9.4
THE MEGA PROJECT
93
3
b
In your pairs, discuss this question.
What do you think will be the main
advantages and disadvantages of building
the new city?
4
9.4
Listen to two city planners
talking about the benefits of the project.
Note down the benefits they mention.
Compare them with the ones you
discussed in Exercise 3b.
KEY LANGUAGE
DISCUSSING OPTIONS, MAKING DECISIONS
5
9.5
Listen to a conversation between three city planners about a
name for the vertical city and complete it.
A:
What
1
it Mega City? It’s easy to remember.
B:
Mmm, it’s a possible solution, I suppose, but there are
2
.
How about Hope City? It’s a really good name because it’ll provide a
lot of housing for poor people. Give them hope for the future.
C:
Yeah, Hope City. It
3
to me, I must say. But what
other names can we think of?
A:
Well, one
4
would be to call it Tower City. That’s exactly what it
would be – a towering city, one of the highest in the world.
B:
I don’t know, I’m not too keen on that name. We have one other
option, you know. If we
5
Paradise City, I think most
people
6
that name. It suggests the city would be a
wonderful place to live and work in. That’s what we all want, don’t we?
C:
Mmm,
7
, I really like the name.
A:
Me too. OK, we all seem to like it. Are we
8
then?
Have we
9
? It’ll be Paradise City.
B/C:
Yeah. Agreed.
A:
OK then. I’ll
10
the name to the minister. We’re all
11
. It’s the best name.
6
Work in pairs to discuss the following.
1
Which of the four names is your favourite? Why?
2
What is the best name for a shuttle service from the airport to the
new city?
TASK
ASSESSING A PROJECT
7
a
You are studying engineering at the capital city’s biggest university.
Susan Lau has sent your department a list of questions about the new
project for discussion. In small groups, look at the questions below and
choose five which interest you. Discuss the questions and make decisions.
1
Which material should be mainly used to build the new city? Glass?
Concrete? Steel? Other?
2
What should be the general shape of the city? One tower? Several towers?
3
Who should the new city be for? Poor people? Rich and poor
people? Anyone who can afford to live there?
4
What style would be suitable for the apartments? Classical? Modern?
Futuristic? Other?
5
What kind of restaurants or other food outlets should there be?
6
How can the planners make the city safe for people living and
working there?
7
Should the new city have closed circuit television? Everywhere? In
special areas?
8
What kind of transport should there be inside the building? Lifts? A
monorail? Minibuses? Bicycles? Other?
9
How can the builders protect the city against fire, hurricanes and
very hot weather?
10
What other things do the planners need to think about?
7
b
In your groups, tell another group which questions you chose and
what your decisions were. Give reasons.
7
c
As a class, decide whether the Mega Project is good for the
country. Is it feasible?
