IELTS Speaking Part 3: Cities, Housing and Transport

Right, let's move on to Part Three.

好，我们进入第三部分。

We've been talking about your hometown, so let's consider cities more broadly.

我们刚才谈了您的家乡，接下来我们更广泛地谈谈城市。

Why do you think so many people are still drawn to big cities?

您认为为什么仍有这么多人被大城市吸引？

Well, I suppose the obvious answer is opportunity.

嗯，我想最明显的答案就是机会。

Cities concentrate jobs, universities and culture in a way that small towns simply can't.

城市把工作岗位、大学和文化集中在一起，这是小城镇根本做不到的。

And do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, in your view?

那么在您看来，好处大于坏处吗？

Hmm, that's a tricky one... it largely depends on your income.

嗯，这个问题有点难……很大程度上取决于收入。

For high earners, city life is undeniably convenient.

对高收入者来说，城市生活无疑是很方便的。

For everyone else, though, soaring rents can swallow half a salary.

但对其他人来说，飞涨的房租可能会吞掉一半的工资。

So who should be responsible for keeping housing affordable?

那么，谁应该负责让住房价格保持在可负担的水平？

Ultimately, I'd argue the government has to step in.

归根结底，我认为政府必须介入。

Left to itself, the market tends to build luxury flats, not family homes.

如果任由市场自行发展，它往往会建豪华公寓，而不是适合家庭居住的住房。

Some would say that's simply supply and demand at work.

有人会说，这不过是供求关系在起作用。

Fair point! But housing isn't an ordinary product, is it?

说得有道理！不过，住房可不是普通商品，不是吗？

People can postpone buying a car. They can't postpone having a roof over their heads.

人们可以推迟买车。可是头上有片屋顶，这件事是推迟不了的。

Let's turn to transport. How might cities reduce their dependence on cars?

我们来谈谈交通。城市可以怎样减少对汽车的依赖？

Oh, this is something I feel strongly about!

哦，这件事我感触很深！

The most effective approach is to make the alternatives genuinely attractive,

最有效的办法是让替代方案真正有吸引力，

rather than merely punishing drivers.

而不只是惩罚司机。

If trains are frequent, clean and cheap, people will choose them willingly.

如果列车班次频繁、干净又便宜，人们会心甘情愿地选择乘坐。

Do you think people would really give up the comfort of their own car?

您认为人们真的会放弃私家车的舒适吗？

Not overnight, admittedly... habits like that are deeply ingrained.

不可能一夜之间做到，这一点我承认……这种习惯早已根深蒂固。

In my city, a new tram line stood half empty for years.

在我所在的城市，一条新的有轨电车线路曾多年半空着。

Yet once the fares dropped, it was packed within months.

然而一旦票价下调，几个月内就挤满了人。

Looking ahead, how do you imagine cities changing over the next fifty years?

展望未来，您想象中的城市在未来五十年会发生怎样的变化？

I'd love to think they'll become far greener!

我真希望它们会变得更加绿色环保！

We may see rooftop farms, car-free centres, and buildings that generate their own power.

我们也许会看到屋顶农场、无车市中心，以及能自己发电的建筑。

Having said that, I worry that only wealthy cities will be able to afford it.

话虽如此，我担心只有富裕的城市才负担得起。

Is there a risk, then, that the gap between cities will widen?

那么，城市之间的差距是否有可能拉大？

Absolutely, and that's precisely why international cooperation matters.

当然，这正是国际合作如此重要的原因。

Good ideas ought to be shared, not kept behind closed doors.

好的想法应该分享，而不是关起门来藏着。

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

谢谢。口语考试到此结束。

Already? That went by so quickly!

已经结束了？时间过得真快！

It usually does, when the candidate has plenty to say.

当考生有很多话要说的时候，通常都是这样。