Before you start — what this text type needs
Each task has two subjects: one in the reading and a different one in the listening. Describe both, then say which you prefer and why. Use relative clauses (who / which / that) and include specific sensory or visual details.
Teacher’s notes — Part 4: Extra writing tasks (Descriptive, integrated)
These two tasks extend Unit 7. Relative clauses are the grammar focus and should be a marking criterion — both model answers use them heavily.
The task wording now matches the sources. Each task names both subjects — Tokyo and Barcelona, street food and Italian cuisine — and asks for both plus a preference. Previously it asked for “a city” in the singular, which let a student use one source and still believe they had done the task.
This structure makes these tasks closer to a comparison than a straight description, which is harder than Unit 7 and worth acknowledging. On the other hand is the pivot both models use, and it is worth pre-teaching.
The conclusion in both models chooses one subject and gives a reason. A paragraph that describes both and then stops has no evaluation — send it back.
Students do not have the listening transcripts. They are behind the reveal buttons in this copy only.
Describe the two cities, then say which you would rather visit
Descriptive · integratedThis is an integrated writing task. Read, listen and take notes first — then plan and write.
Read Take notes as you read.
ReadingTokyo: A City of Contrasts
Tokyo is one of the most extraordinary cities in the world. With a population of over thirteen million people, it is one of the largest cities on the planet, yet it is remarkably clean, safe, and well-organised. The city is famous for its striking contrasts — ancient temples and shrines stand quietly beside towering glass skyscrapers, and traditional tea ceremonies take place just streets away from futuristic technology showrooms. Tokyo’s public transport system is legendary: the metro network is one of the most punctual in the world, with trains arriving every two to three minutes. The city also has an outstanding food scene. From simple street stalls selling ramen and takoyaki to Michelin-starred restaurants, Tokyo has more starred restaurants than any other city on the planet. In addition, it has one of the lowest crime rates of any major city in the world. In conclusion, Tokyo manages to combine the energy of a global metropolis with the calm, order, and beauty of a deeply rooted cultural tradition.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningBarcelona: A City That Surprised Me
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.
TranscriptBarcelona: A City That Surprised Me
I visited Barcelona for the first time last spring, and the city completely surprised me. The moment I stepped out of the station, everything felt warm, colourful, and immediately alive. There are wide boulevards filled with golden light and lined with palm trees, and every neighbourhood seems to have its own character. What impressed me most was the architecture of Antoni Gaudí. His most famous building, the Sagrada Família, does not look as though it was built at all — it looks as though it grew organically out of the ground. The Gothic Quarter offered a completely different experience: a maze of narrow medieval streets where you can happily get lost for hours. And then there is the food. In Barcelona, eating is relaxed and social: friends gather over small plates of tapas, fresh seafood, cured meats, and local wine, and nobody is ever in a hurry. In the beach neighbourhood of Barceloneta, I ate lunch by the sea with sand still on my feet. But what I will remember most is the warmth of the people, who made a first-time visitor feel instantly at home.
Take notes One box for each source.
Special or unique features of the city
Look, feel, and atmosphere of the city
Food, transport, and daily life
Plan and write
The reading describes Tokyo and the listening describes Barcelona. Describe both cities using your notes, then say which one you would rather visit and why. Write a paragraph of at least 130 words.
One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.
My plan Notes first — then write.
My paragraph
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your paragraph before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Model plan and answer For modelling and for calibrating your marking.
| Topic sentence | Two of the most fascinating cities in the world are Tokyo and Barcelona, both of which offer extraordinary contrasts and unique atmospheres. |
| Body idea 1 | Describe Tokyo: contrasts, cleanliness, transport, food scene — use relative clauses. |
| Body idea 2 | Describe Barcelona: architecture, neighbourhoods, food, warmth — sensory details. |
| Concluding sentence | Personal evaluation: which city would you most like to visit, and why? |
Model answer · 196 words
Two of the most fascinating cities I have learned about are Tokyo and Barcelona, both of which offer a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. Tokyo is an extraordinary metropolis which manages to combine ancient tradition with futuristic modernity — there are centuries-old temples and shrines that stand quietly beside towering glass skyscrapers, and a metro network that is so punctual that trains arrive every two or three minutes. The city also has more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the world, which makes it a paradise for food lovers. Barcelona, on the other hand, is a city that strikes visitors immediately with its warmth and colour. The wide, sun-filled boulevards lined with palm trees give it a relaxed, vibrant atmosphere, and the city is filled with the extraordinary architecture of Antoni Gaudí, including the Sagrada Família, which looks as though it has grown organically rather than been built. The Gothic Quarter, which is a maze of narrow medieval streets, offers a completely different character. Personally, I would most like to visit Barcelona because of its blend of history, art, food, and energy, which seems to me to be one of the most exciting combinations a city can offer.
