Shared city spaces

C2 Proficiency · Speaking Collaborative · Cambridge Ready original exercise

Work with your partner. First talk about two of the pictures for about a minute, then use all five pictures to discuss a situation and reach a decision together in about three minutes.

Now you're going to work on a task together. Here are some pictures of different public places in towns and cities.

Shared city spaces

Older people playing chess at stone tables in a busy city square.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/3450bbd839af098dc975c719054c2505e64200eb24072a21d2f4909662e5e831.avif

candid documentary photograph, older men and women of different ethnicities playing chess at stone tables in a busy paved city square, passers-by and pigeons around them, relaxed afternoon mood, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no text, no watermark

People of different ages reading and studying in a bright public library.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/2ab3590b62661a2720cae6df07081febfb12e1991d25457cecca8e6427b12892.avif

candid documentary photograph, a bright modern public library reading room, a young woman studying, a retired man reading a newspaper, a father and toddler choosing picture books, calm atmosphere, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no text, no watermark

Young people skateboarding in a concrete skate park under a road bridge.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/a3d9b860362bb2d43505be6af15faac0f6deeb8aa816a20f7b394774d3834d1d.avif

candid documentary photograph, teenagers and young adults skateboarding in a concrete skate park beneath a motorway flyover, friends watching from the edge, energetic evening mood, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no text, no watermark

Neighbours tending vegetable beds in a garden between apartment blocks.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/8ffbd83952e048d01860737b4229cc0ddd1b2117687bb200befaa799e84457bf.avif

candid documentary photograph, neighbours of mixed ages tending raised vegetable beds in a community garden between tall apartment blocks, sharing tools and chatting, friendly mood, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no text, no watermark

Joggers, cyclists and strollers on a riverside walkway with a street musician.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/1c371777db3ed3d950189292edcd301749a6958014907912a6a20adaff0b057e.avif

candid documentary photograph, joggers, cyclists and families strolling along a wide riverside promenade at sunset, a street musician playing guitar on a bench, easy-going mood, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no text, no watermark

To begin, look at pictures {a} and {b} together and discuss what draws people to places like these and what they might gain from spending time there. You have about a minute for this.

Now look at all the pictures. Imagine a city is planning to redevelop a neglected area of its centre and has asked residents for their views. Talk together about what each of these kinds of space might contribute to the life of a neighbourhood. Then decide which one would do most to bring different groups of people together. You have about three minutes for this.

Answer this Speaking task out loud and an AI examiner marks it on the official Cambridge Speaking criteria, with what you did well and what to fix next.

Practise this Speaking task free online: solo with exam timers and a self-recorder, as a live mock Speaking test with a partner over a video call, or as a full three-person mock exam — a real examiner reads the official examiner script to Candidates A and B. Rooms are invite-by-link; partners can join without an account.

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