Table of Contents
Describe a Tall Building You Like Or Dislike
Part 2
You should say:
- What it is used for?
- Where it is?
- What it looks like?
- And explain why you like/dislike it?
Sample Answer 1
Well, a high-rise building I’m going to talk about is called the Kinky Tower and you know it’s one of the most famous landmarks in Shenzhen and I’ve got to learn about it since I came to Shenzhen the first time.
It’s definitely a high-rise building with more than like 90 floors and you know the from the first to the fifth floor there are shopping malls.
All the above are actually used for commercial business so you can see there are offices there and actually that was also the first office I’ve ever worked in. Apart from that at the top of the building you can see there is a five-star hotel which is a premium hotel and when you go to the top floor actually you can have a bird view of the whole city and you know there are several reasons why I enjoy the most.
I mean not only about the location but also the design of the building. I mean the exterior of the building features transparent glass so when the night falls it sparkles with lights which looks rather appealing and I still remember last time when I went there it was my birthday. That was also the first time I went there.
Actually I would say when you enter the lobby you’re not fail to be impressed by marble floors and the pillars throughout. To one side there is a large reception with two lifts and in front of you there is a fine staircase leading to the buffet. So actually it was an unforgettable memory for me. My parents and I we all had a blast. Maybe in the future if it’s my parents anniversary day or yeah any kind of festivals I’d like to rebook the buffet again and to revisit that place. All in all it really looks stunning and fabulous.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| high-rise building | B2 | Noun phrase | A very tall building with many floors, usually for offices or apartments. | The high-rise building I’d love to talk about has more than ninety floors. |
| landmark | B2 | Noun | A well-known building or feature that helps people recognise a place. | It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the whole city. |
| commercial (use) | B2 | Adjective | Relating to business and the buying or selling of goods and services. | Everything above the fifth floor is used for commercial purposes, mostly offices. |
| premium | B2 | Adjective | Of very high quality and usually more expensive than average. | At the very top there’s a premium five-star hotel with amazing views. |
| bird’s-eye view | C1 | Noun phrase | A view of something from high above, as if seen by a bird. | From the top floor you get a bird’s-eye view of the entire city. |
| when night falls | C1 | Fixed phrase | At the time when it becomes dark in the evening. | When night falls, the whole tower sparkles with lights. |
| sparkle with lights | C1 | Verb phrase | To shine brightly with many small points of light. | The glass exterior sparkles with lights and looks really appealing. |
| appealing | B2 | Adjective | Attractive or interesting in a way that makes you like it. | The lighting at night makes the building look incredibly appealing. |
| exterior | C1 | Noun | The outside surface or appearance of something, especially a building. | The exterior of the building features transparent glass from top to bottom. |
| you can’t fail to be impressed | C1 | Fixed phrase | Used to say that something is so good that everyone is impressed by it. | As you enter the lobby, you can’t fail to be impressed by the marble floors. |
| have a blast | C1 | Idiom | To enjoy yourself a lot and have a really good time. | My parents and I had a blast when we went there for my birthday. |
| stunning | B2 | Adjective | Extremely beautiful or impressive. | All in all, the place looks absolutely stunning at night. |
| revisit | B2 | Verb | To go back to a place you have been to before. | I’d love to revisit that place on a special occasion like an anniversary. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: A favourite high-rise building
Sample Answer 2
Speaking of this topic, I’d like to talk about the apartment building I’m currently living in, which I don’t particularly like. It’s located in a residential community where the population density is quite high.
As a result, the buildings there are usually built very tall to accommodate more residents. As for what it looks like, there’s actually nothing particularly special about it. It looks much like any other apartment building. However, it happens to be one of the tallest buildings in the community, with a total of 40 floors. And unfortunately, I live on the 37th floor, which means I rely heavily on the elevators every day.
What I dislike most about this building is the elevator situation. I mean, it often takes ages for an elevator to reach my floor, especially during the morning rush hour around 8 a.m. when people are heading to work or school. On average, I have to wait about five minutes before an elevator finally reaches my floor. Although five minutes may not sound like very much, it adds unnecessary delays to my daily routine, and it can be quite frustrating when I’m in a hurry.
