxing and simple. People get up in the singing of birds, and they will go to work without worrying about being blocked on half way, as there is not so much traffic. At nights, they can enjoy a walk out with family after supper. Then they may do some reading or watch TV before they go to bed. There are not so many evening activities as in the city.
8. How do you think cities will change in the future?
An increasing number of people come to live in cities, which means that there is no choice but to develop outwards of the cities to house and supply the need for the people. Therefore, the cities will get larger and more crowded,
and more flyovers will be constructed to relieve the heavy traffic. At the same time, there will be high-rise all round to house people for working and living.
9. What problems do you think such large cities would bring?
In large cities, various problems will occur. The shortage of land is getting severe, which will surely lead to higher housing price, causing heavier living pressure. Besides, more cars will be needed, for it may take hours for people to travel from their living area in suburb, to their working place in city center. Thus, traffic problems increase as well as the need for fuel.
10. Do you think the government should limit the size of cities?
Yes, I think so. Many cities have been developing outwards and becoming larger, which means that more roads need to be built, and more transport should be needed to make the cities connected. It's a waste of resources, and the government should try to limit the growing of cities.
11. Can you suggest any ways to restrict the growth of cities?
Well, one way of restricting the growth of cities would be to develop rural areas. People rush to cities where there are more job opportunities, better infrastructure and welfare. Therefore, the government should make more investment in countryside to create more jobs, andimprove the living condition for people there, then less people will leave their hometown to make a living in cities.