雅思IELTS詞彙：城市與交通
城市與交通這個主題會出現在Part 1關於通勤的問題、Part 2關於令人印象深刻的建築或某次遲到經歷的題卡（cue card）、Part 3關於都市計畫的討論，以及Writing（寫作）Task 2中關於交通壅塞或城市成長的作文。由於多數考生都需要通勤，或住在有一定規模的城鎮，很容易用「a lot of traffic」和「very crowded」來描述所有情況，不論想法多好，回答都會變得平淡。
在Band 7，有效的做法是說出具體的特徵，例如「ease congestion」、「well-connected」、「built-up area」，而不是一再重複籠統的強調詞。這個主題反覆出現的錯誤有三個：每個描述都過度使用「big」和「crowded」；用了「metropolis」這類罕見單字，卻掌控不了前後的句子；描述遲到時只用平淡的直譯句子，而不用考官常聽到優秀說話者使用的自然慣用語「get stuck in traffic」。
這個主題會出現在哪裡
- Part 1關於你自己生活的暖身題目，例如「How do you usually travel around your city?」，下方還有另外4題。
- Part 2針對題卡進行1～2分鐘的個人陳述，例如Describe a city you would like to live in, Describe a building or structure you find impressive, Describe a time you were late for something。
- Part 3較抽象的追問，也是精準用語最重要的地方，例如「What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city?」。
- Writing Task 2關於「城市與交通」的作文題目，同樣會獎勵這些片語：你能說出口的詞語搭配，就能寫進作文。
與其說…不如說…
想法相同，用詞更精準。左欄是大多數考生最先想到的說法；右欄是考官聽起來更精準的說法。
| 常見說法 | 更好的說法 |
|---|---|
| there is a lot of traffic | the roads are heavily congested用精準的形容詞取代籠統的數量說法 |
| I was late because of traffic | I got stuck in traffic用自然的慣用語，而不是逐字翻譯 |
| the city is very big | it's a sprawling metropolis適合Part 3的生動、精準名詞片語 |
| the building looks very modern | the building looks state-of-the-art自然的複合形容詞，更具體 |
| the bus system is good | the city has a well-connected transport network說出具體的特點，而不只是「good」 |
| too many people live around the city | the city suffers from urban sprawl聽起來專業、卻很自然的詞語搭配 |
| they are building new roads | the city is undergoing an infrastructure overhaul正式的說法，適合Part 3的討論 |
| my house is very close to the station | my house is a stone's throw from the station描述短距離的自然慣用語 |
依分數分類的片語
每個片語都附上意思，以及一個你實際說得出口的句子。請學整個句子，而不是只學單獨的單字。
Band 6：基本片語
清楚、正確、常見。用這些就能撐起整個回答，而且聽起來不像背好的。
-
city
單字許多人居住和工作的大型城鎮
I've lived in this city my whole life.
-
traffic
單字在道路上行駛的車輛
I find that traffic gets really bad here around five in the evening.
-
public transport
詞語搭配公車、火車等開放給所有人搭乘的大眾交通工具
I take public transport to work most days.
-
traffic jam
詞語搭配車輛排成長龍、無法移動或幾乎不動的狀態
I was stuck in a traffic jam for almost an hour yesterday.
-
crowded
單字擠滿了人
The metro is always crowded during rush hour.
-
commute
單字定期往返於住處和工作地點之間
I commute to the city centre every day for work.
-
convenient location
詞語搭配容易抵達或位置優越的地點
My flat is in a really convenient location near the station.
-
modern building
詞語搭配採用新近設計和材料建造的建築
The city centre has a lot of modern buildings now.
-
rush hour
詞語搭配一天中交通最繁忙的時段
I try to avoid travelling during rush hour if I can.
-
busy street
詞語搭配人多或車多的街道
My office is on a busy street near the market.
Band 7：詞語搭配
天生就會放在一起的詞。從這裡開始，詞彙就會拉開Band 6和Band 7的差距。
-
run late
慣用語比預定時間晚
I always seem to run late when I take the bus.