In fact, there have been occasions when I was late for work or school because of it. Since I’m a really impatient person, having to wait every single day can be quite irritating. It may seem like a small inconvenience, but after experiencing it day after day, it has become one of the things I dislike most about living in this building. So that’s the reason I don’t like this tall building.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| residential community | B2 | Noun phrase | An area made up mainly of homes where people live, rather than shops or offices. | My flat is in a large residential community on the edge of the city. |
| population density | C1 | Noun phrase | The number of people living in a given area; how crowded a place is. | The population density round here is quite high, so the buildings are packed in. |
| accommodate | C1 | Verb | To provide enough space for a number of people or things. | The blocks are built very tall to accommodate as many residents as possible. |
| resident | B2 | Noun | A person who lives in a particular place, especially long-term. | There are hundreds of residents sharing just a handful of lifts. |
| rely heavily on | C1 | Verb phrase | To depend on something to a large extent in order to manage. | Living on the 37th floor, I rely heavily on the elevators every single day. |
| take ages | B2 | Idiom | To take a very long time (informal, spoken). | It often takes ages for a lift to actually reach my floor. |
| rush hour | B2 | Noun phrase | The busiest part of the day when lots of people are travelling to or from work. | During the morning rush hour, the lifts are unbearably slow. |
| daily routine | B2 | Noun phrase | The set of things you regularly do each day. | Those delays add unnecessary hold-ups to my daily routine. |
| frustrating | B2 | Adjective | Making you feel annoyed because you can’t do what you want. | It’s really frustrating when I’m in a hurry and the lift just won’t come. |
| in a hurry | B2 | Fixed phrase | Needing to do something quickly because you have little time. | When I’m in a hurry, waiting five minutes feels like forever. |
| impatient | B2 | Adjective | Easily annoyed by having to wait or by delays. | Since I’m quite an impatient person, the daily wait really gets to me. |
| irritating | C1 | Adjective | Annoying in a way that gradually wears down your patience. | Having to wait every single day can be incredibly irritating. |
| a small inconvenience | C1 | Noun phrase | A minor problem that causes some difficulty but isn’t serious. | It may seem like a small inconvenience, but it builds up day after day. |
| day after day | C1 | Fixed phrase | Happening repeatedly over many days, often in a tiring way. | Experiencing the same delay day after day has made me dislike the building. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: An apartment building I dislike
Sample Answer 3
What it is used for?
The tall building l’ d like to talk about is Canton Tower, also known as Xiaomanyao in Guangzhou. It is a multipurpose landmark tower. It is not only used for television and radio signal transmission, but also for city sightseeing, high-altitude entertainment, fine dining and cultural exhibitions. There are sightseeing platforms, revolving restaurants and leisure facilities inside for tourists to experience.
Where it is?
It is located in Haizhu District, standing quietly on the south bank of the Pearl River. It faces Zhujiang New Town across the river, surrounded by modern high-rises, riverside parks and bustling commercial streets. It is the most iconic building along the Pearl River scenery belt.
What it looks like?
The whole tower adopts modern steel and glass structure. At night, it is decorated with colourful LED lights, changing various beautiful patterns and reflecting perfectly on the river surface.
And explain why you like/dislike it?
I really like Canton Tower for several meaningful reasons. Firstly, its creative and graceful design is one of a kind, leaving a deep impression on every visitor. Secondly, it is a proud city symbol that represents Guangzhou’s rapid development and modern vitality.
Most importantly, the night view here is absolutely stunning, and standing on the high platform allows me to overlook the whole city and feel the charm of the metropolis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Canton Tower is a magnificent and unforgettable tall building. It perfectly combines practical function, artistic design and urban scenery. It has unique charm and always wins people’s deep affection.
