[VOCAB BANK] Travel, Places, City Life, Housing, and Transport

Quick upgrade ladders across common IELTS themes

public transport

Public transport is improving slowly in my city

buses, trains, metro systems

traffic congestion

Traffic congestion is worst during rush hour

heavy traffic that causes delays

commute

My daily commute takes about forty minutes

travel regularly between home and work/study

walkable

The old town is surprisingly walkable

easy to move around on foot

scenic

We drove along a scenic coastal road

beautiful in a natural way

landmark

The bridge has become a landmark in the city

famous place or structure

off the beaten track

I prefer places that are a bit off the beaten track

away from the usual tourist areas

breathtaking

The view from the hill was breathtaking

extremely beautiful

conveniently located

The hotel is conveniently located near the station

in a practical position

crowded

The beach gets crowded on public holidays

full of people

laid-back atmosphere

The town has a laid-back atmosphere

relaxed feeling

local cuisine

Trying the local cuisine is part of the travel experience

food from a specific area

make your way to

We made our way to the harbour before sunrise

go toward a place

reliable service

People need reliable public transport

transport or system that works consistently

urban sprawl

Urban sprawl can increase commuting times

city expansion over a wide area

urbanisation

Rapid urbanisation is converting rural villages into bustling metropolitan centers

the process of making an area more urban

housing shortage

Many capital cities face a severe housing shortage due to high demand

a lack of sufficient accommodation

public transport

The local government is investing millions to expand the public transport network

state-funded shared transit systems

infrastructure

Upgrading roads, bridges, and electrical grids is vital for modern infrastructure

the basic physical structures of a country

congestion

New bike lanes were built to help reduce vehicle congestion in downtown areas

heavy traffic and blockage

commuting time

Moving closer to the office drastically decreased my daily commuting time

the duration of travel to work or school

rent

Students often spend more than half of their monthly budget on apartment rent

regular payment made to a landlord

suburban area

Families often move to a quiet suburban area outside the city center

a residential district on the edge of a city

traffic flow

Smart traffic lights have been installed to optimize traffic flow during rush hour

the movement of vehicles on a road

population density

High population density in major cities often leads to smaller living spaces

the number of people living per square kilometer

relocate

The tech company decided to relocate its headquarters to a coastal city

move to a new place

expand

The municipal council plans to expand the metro line to outer suburbs

increase in size or reach

redeploy / redevelop

The city intends to redevelop abandoned factories into public parks

rebuild an urban area to improve it

subsidise

Governments often subsidise train tickets to encourage eco-friendly travel

support financially to reduce costs

ease congestion

Constructing a new bypass road helped ease congestion significantly

reduce heavy traffic build-up

rent

Young adults usually prefer to rent an apartment rather than buy one immediately

pay to use a property

own property

Skyrocketing prices have made it incredibly difficult for young couples to own property

possess real estate or housing

rely on public transport

Most citizens rely on public transport to get to work every day

depend entirely on buses and trains

improve mobility

Adding pedestrian zones and wheelchair ramps will greatly improve mobility

make movement around an area easier

overcrowded

The train lines become severely overcrowded during rainy mornings

containing too many people

affordable

The city needs to build more affordable housing units for low-income workers

reasonably priced and within budget

well-connected

The neighborhood is well-connected to downtown by multiple bus routes

having good transport links

car-dependent

Suburban neighborhoods without sidewalks are often highly car-dependent

relying heavily on personal vehicles

densely populated

Tokyo is one of the most densely populated urban centers in the world

packed closely with residents

time-consuming

Stuck in gridlock, my daily journey has become a very time-consuming chore

taking up a lot of time

liveable

Clean air, safe streets, and green spaces make a city highly liveable

suitable, safe, and pleasant to live in

poorly planned

The poorly planned neighborhood suffers from narrow streets and inadequate drainage

constructed without proper design

affordable housing

The mayor promised to invest heavily in affordable housing programs

cheap and accessible accommodation

rush-hour traffic

Leaving the office early allows me to completely avoid heavy rush-hour traffic

peak-time vehicle delays

public transport network

The entire city is serviced by a comprehensive public transport network

interconnected system of buses and trains

green public space

A peaceful green public space allows residents to unwind and enjoy nature

parks and outdoor community areas

high living costs

Despite the high living costs, many young people still flock to London

expensive daily maintenance expenses

city centre

The historic city centre is filled with museums and pedestrian-only streets

the core commercial area of a town

residential area

Speed limits are lower in a residential area to protect pedestrians

district primarily filled with housing

transport system

An efficient transport system is crucial for a thriving domestic economy

network for moving goods and people

housing affordability

The ongoing financial crisis has negatively impacted overall housing affordability

the financial capability to buy or rent homes