City livingOnline version Listen to the woman and answer the questions. by ADR Formación 1 What was it that made the woman want to move? a She was fed up with the state of their cottage. b She was tired of having nothing to do but stare at the surroundings. c She was sick of having to go into the city so often. d 2 What has she still not become accustomed to? a The non-stop speed at which everyone lives in the city. b The sheer number of people that are always out and about. c The experience of using public transport at the busiest times of the day. d 3 Which sentence best summarises the woman’s feelings on city life? a It has freed up time for them to do what they feel like. b She adores the chance to see friends, but does miss certain aspects of country life. c It has allowed them to save enough money to properly enjoy life. d 4 Which sentence best summarises the woman’s now? a She thinks that, despite some misgivings, they should stay in the city. b She is in two minds as to what to do. c She’s fairly certain they need to move back to the countryside for the sake of the baby. d Explicación 1 The woman certainly doesn't describe their life in the country as something boring, describing it as 'nestled among the hills in a quaint little hamlet'. She does, though, say she was 'fed up...[of having to] hop on a train a couple of times a week and make that dreaded (terrible) commute into the city'. 2 She says 'it wasn’t long before we got used to... the frantic pace of life and crowded streets'. She also says there are things she 'would sooner do without' (would prefer not to have to deal with), going on to describe the unpleasantness of using commuter trains: 'being pushed up close to stressed, sweaty workers, none of whom would look you in the eye or dare utter a word'. 3 The woman explains that they had previously 'spent almost every moment of [their] spare time on the upkeep of [their] cottage and small garden', now they lived only 'a stone's throw' (very close) from their friends, and consequently had more time to do what '[they] wanted, and not just what [they] had to do'. 4 The woman describes herself as being 'completely torn' with indecision, as on one hand she desperately doesn't want to 'give up the hustle and bustle of city life', while also wanting to do what is best for the baby.
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