Part 3
1. Are there many tall buildings in your country?
Yes, there are many, many tall buildings in China and especially in big cities. A lot of these tall buildings are tall residential buildings. They could be like 20 to 30 floors tall. And sometimes these tall buildings are like office buildings or like other commercial buildings. And they could usually be even taller than those tall residential buildings. And I think the reason why we have so many tall buildings in China is that, first of all, we have a huge population. And sometimes building these tall residential buildings just makes more sense financially speaking. So maybe from a practical standpoint, we build more tall buildings. And on top of that, I guess, especially for these commercial buildings, they really want to be in tall buildings. It is considered to be a more prestige thing. And yeah, last but not least, I guess China also have a pretty good understanding of how to build these tall buildings. We’ve been building them for a very long time. And yeah, however, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that tall buildings are just essentially better than shorter buildings, but you could see a lot of them in China regardless.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| residential building | B2 | Noun phrase | A building designed for people to live in rather than for business. | A lot of the tall buildings in China are residential buildings of 20 to 30 floors. |
| commercial building | B2 | Noun phrase | A building used for business, such as offices or shops. | Commercial buildings tend to be even taller than the residential ones. |
| a huge population | B2 | Noun phrase | A very large number of people living in a place. | Because we have such a huge population, we need housing that goes upwards. |
| make sense (financially) | C1 | Verb phrase | To be a sensible or logical choice, here for money reasons. | Building tall just makes more sense financially when land is limited. |
| from a practical standpoint | C1 | Fixed phrase | Considering something in terms of what is realistic and useful. | From a practical standpoint, tall buildings house far more people per plot. |
| on top of that | B2 | Linking phrase | Used to add another point to what you have just said; in addition. | On top of that, companies like the image a tall tower gives them. |
| prestigious | C1 | Adjective | Respected and admired as a mark of high status. | Having an office in a tall building is seen as quite prestigious here. |
| last but not least | B2 | Fixed phrase | Used to introduce the final point, which is still important. | Last but not least, we’ve simply had a lot of practice building them. |
| have a good understanding of | C1 | Verb phrase | To know a subject well enough to handle it competently. | China has a good understanding of how to construct high-rises safely. |
| don’t get me wrong | C1 | Fixed phrase | Used to make sure someone does not misunderstand what you mean. | Don’t get me wrong — I’m not saying tall buildings are always better. |
| essentially | C1 | Adverb | Used to talk about the basic or most important nature of something. | Tall buildings aren’t essentially better; they just suit our situation. |
| regardless | C1 | Adverb | Despite what has just been said; anyway. | Whatever the debate, you’ll still see tall buildings everywhere regardless. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Tall buildings in your country
2. What are the differences between those tall buildings in your country?
So basically, there are indeed lots of or different kinds of tall buildings in China, especially in the second tier city, the city of Wenzhou. Basically, we’ve got lots of typical modern commercial skyscrapers, which are a few hundred meters tall. They’re just covered by glass facades or they’re just like glass clads with a sleek design, which are mainly to accommodate the business or companies or to draw up investments, right? And besides, we’ve got the residential buildings, which are usually 20 to 30 stories high. They’re pretty standout, to be honest, which is designed to accommodate the growing population in the suburban area. So I think that’s pretty crucial as well.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| second-tier city | C1 | Noun phrase | A city that is fairly large and developed but ranks below the biggest ones. | Wenzhou is a second-tier city, yet it still has plenty of tall buildings. |
| skyscraper | B2 | Noun | A very tall modern building, especially in a city centre. | Downtown is full of modern commercial skyscrapers a few hundred metres tall. |
| glass facade | C1 | Noun phrase | The front or outer face of a building made mostly of glass. | Many of them are wrapped in shiny glass facades that reflect the sky. |
| glass-clad | C2 | Adjective | Covered on the outside with a layer of glass. | These glass-clad towers look especially striking when they catch the light. |
| sleek design | C1 | Noun phrase | A smooth, modern and elegant style of appearance. | Their sleek design gives the business district a very modern feel. |
| accommodate | C1 | Verb | To provide enough space for people, businesses or things. | These towers are built to accommodate companies and their offices. |
| attract investment | C1 | Verb phrase | To encourage businesses or people to put money into a place or project. | Impressive office towers help the city attract investment from abroad. |
| stories high | B2 | Adjectival phrase | Describing a building’s height by its number of floors (“story” = floor). | The residential blocks are usually 20 to 30 stories high. |
| stand out | B2 | Phrasal verb | To be easily noticed because of being different or impressive. | Honestly, those towers really stand out against the older low-rise areas. |
| growing population | B2 | Noun phrase | A number of people in a place that is steadily increasing. | They’re designed to house the growing population moving into the suburbs. |
| suburban area | C1 | Noun phrase | A residential district on the outer edge of a city. | A lot of new blocks are going up in the suburban areas around the city. |
| crucial | B2 | Adjective | Extremely important because a lot depends on it. | Providing enough housing is crucial as more people move into the city. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Types of tall buildings
