[IELTS 5.] Unit 1.2 - Reading & Listening

Read the passage and complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer. 

A city survey with a difference

There are many websites on the Internet which provide lists of the world's best cities to visit, live or work in. These lists usually grade the cities in order, from 'best' to 'worst', and are based on facts and figures provided by local or national organisations. 

The City Brand Index (CBI) also provides a list of best and worst cities. However, unlike other surveys, it is based on the idea that cities are similar to products in shops. It asks ordinary people in the other countries to grade cities in the same way that they would grade a product, like a soft drink or a car. What is particularly different about the CBI is that people who take part in the survey may not have ever visited the cities. Instead, they are asked to say what they think the cities are like basing their opinions on things like new stories, magazine articles or television programmes they have heard or seen.  

Each year, about 10,000 people in 20 countries take part in the CBI survey, and they grade a total of 50 cities. They do this by filling in an online questionnaire. There are several categories in the survey. These include things like the economy, education, the environment, local culture, climate and what the city's residents are like.

The CBI list is useful because it helps people choose a good place to live, find work or take a holiday. It also helps regional governments to understand why people and businesses are, or are not, coming to their cities, and so shows them areas which they could develop or improve. 

The City Brands Index

The CBI believes that cities are like 1.1 which people can buy when they go shopping.

Surveys take place every 1.2.

A maximum of 1.3 cities are included in the survey.

A number of different 1.4 are included in the survey.

The CBI list is helpful for:

• people who are trying to decide where to 1.5 or get a job.
• people who are looking for a good 1.6 destination.
• local 1.7 who want to make their city a better place

Listen to four short conversations, and complete these sentences by choosing the correct word and/or number.

The man is moving house on Friday 2.130th3rd13th.

The man has come from 2.2CrawfordCraufordCrawsord.

The man’s mobile number is 2.30872 927020870 2927200780 29227.

Sue lives at 2.470 Sidney17 Sydney70 Sydney Avenue. 

Now listen to these short conversations, and complete the sentences with no more than TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.  

The woman’s name is 3.1.

The woman’s mobile number is 3.2.

The man’s address is 3.3, Fenton.

The woman arrived on 3.4.

Now listen and complete the form. Write no more than TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Good Moves Accommodation Agency

Call taken by: Ben.

Name: 4.1

Telephone: 4.2

Heard about us from: 4.3

Type of accommodation preferred: 4.4

Number of people: 4.5

Preferred location: Wants to be close to 4.6

Price: maximum £ 4.7 per person (including 4.8)

Additional notes:

I suggested Flat 3 and 4.9 Road in Bampton.

I will send further details to customer by 4.10.

Read the passage and complete the table. Choose ONE word from the passage for each answer.

The best cities in the world

In a recent internet survey, tourists and business travellers were asked to rate 50 cities around the world, from the best to the worst. Of the top three cities, two were in Europe and one was in Australia.

In third place was London, scoring highly mainly because it was the most famous city on the list of 50 surveyed. It was also seen as a very good place to do business, and was an important cultural centre. However, it lost points because people believed it was an extremely expensive place to live.

Sydney was also a very popular destination, achieving second place on the list because people believed it had the friendliest inhabitants, as well as the best standard of living and the nicest climate. It failed to make the top spot, however, because people thought there were very few things to see there, and many also thought it was too far away from other business and cultural centres. 

At the top of the list was Paris. Despite problems such as the large amount of traffic, it beat other cities to first place because people considered it to be the most interesting city, with more museums, art galleries and places of interest than anywhere else. People also thought it was the best city to take a holiday in.