Read the text for detail and answer the following text-based questions

1. What distinction does the author consider indisputable irrespective of a city profile? 

2. What settlements can the word “city” be applied to in the USA Midwest and in Australia? Are there any historical grounds behind it?

3. When and why did the garden cities movement emerge? What is a garden city like? Give some examples of garden cities.

4. What problems do low-density cities face?

5. What was the status of city bound to under Henry VIII?

6. What British towns became cities in the second half of the 19^th century?

7. What official criterion for what constitutes a city is currently used in the UK?

8. How many officially designated cities are there in the UK currently?

9. What is the role of the monarch in the elevation of the UK towns to city status?

10. Does the holding of city status give a settlement any special rights?

11. Why do British towns strive to receive the city title?

12. Are French towns as obsessed with being granted city status as British ones? Why?

13. What criteria were taken into account to differentiate a town from a city in ancient times?

14. How does Richard Sennett define a city?

15.  Why do developers tend to label a place a “tech city”, a “media city” or a “smart city”?

16.  What does the architect Sir Terry Farrell’s recent recommendation to government testify to?

17. What is considered to be a small town mentality and a true city mentality, according to the text?

v Over to you

Ø What advantages and disadvantages may be found in city life?

Ø What elements does a city or a town need to attract people? What are your guidelines for urban beauty?

Ø If you were an urban planner, what improvements would you suggest for your city (town)?

Ø What are pros and cons of small town mentality / lifestyle?

Paraphrase or explain the following phrases from the text.

1. This is the pioneer spirit at work…

2. Ebbsfleet echoes the ambition of the garden cities movement that first gained traction at the beginning of the last century

3. …we need a more discerning definition of the title…

4. While utopian in vision, low-density “cities” such as these are, as a concept, profoundly anti-urban.

5. …St David’s on the west coast of Wales enjoyed the city mantle.

 

Complete the gapped summary of the article. Pay attention to summary language and structure patterns.

TOPIC – What is the subject matter of the article?

The article entitled “What Makes a City a City …” sheds light on a challenging yet vital topic of ___________________.

MAIN IDEA – What view does the author hold on the issue?

The key idea of the article is that although the status of a city is normally nothing but honorific, a lot of UK towns strive _____________, which is truly a British obsession.

MAJOR SUPPORTING DETAILS – How does the author prove his view?

In the first place, the author argues that outback dots have always had aspirations to style themselves _____________. However, while pointing out that there is a growing tendency of garnering a city status among __________, the author elaborates on the roots of this phenomenon. He also pinpoints why it is of great significance to provide a discerning definition of a city and its subtitles such as ______________ etc. Moreover, the author contends that towns that brand themselves as cities unequivocally remain towns and lack something cityish, therefore, _________ might be nothing but a moniker.

In addition, the author proves that historical grounds for a city title such as ____________________ are no longer reasonable. Instead, _______________ is applicable to define a city. The author emphasizes that some practical reasons such as being a center of a wider area and having a good record of local government outweigh ____________________. What is more, he also __________ the profound impact of ______________on the elevation of UK towns to city status. Finally, the author also notes that the issue of a city status is topical as _______________________________.