Topic 9. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city.

Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would
you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Sample essay 1.


I grew up in a small town and then moved to a big city, so I have experienced the good and bad
sides of both. I never thought that I would like living in a big city, but I was wrong. After ten years
of living in one, I can't imagine ever living in a small town again.

Small towns and big cities both have some problems in terms of transportation. In a small town,
you have to own a car to ensure a comfortable living. You can't get around without one because
there isn't any kind of public transportation. Big cities generally have heavy traffic and expensive
parking, but there you have a choice of taking public transportation. It's not free, but it's often
cheaper than driving when you consider gas and time. Especially if you don't have a car, you're
better off in the city.

I love the excitement of big cities. Small towns have a slow pace. Large cities mean you have to
adapt to a variety of situations, like finding a new route to work or trying a new restaurant. I enjoy
that challenge very much. Another pan of the excitement of city living is the variety of cultural
activities available. There is a wide assortment of theatre, music and dance performances
available in big cities. These things are rare in small ones.

The final thing I like about large cities is the diversity of the people. The United States is made up
of people of different races, religions, abilities, and interests. However, you seldom find such a
variety of people in a smaller town. I think that living in an area where everyone was just like me
would quickly become boring.

Of course, security is a concern, and that's one area where small towns are superior to big cities.
Still, I would rather be a bit more cautious and live in a large city than to feel secure but bored.

Sample essay 2.


Where should we live? Some may choose to live in big cities, while other like the natural and quiet
surroundings in countryside. As far as I am concerned, I would like to live in a big city because
living in a big city has more advantages than living in countryside.

To begin with, the city is the symbol of human civilization and there are a many facilities for
living, recreation and health care. Therefore, living there is more convenient than living in
countryside. For example, we can find a plenty of malls around our neighborhood, where we can buy everyday necessities at a low price. Furthermore, people concern more about their health and
safety than other things in their lives. In big cities, medical facilities and emergency services are
easily accessible than in countryside. Big cities also have convenient transportation and utility
systems. They also offer faster Internet connections. These all make our life easier in big cities.

In addition, we can take part in a variety of events in big cities. Human being likes to live together
and need to interact with each other. In a big city, the population density is high therefore there
are always plenty of social activities, sports events and concerts. There are more recreational
places in big cities, such as opera houses, movie theatres, clubs, and swimming pools. You will
have many kinds of entertainment in big cities, and meet many people. In countryside, however,
the life may be dull and quite, and you may only have a few neighbors. Living alone with few
activities can easily cause mental diseases.

Some may argue that the pollution in cities makes people sick. However, with automobiles and
modern highways we can easily take a break to expose to fresh air in countryside and sunshine on
the beach.

In conclusion, I strongly hold that living in big cities is much better than living in countryside
because of the advanced facilities and social activities in cities. Moreover, the autos and highways
enable us to enjoy the natural and quiet surroundings in countryside.

Sample essay 3.


In English, there is a well-known fairy story about a poor country boy, Dick Whittington, who
goes to London because he believes that the streets of that city are “paved with gold”. The story
is a tale of “from rags to riches”. Dick eventually becomes the Lord Mayor of London. Like the
hero of that story, I always find wonder and adventure in cities.

Cities contain a great assortment of people. Whenever I walk around a shopping precinct at
midday on a weekend, I am fascinated by all the different types of people hurrying around the
shops. Sometimes, I just sit on a public bench and simply watch the variegated streams of
shoppers. Today, in the age of globe-trotting transport and communications, city life is more
mixed than it has ever been. Capital cities are not cosmopolitan, and eager to attract foreign trade
and currency. There is a contemporary English joke which tells that “you can never find an
Englishman in London”.

Whether rightly or wrongly, governments and local authorities usually build public amenities in
the big cities. Money is invested in transport, libraries, parks and museums. Often, countries will
compete with each other for the best “show-case” building. Malaysia has built a skyscraper that is
taller than is anything in New York. In large countries, region will compete against region: New
York against Chicago, Shanghai against Hong Kong and Beijing.

All of this is good for the citizen. The magic of the Dick Whittington story is rekindled in me when
I enter a library in a magnificent building. If a person is at university studying art or music, a large
city usually offers galleries and public performances. Even as a teenager, I appreciated the worth
of living in a city because two or three times a year there was a rock concert by a favorite band.
Architecture is the urban landscape. If a person has an appreciation of architecture, a city can be
as visually exciting as the Himalayas. A modern metropolis is a mountain range of height, light
and solidness. And then there are the old buildings: the quaint, unspoiled side-street or shops and
homes from a distant age. If a person lived all of his life in one large city, he would continue to discover its architectural secrets into his old age.

Man is a 'social animal'. He talks, mixes and creates. Cities offer the libraries, universities and cafe
bars for him to meet others of his kind.