-
get stuck in traffic
慣用語因交通壅塞而無法前進
I sometimes get stuck in traffic on my way to work in the morning.
-
built-up area
詞語搭配建築物密集的地方
My neighbourhood used to be fields, but now it's a built-up area.
-
urban sprawl
詞語搭配城市不受控制地向周邊地區蔓延
I've noticed urban sprawl swallowing up villages near my hometown.
-
commuter belt
詞語搭配通勤者居住的城市周邊住宅區
A lot of families move to the commuter belt for cheaper housing.
-
ease congestion
詞語搭配減輕交通壅塞
The new bridge was built specifically to ease congestion downtown.
-
state-of-the-art
單字採用最新、最先進的設計或技術
The new library downtown is a genuinely state-of-the-art building.
-
cut journey times
詞語搭配縮短行程所需的時間
The new metro line has managed to cut journey times significantly.
-
iconic landmark
詞語搭配代表一個地方的著名建築或地標
That tower has become an iconic landmark for the whole city.
-
pedestrian-friendly
單字設計上讓行人安全又方便
The old town is much more pedestrian-friendly than the new districts.
-
make up for lost time
慣用語加快速度以彌補延誤
After the delay, the driver tried to make up for lost time.
-
well-connected
單字與其他地方有良好的交通連結
I chose this neighbourhood because it's so well-connected.
Band 8：精準用語
精準，而且常常是慣用語。只在真正合適的地方用，不要當成裝飾。
-
urban regeneration
詞語搭配改善城市中衰敗地區的過程
The old docks have gone through years of urban regeneration.
-
gridlocked streets
詞語搭配車輛完全無法動彈的街道
The whole city centre had gridlocked streets after the storm.
-
a stone's throw from
慣用語離某處很近
My office is a stone's throw from the main train station.
-
sprawling metropolis
詞語搭配占地廣闊的超大型城市
Coming from a small town, I found the sprawling metropolis overwhelming at first.
-
infrastructure overhaul
詞語搭配對城市道路、交通和公用設施的大規模更新
The city announced a full infrastructure overhaul for the next decade.
-
bear the brunt of
慣用語承受某件事最主要的負面影響
Residents near the airport bear the brunt of the extra traffic.
-
architecturally striking
詞語搭配因設計而在視覺上令人印象深刻
The new concert hall is one of the most architecturally striking buildings I've seen.
-
integrated transport network
詞語搭配不同交通方式順暢銜接的系統
The capital has developed a genuinely integrated transport network over the years.
自我測驗
從上方例句中挑出8個句子，並把片語拿掉。選出適合填入空格的片語：按1～4或直接點選。
第1題，共8題
大聲說出來練習
只讀過的片語還不是你的。大聲回答這些題目，數一數上方的片語中有多少是你實際用得上的。
Part 1題目
- How do you usually travel around your city?
- Do you like living in a big city?
- Is traffic a problem where you live?
- Have you ever been late for something important?
- What do you like most about the city you live in?
Part 3題目
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city?
- How can cities reduce traffic congestion?
- Should governments invest more in public transport than in roads?
- Why do so many people move from rural areas to cities?
- How might cities change in the future because of technology?
常見問題
可以拿我的城市和只在照片或影片裡看過的地方比較嗎？
可以，只要你清楚說明自己沒有親自去過。比較城市能在Part 3展現詞彙的廣度，但比較本身比細節是否正確更重要。
這個主題需要懂都市計畫的專業術語嗎？
不需要。「ease congestion」或「built-up area」這類自然的詞語搭配，比聽起來像背出來、又可能用錯的專業術語更受考官認可。
城市與交通這個主題最常見的詞彙錯誤是什麼？
每個回答都過度使用「a lot of traffic」和「very crowded」。換成「heavily congested」或「gridlocked streets」這類精準的片語，能展現你對Lexical Resource（詞彙資源）有更好的掌控。