Describe the two food traditions, then say which appeals to you more
Descriptive · integratedThis is an integrated writing task. Read, listen and take notes first — then plan and write.
Read Take notes as you read.
ReadingThe Story of Street Food
Street food is one of the most exciting and democratic forms of eating in the world. Found in almost every culture, street food refers to ready-to-eat food sold by vendors in public spaces such as markets, pavements, and squares. Unlike restaurant food, street food is typically affordable, fast, and deeply rooted in local culinary traditions. Some of the world’s most loved dishes began as street food. In Mexico, tacos were originally sold by vendors on the streets of Mexico City. In Thailand, pad thai was promoted as a national street food in the twentieth century as a way of building national identity. In Turkey, simit — the circular sesame-covered bread — has been sold by vendors in Istanbul for centuries and remains one of the most iconic everyday foods in the country. Street food also plays an important social role: stalls and markets are places where people from all walks of life come together to eat, talk, and enjoy their community. In conclusion, street food is more than a quick and cheap meal — it is a living connection to culture, history, and community.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningDiscovering Italian Cuisine
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.
TranscriptDiscovering Italian Cuisine
When I spent a month in Italy last year, I discovered that Italian cuisine is about two things above all: quality and simplicity. Italian cooks use very few ingredients, but every one of them must be fresh, seasonal, and local. A simple tomato sauce made with ripe summer tomatoes, good olive oil, and a few leaves of basil can taste better than the most complicated dish. I also learned that there is no single ‘Italian’ cuisine — each region is completely distinct. In the north, I ate creamy risotto and warm polenta; in the south, the food was dominated by rich tomato sauces, fresh seafood, and wood-fired pizza in its birthplace, Naples. One evening, I watched a grandmother make fresh pasta entirely by hand, folding and cutting the dough exactly as her own grandmother had taught her. But what struck me most was how Italians eat. Meals are long, unhurried, and social — families sit around the table for hours, talking and laughing. In Italy, I realised, food is a way of showing love and keeping tradition alive.
Take notes One box for each source.
What makes this food or cuisine special
Specific examples, origins, and cultural details
Social and cultural meaning for communities
Plan and write
The reading describes street food and the listening describes Italian cuisine. Describe both traditions using your notes, then say which appeals to you more and why. Write a paragraph of at least 130 words.
One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.
My plan Notes first — then write.
My paragraph
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your paragraph before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Model plan and answer For modelling and for calibrating your marking.
| Topic sentence | Two of the most interesting food traditions in the world are street food culture and Italian cuisine, both of which reveal a great deal about the societies that created them. |
| Body idea 1 | Street food: democratic, culturally rooted, social — examples from the reading (tacos, simit). |
| Body idea 2 | Italian cuisine: simplicity, regionality, social meaning — specific sensory details from the listening. |
| Concluding sentence | Personal evaluation: what both traditions share, and which appeals to you most. |
Model answer · 188 words
Two of the most interesting food traditions I have encountered are street food culture and Italian cuisine, both of which are deeply connected to history, community, and identity. Street food, which is found in almost every culture in the world, has a special democratic quality — it is affordable, fast, and rooted in local traditions that have developed over centuries. Dishes such as tacos in Mexico, pad thai in Thailand, and simit in Turkey all began as everyday food sold in public spaces, and they remain a living connection to the cultures that created them. Italian cuisine, on the other hand, is remarkable for its emphasis on simplicity and seasonal ingredients. As the listening text describes, Italian cooking is deeply regional — in the north, you find rich risottos and polenta, while in the south, fresh tomatoes, seafood, and wood-fired pizza dominate. What both traditions share is a profound social dimension: whether at a street stall or around an Italian family table, food is always about bringing people together. Personally, I find Italian cuisine most appealing because its combination of simplicity, freshness, and warmth feels both accessible and deeply satisfying.