Wellington!
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Kate | Todd |
Todd: Hello can you say your name please?
Kate: My name is Kate.
Todd: Ok Kate where are you from?
Kate: I’m from New Zealand.
Todd: Oh are you from Auckland?
Kate: No, I’m from Wellington, the capital city.
Todd: Oh Wellington is the capital? Is it in the north island or the south island?
Kate: It’s in the bottom of the north island.
Todd: What’s Wellington like?
Kate: Wellington is a very beautiful city. It’s got… the centre is obviously the townshop with a few tall buildings. Then we have the harbour which is very beautiful especially at night time with city lights reflecting on the harbour. And then on the outside we have all the suburbs where everybody lives.
Todd: How is Wellington different from Auckland or Christchurch?
Kate: First of all Auckland. Auckland is much bigger: it’s the biggest city in New Zealand. And the city itself in the very centre, downtown centre, the buldings are much taller and much more hectic. Traffic is hectic every day, going to work. Wellington is much more calmer. However in Christchurch it is flat, completely flat. Wellington is very hilly, many hills.
Todd: Is it a cheap place to live? Or is it expensive?
Kate: Reasonably cheap. Compared with Auckland it is much cheaper.
Todd: How much do things cost? In New Zealand how much is a bus ride?
Kate: Bus ride from home to town would be 1 dollar 50, New Zealand dollars.
Todd: Ok and how much is a loaf of bread?
Kate: Loaf of bread, 2 to 3 dollars.
Todd: What’s the best thing about your city?
Kate: Best thing about my city is strangely enough the wind.
Todd: The wind?
Kate: It’s known for its wind.
Todd: How’s that a good thing?
Kate: How’s that a good thing? The cool breeze especially in summertime when it gets quite hot, a
cool gentle breeze although it can get quite strong.
Todd: And what’s the worst thing about your city?
Kate: Worst thing about my city would be the trains: they’re so inconvenient and they don’t cost so much but they’re just inconvenient and the buses aren’t so good either.
Todd: Well it’s kind of the same in my country!
reflect
Then we have the harbour which is very beautiful especially at night time with city lights reflecting on the harbour.
To 'reflect' something is to show the image again, like a mirror. When the lights are 'reflecting' in the harbor, it means you can see them on the water. Notice the following:
- The clouds reflected on the water.
- Her face was reflected in the glass.
hectic
Traffic is hectic every day, going to work.
If something is 'hectic,' then it is crazy and out of control. Notice the following:
- Our house was very hectic around the holidays, because the whole family was there.
- Yesterday was a hectic day, and I was tired when I went to bed.
hilly
Wellington is very hilly, many hills.
A place with a lot of hills is 'hilly.' Notice the following:
- I felt sick from driving for hours on the hilly roads.
- She was tired after riding her bicycle through the hilly city.
known for
It’s known for its wind.
To be 'known for' something is to be famous for it. For example, France is known for its excellent wine. Notice the following:
- She was known for being a terrible driver.
- The city is known for its dance clubs.
gentle
The cool breeze especially in summertime when it gets quite hot, a cool gentle breeze.
If something is 'gentle,' it is soft or not strong. A breeze is a very light wind. Notice the following:
- The gentle movement of the boat was relaxing.
- You must be gentle when you hold a new baby.
Vocabulary Quiz
known • gentle
