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

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

我们刚才谈了一座你喜欢的老建筑。

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

现在我想问你一些更宏观的问题。

Sure. I'm looking forward to it!

好的，我很期待！

Why do you think people value old buildings?

你认为人们为什么珍视老建筑？

Mainly because they connect us to the past.

主要是因为它们把我们和过去连在一起。

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

走在老街上，你会觉得自己是历史的一部分。

They also give a city its own character,

它们还赋予一座城市独特的个性，

whereas glass towers look the same everywhere!

而玻璃大楼到哪儿都长得一样！

Should governments spend money preserving historic buildings?

政府应该花钱保护历史建筑吗？

On the whole, I'd say yes.

总的来说，我会说应该。

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

它们一旦消失，就再也无法替代，

and tourism often pays back the investment.

而且旅游业往往能收回这笔投资。

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

话虽如此，如果一座城市要保护所有老建筑，

there'd be no space left for affordable housing.

就没有地方盖平价住房了。

What do you think of modern architecture?

你觉得现代建筑怎么样？

Honestly, it's a mixed bag.

说实话，好坏参半。

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

有些新建筑美得惊人，但有些只是玻璃盒子！

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

让我沮丧的是，太多建筑纯粹是为了赚钱而设计的。

The best ones, though, put people first,

不过，最好的建筑以人为本，

and you can feel that the moment you walk in.

你一走进去就能感觉到。

How has the design of homes changed in recent decades?

近几十年来，住宅设计发生了怎样的变化？

It's widely thought that homes have become smaller,

人们普遍认为住宅变小了，

and in big cities, that's certainly true.

在大城市里，这一点肯定没错。

Open-plan living has also become far more popular.

开放式格局也变得流行多了。

My parents' generation had separate kitchens,

我父母那一代的厨房是独立的，

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

而我们往往在同一个空间里做饭、吃饭和休息。

Will cities look very different in fifty years?

五十年后，城市的样子会大不相同吗？

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

几乎可以肯定，而气候变化会是主要原因！

We'll probably see far more green roofs,

我们可能会看到多得多的屋顶绿化，

since they help keep buildings cool.

因为它们有助于让建筑保持凉爽。

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

要是城市早点为高温做规划，现在就会凉快得多。

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

我们越是顺应自然来建造，城市就会越健康。

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

翻新老建筑和建新楼，哪个更好？

It depends, but I'd generally favour renovation.

看情况，但总体上我更倾向于翻新。

Demolishing a building releases a huge amount of carbon,

拆除一栋建筑会释放大量的碳，

so reusing it is often the greener option.

所以再利用往往是更环保的选择。

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

我家乡的那座老仓库就是一个完美的例子。

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

谢谢。口语考试到此结束。

Thank you. I really enjoyed our discussion!

谢谢。我很享受我们的讨论！