IELTS Speaking Part 3: Old Buildings and Modern Architecture (Band 8.0)

We've been talking about an old building you like.

我們剛才聊了一棟你喜歡的老建築。

Now I'd like to ask you some more general questions.

現在我想問你一些更廣泛的問題。

Sure. I'm looking forward to it!

好的，我很期待！

Why do you think people value old buildings?

你覺得人們為什麼珍惜老建築？

Mainly because they connect us to the past.

主要是因為它們把我們和過去連在一起。

Walking down an old street, you feel part of history.

走在老街上，你會覺得自己是歷史的一部分。

They also give a city its own character,

它們還賦予一座城市獨特的個性，

whereas glass towers look the same everywhere!

而玻璃大樓到哪裡都長得一樣！

Should governments spend money preserving historic buildings?

政府應該花錢保存歷史建築嗎？

On the whole, I'd say yes.

整體來說，我會說應該。

Once they're gone, they can never be replaced,

它們一旦消失，就再也無法取代，

and tourism often pays back the investment.

而且觀光業往往能回收這筆投資。

That said, if a city were to protect every old building,

話雖如此，如果一座城市要保護所有老建築，

there'd be no space left for affordable housing.

就沒有地方蓋平價住宅了。

What do you think of modern architecture?

你覺得現代建築怎麼樣？

Honestly, it's a mixed bag.

老實說，好壞參半。

Some new buildings are stunning, but others are just glass boxes!

有些新建築美得驚人，但有些只是玻璃盒子！

What frustrates me is that so many are designed purely for profit.

讓我很無奈的是，太多建築純粹是為了賺錢而設計的。

The best ones, though, put people first,

不過，最好的建築以人為本，

and you can feel that the moment you walk in.

你一走進去就感覺得到。

How has the design of homes changed in recent decades?

近幾十年來，住宅設計有了什麼變化？

It's widely thought that homes have become smaller,

一般認為住宅變小了，

and in big cities, that's certainly true.

在大城市，這點肯定沒錯。

Open-plan living has also become far more popular.

開放式格局也變得流行多了。

My parents' generation had separate kitchens,

我爸媽那一代的廚房是獨立的，

while we tend to cook, eat and relax in one space.

而我們往往在同一個空間裡煮飯、吃飯和休息。

Will cities look very different in fifty years?

五十年後，城市的樣子會很不一樣嗎？

Almost certainly, and climate change will be the main reason!

幾乎可以肯定，而氣候變遷會是主要原因！

We'll probably see far more green roofs,

我們可能會看到多很多的屋頂綠化，

since they help keep buildings cool.

因為它們有助於讓建築保持涼爽。

Had cities planned for heat earlier, they'd be much cooler today.

要是城市早點為高溫做規劃，現在就會涼快得多。

The more we build with nature, the healthier our cities will be.

我們越是順應自然來建造，城市就會越健康。

Is it better to renovate old buildings or build new ones?

翻新老建築和蓋新大樓，哪個比較好？

It depends, but I'd generally favour renovation.

看情況，但整體來說我比較傾向翻新。

Demolishing a building releases a huge amount of carbon,

拆除一棟建築會釋放大量的碳，

so reusing it is often the greener option.

所以再利用往往是更環保的選擇。

My hometown's old warehouse is a perfect example of that.

我家鄉那座老倉庫就是一個完美的例子。

Thank you. That's the end of the speaking test.

謝謝。口說測驗到此結束。

Thank you. I really enjoyed our discussion!

謝謝。我很享受我們的討論！