3. Why are different places laid out and designed differently?
I think there are several reasons why different places are laid out and designed differently. The first reason is their different use. For example, for business areas, there are usually many offices and large common areas, because all the employees can communicate and work together more easily only in this environment. But for residential buildings, I think there are usually more clear boundaries between one apartment and another, because this is part of people’s personal living space. And another reason is that people in different areas have different cultural and historical preferences. Specifically, every city or country actually has their unique cultural elements and design language. Some countries even consider the design of buildings as their unique cultural characteristics. Therefore, different places will apply these different styles to demonstrate their own cultural and historical features.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| be laid out | C1 | Verb phrase | To be arranged or organised in a particular way in terms of space. | Different places are laid out and designed very differently. |
| common area | B2 | Noun phrase | A shared space that everyone in a building can use together. | Offices tend to have large common areas so staff can work together. |
| clear boundaries | C1 | Noun phrase | Well-defined limits that separate one space or thing from another. | Homes usually have clear boundaries between one apartment and the next. |
| personal living space | B2 | Noun phrase | The private area where someone lives and feels at home. | A flat is part of your personal living space, so privacy matters. |
| cultural and historical preferences | C1 | Noun phrase | The tastes and choices a society develops from its culture and past. | People in different regions have their own cultural and historical preferences. |
| cultural elements | C1 | Noun phrase | Distinctive features that come from a particular culture. | Every city has its own cultural elements that show up in its buildings. |
| design language | C2 | Noun phrase | A consistent style and set of visual choices that define how something is designed. | Each country tends to have its own architectural design language. |
| cultural characteristics | C1 | Noun phrase | Typical qualities that identify a particular culture. | Some nations treat their architecture as a key cultural characteristic. |
| apply a style | C1 | Verb phrase | To make use of a particular design approach in practice. | Different places apply different styles to their public buildings. |
| demonstrate | B2 | Verb | To show something clearly through evidence or example. | The architecture demonstrates a city’s cultural and historical identity. |
| historical features | B2 | Noun phrase | Characteristics that reflect a place’s past or heritage. | Older districts preserve historical features you won’t see in new builds. |
| unique | B2 | Adjective | Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else. | Every country has a unique way of expressing itself through design. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Why buildings are designed differently
4. What are the advantages of living in tall buildings?
Well, I would say living on high floors can bring significant advantages that many people find appealing. First of all, the views can be spectacular. You can enjoy the skyscrapers or the city skyline without obstruction. Secondly, I would say there’s less noise pollution since you are further away from the ground level traffic, while the hustle and bustle of the city. And in addition, I think another significant benefit is the ventilation or more sunlight exposure, which creates a brighter living environment. And interestingly, many high rise residents would feel a greater sense of privacy and security compared to ground level apartments.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| appealing | B2 | Adjective | Attractive or interesting in a way that makes people want it. | Living high up brings advantages that many people find appealing. |
| spectacular | C1 | Adjective | Extremely impressive to look at; dramatic and striking. | From the higher floors, the views can be absolutely spectacular. |
| city skyline | C1 | Noun phrase | The outline of a city’s buildings against the sky. | You can take in the whole city skyline right from your window. |
| without obstruction | C1 | Prepositional phrase | With nothing blocking your view or path. | You can see the skyscrapers clearly, without any obstruction. |
| noise pollution | B2 | Noun phrase | Unwanted or harmful levels of noise in the environment. | There’s far less noise pollution once you’re well above the street. |
| the hustle and bustle | C1 | Idiom | The busy, noisy activity of a crowded place. | Up high, you’re removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. |
| ground-level traffic | B2 | Noun phrase | The vehicles and movement down at street level. | Being higher up keeps you away from the ground-level traffic. |
| ventilation | C1 | Noun | The movement of fresh air into and around a room or building. | Higher flats often get better ventilation and a nice breeze. |
| sunlight exposure | C1 | Noun phrase | The amount of sunlight that reaches a place. | More sunlight exposure makes the flat feel much brighter. |
| a brighter living environment | B2 | Noun phrase | Surroundings at home that are lighter and more pleasant to live in. | All that light creates a brighter living environment overall. |
| a sense of privacy | C1 | Noun phrase | The feeling of being free from others’ attention or intrusion. | Residents high up enjoy a greater sense of privacy and security. |
| ground-level apartment | B2 | Noun phrase | A flat on the lowest floor, at street level. | You feel safer than in a ground-level apartment right by the road. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Advantages of living on high floors
