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Speaking vocabulary · Topic 36 of 46

Old buildings

Model answers to every Part 1 question on this topic, with natural B2–C1 vocabulary and idiomatic phrasal verbs to help you answer in your own words.

  • 4 questions
  • 10 phrases
  • 5 exercises
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In this lesson you will

  • read and listen to model answers to 4 Part 1 questions about old buildings
  • learn 10 natural phrases, including idiomatic phrasal verbs
  • practise them in a gap fill, drag-the-word, multiple-choice and crossword
  • answer the questions yourself and record your answers

Step 1

Key vocabulary

  • preservekeep something in its original state
  • knock downdestroy a building
  • date back tohave existed since a particular time
  • run-downin very bad condition
  • restorerepair something so it is like it was originally
  • characterspecial qualities that make something interesting
  • make way forbe removed so that something new can replace it
  • historicimportant in history
  • draughtywith cold air coming in
  • architecturethe style and design of buildings

Step 2

Model answers

Read and listen. The highlighted phrases are the vocabulary for this topic: hover over or tap them to see what they mean. Notice how each answer gives a reason or an example, not just “yes” or “no”.

Are there any old buildings in your city?

Yes, my city has an old town where some of the temples date back to the Ming dynasty. Some of them have been carefully restored, so they look much as they did when they were first built.

Do you think we should preserve old buildings in cities?

Yes, I strongly believe that we should preserve them, because once they're gone, they're gone forever. Too many historic buildings have been knocked down to make way for shopping centres, which all look the same.

Would you prefer to live in an old building or a modern house?

Honestly, a modern house, although old buildings have a lot of character. Many of them are quite run-down, and they can be cold and draughty when it's winter.

Are there any old buildings you'd like to see in the future? Why?

I'd love to see the old churches in Europe, especially in Italy, because I'm fascinated by the architecture. I'd like to find out how they were built when there were no modern machines.

Step 3

Practise the vocabulary

Exercise 1

Match the meanings

Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.

keep something in its original state
in very bad condition
be removed so that something new can replace it
repair something so it is like it was originally
special qualities that make something interesting
with cold air coming in
have existed since a particular time
the style and design of buildings
destroy a building
important in history
Exercise 2

Gap fill: use the right form

Complete the answers with phrases from the box. You may need to change the form (e.g. drag on → dragged on, struggle with → struggling with).

characterdate back todraughtyrestorerun-down

Are there any old buildings in your city?

Yes, my city has an old town where some of the temples the Ming dynasty. Some of them have been carefully , so they look much as they did when they were first built.

Would you prefer to live in an old building or a modern house?

Honestly, a modern house, although old buildings have a lot of . Many of them are quite , and they can be cold and when it's winter.

Exercise 3

Drag the words

Drag each phrase into the right gap. On a phone, tap a phrase and then tap the gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.

Do you think we should preserve old buildings in cities?

Yes, I strongly believe that we should them, because once they're gone, they're gone forever. Too many buildings have been to shopping centres, which all look the same.

Are there any old buildings you'd like to see in the future? Why?

I'd love to see the old churches in Europe, especially in Italy, because I'm fascinated by the . I'd like to find out how they were built when there were no modern machines.

Exercise 4

Choose the right phrase

Which phrase completes each sentence?

  1. Yes, my city has an old town where some of the temples ______ the Ming dynasty.
  2. Some of them have been carefully ______, so they look much as they did when they were first built.
  3. Yes, I strongly believe that we should ______ them, because once they're gone, they're gone forever.
  4. Too many ______ buildings have been knocked down to make way for shopping centres, which all look the same.
  5. Honestly, a modern house, although old buildings have a lot of ______.
  6. Many of them are quite ______, and they can be cold and draughty when it's winter.
Exercise 5

Crossword

Write the phrases without spaces or hyphens. The numbers in brackets show the length of each word, e.g. kill time (4,4) → KILLTIME.

1
23
45
67
8
9
10

Across

  1. 4 special qualities that make something interesting (9)
  2. 8 repair something so it is like it was originally (7)
  3. 9 destroy a building (5,4)
  4. 10 the style and design of buildings (12)

Down

  1. 1 be removed so that something new can replace it (4,3,3)
  2. 2 have existed since a particular time (4,4,2)
  3. 3 with cold air coming in (8)
  4. 5 in very bad condition (3-4)
  5. 6 important in history (8)
  6. 7 keep something in its original state (8)

Step 4

Now you answer

Pick a question, then answer it out loud in two or three sentences. Try to use at least two phrases from this lesson, and give a reason or an example. Record yourself and listen back: did you sound natural? Did you extend your answer?

Press “Give me a question”.

Press Record, answer out loud, then listen back.

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Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.