Living in a Big City

Advantage-disadvantage essay:

Living in a metropolis offers various advantages and disadvantages. Explore these factors.

Model answer by Lifestyle Training Centre:

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Living in a large city presents a multitude of advantages and disadvantages, making it a subject of perpetual debate. In this essay, we will delve into the various aspects of urban life, highlighting the pros and cons, and ultimately providing a balanced perspective on this lifestyle.

The advantages of residing in a big city are undeniable. Firstly, cities offer a wide array of opportunities for employment and career growth. With numerous companies, industries, and sectors concentrated in urban areas, individuals have a higher likelihood of finding a job that suits their qualifications and aspirations. Additionally, access to superior healthcare facilities and educational institutions is more prevalent in metropolitan regions, ensuring better medical services and educational options for residents. Furthermore, the cultural and recreational opportunities in cities are unparalleled. Museums, theatres, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife provide a wealth of entertainment choices. The diverse population in big cities often leads to exposure to various cultures, broadening one’s horizons and fostering tolerance and acceptance. Public transportation systems in cities are typically well-developed, allowing for easy mobility, reduced commute times, and decreased dependence on private vehicles, which, in turn, has positive environmental implications.

However, urban life is not without its downsides. One of the foremost disadvantages is the cost of living. High rent or property prices, coupled with increased expenses for basic necessities, can place a substantial financial burden on city dwellers. Moreover, congestion and overcrowding are common issues, leading to increased stress, noise pollution, and reduced personal space. In terms of health, air quality in large cities can be subpar due to pollution, posing potential health risks. Finally, the fast-paced, competitive environment in cities may lead to elevated stress levels and a sense of social isolation for some residents.

In conclusion, living in a big city offers numerous opportunities and cultural advantages, including career growth, access to quality services, and diverse experiences. However, it comes at the cost of a high standard of living, environmental concerns, and increased stress levels. Ultimately, the decision to live in a big city should be based on one’s personal preferences and priorities, as it offers both the vibrancy of urban life and the challenges that accompany it.

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Here’s the list of vocabulary from the essay along with their short meanings, ideal for Duolingo or IELTS vocabulary practice:

Vocabulary Word/Phrase	Short Meaning
large city	a big, densely populated urban area
advantages and disadvantages	pros and cons; benefits and drawbacks
perpetual debate	ongoing or never-ending discussion
various aspects	different parts or features
pros and cons	positive and negative points
balanced perspective	a fair and equal view considering both sides
advantages	benefits or positive points
wide array of opportunities	a large range of chances or possibilities
employment and career growth	job availability and chances to advance professionally
companies	businesses or firms
industries	sectors of economic activity
sectors	specific areas within business or the economy
qualifications and aspirations	skills and dreams/goals
superior healthcare facilities	better medical centres and hospitals
educational institutions	schools, colleges, or universities
medical services	healthcare provided by professionals
educational options	choices in learning institutions or courses
cultural and recreational opportunities	chances to experience arts and leisure activities
museums	buildings that display art, history, or science collections
theatres	places to watch live performances
restaurants	places where meals are served to customers
vibrant nightlife	lively evening entertainment (e.g. clubs, bars)
entertainment choices	options for fun or leisure activities
diverse population	a mix of people from different backgrounds
exposure to various cultures	contact with people from different traditions
tolerance and acceptance	open-mindedness and inclusion of differences
public transportation systems	buses, trains, and metros for public use
well-developed	advanced or fully built
easy mobility	ability to move around conveniently
reduced commute times	less time spent travelling to work/school
dependence on private vehicles	need to use personal cars
positive environmental implications	good effects on nature or pollution levels
downsides	negative points
cost of living	how expensive it is to live in a place
rent or property prices	amount paid for housing or buying a home
basic necessities	essential items like food, water, housing
substantial financial burden	a big money-related difficulty
congestion and overcrowding	too many people or traffic in one place
stress	mental or emotional strain
noise pollution	harmful or annoying sound in the environment
reduced personal space	having less private area or room
air quality	how clean or polluted the air is
pollution	harmful substances in the environment
health risks	chances of getting sick or injured
fast-paced, competitive environment	quick-moving and high-pressure surroundings
elevated stress levels	increased anxiety or tension
social isolation	feeling alone or disconnected from others
opportunities	chances for progress or success
cultural advantages	benefits from exposure to different cultures
career growth	improvement in professional life
quality services	high-standard amenities like healthcare, education, transport
diverse experiences	varied events or interactions in life
high standard of living	expensive but comfortable lifestyle
environmental concerns	issues related to nature and pollution
personal preferences and priorities	individual likes and what’s most important to someone
vibrancy of urban life	energetic and dynamic lifestyle in the city
challenges	difficulties or obstacles