5. Why do some people like to remodel and decorate their homes themselves?
Well, I guess one big reason is that a home often reflects a person’s personality and taste. So when people decorate their homes themselves, they can choose the furniture they like and pick the paintings they want. People want their homes to feel comfortable and personal because people spend so much time at home these days. So for many people, decorating a home is a way to create a space that feels like them.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| remodel | B2 | Verb | To change the structure or appearance of a room or building. | Some people enjoy remodelling their homes entirely by themselves. |
| reflect one’s personality | C1 | Collocation | To show what kind of person someone is. | A home usually reflects a person’s personality and taste. |
| taste | B2 | Noun | A person’s sense of what is attractive or of good quality. | Decorating lets people show off their own taste in colour and style. |
| put your own stamp on (something) | C1 | Idiom | To do something in your own individual way so it clearly belongs to you. | Doing it yourself lets you put your own stamp on the place. |
| a personal touch | C1 | Noun phrase | A small detail added by someone to make something feel individual. | Choosing your own paintings adds a personal touch to the room. |
| furnishings | C1 | Noun | The furniture, curtains and other items that make a room comfortable. | They pick furnishings that suit their own style rather than a designer’s. |
| cosy | B2 | Adjective | Warm, comfortable and pleasant, especially a small space. | People want their homes to feel warm and cosy, not like a showroom. |
| homely | C1 | Adjective | Simple but comfortable, making you feel relaxed and at home. | A few personal items instantly make a flat feel more homely. |
| tailor (something) to | C1 | Verb | To adapt something so it fits a particular need or preference. | Decorating yourself lets you tailor every room to your own needs. |
| a space that feels like you | C1 | Fixed phrase | A place that expresses who you are and feels truly your own. | For many, decorating is about creating a space that feels like you. |
| feel at home | B2 | Idiom | To feel relaxed and comfortable in a place. | A personalised space helps you feel completely at home. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Why people decorate their homes themselves
6. What kind of interior design style do most people like?
I would say that nowadays most people would prefer the modern and minimalistic style. You can see that this style is very popular both online and in real life. A lot of people really strive to reach that minimalistic state or at least they want their furniture and they want their interior design to look very modern. And I think the reason why this is so popular is that first of all it is very achievable. You don’t really need to hire someone to design your home to make it more modern or to make it look more minimalistic. This is something that you can achieve all by yourself. And on top of that I wouldn’t be surprised that this is just another trend. You see it online, you see it in your friend’s homes and eventually you are under the influence of whatever you see, right? Maybe this trend would go away, maybe it would stick around for a while but who knows. I’m sure that people like different styles and different types of interior design but I would say that the modern and minimalistic style is the most popular, the most prevalent style nowadays. So yeah.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| interior design | B2 | Noun phrase | The art of choosing colours, furniture and decoration for the inside of a home. | People care a lot more about interior design than they used to. |
| minimalist | C1 | Adjective | Using very simple, plain design with only a few essential things. | Most people nowadays go for a modern, minimalist look. |
| strive to (do something) | C1 | Verb phrase | To make a great effort to achieve something. | A lot of people really strive to achieve that clean, minimalist feel. |
| achievable | C1 | Adjective | Able to be done or reached without too much difficulty. | One reason it’s so popular is that the look is very achievable. |
| on top of that | B2 | Linking phrase | Used to add a further point to what you’ve already said. | On top of that, it’s honestly just another passing trend. |
| be under the influence of | C1 | Fixed phrase | To be affected or shaped by something around you. | Eventually you’re under the influence of everything you see online. |
| catch on | C1 | Phrasal verb | To become popular or fashionable. | This style really caught on once it spread across social media. |
| stick around | C1 | Phrasal verb | To continue to exist or stay for a period of time (informal). | Who knows whether the trend will stick around or fade away. |
| a passing trend | C1 | Noun phrase | A fashion that is popular for only a short time. | It might just be a passing trend that disappears in a few years. |
| prevalent | C2 | Adjective | Very common or widespread at a particular time. | The minimalist style is easily the most prevalent one right now. |
| do it all by yourself | B2 | Fixed phrase | To complete something on your own, without help. | You don’t need a designer — it’s something you can do all by yourself. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Popular interior design style
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