📘 Part 3: Migration and urbanization

This episode's vocabulary

Push factors (noun phrase) – conditions that drive people away from a place. → Lack of jobs is one of the major push factors in rural areas.

Pull factors (noun phrase) – conditions that attract people to a new place. → Better career prospects are a common pull factors for city life.

Sheer size (noun phrase) – the large extent or magnitude of something. → Cities offer more opportunities simply due to their sheer size.

Novel experiences (noun phrase) – new and interesting things to try or learn. → Big cities provide access to novel experiences not found in small towns.

Monotonous (adjective) – dull and repetitive. → Life in the countryside can feel monotonous for some people.

Crave (verb) – to strongly desire something. → Many young people crave a faster pace of life.

Change of pace (noun phrase) – a shift to a different speed or style of living. → Moving to the city gave her a welcome change of pace.

Livable (adjective) – suitable or good enough to live in. → Good healthcare and transport make a city more livable.

Stable (adjective) – not likely to change or fail. → A stable food supply is essential in any livable city.

Security (noun) – safety from crime or danger. → Security is a key factor in choosing where to live.

State of nature (noun phrase) – a condition without laws or order. → Without rules, the city could descend into a state of nature.

A stone’s throw (noun phrase) – a very short distance. → Her apartment is just a stone’s throw from the office.

Comfort of your own home (noun phrase) – a familiar and safe home environment. → He prefers watching movies in the comfort of his own home.

Space at a premium (idiom) – very limited and therefore valuable. → In city centres, space is at a premium.

Conducive (to) (adjective) – making something likely or possible. → The climate is not conducive to living in mud huts.

Collapse (verb) – to fall down or fail suddenly. → Poorly built structures may collapse in harsh weather.

Cost of living (noun phrase) – the amount of money needed for basic expenses. → Before moving, check the cost of living in the new city.

Destitute (adjective) – extremely poor, lacking the basic necessities. → Without planning, people can end up destitute after relocating.

Socialise (verb) – to interact with others socially. → Cities offer more opportunities to socialise.

Opportunities for independence (noun phrase) – chances to live and make decisions on your own. → Moving out gave him more opportunities for independence.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Why do many people choose to move to big cities?

Rory: Oh, so there are two groups of factors, generally speaking, push and pull. The push factors are those which make people leave the area they are in, like a lack of jobs and opportunities. And I think it's safe to say that there are more of these in the cities just by virtue of sheer size. However, there are pull factors, too, that draw people in. This could be things like the amount of access to novel experiences in cities. By comparison, country life can be a bit slow and monotonous, and many people might crave a change of pace and scene just because it's interesting.

Maria: What factors make a city livable?

Rory: Well, that's probably a matter of lots of differing opinions, but generally things like a stable food supply, so people don't starve to death, and reasonable security, which means people don't need to worry about being mugged or assaulted randomly. If you don't have those things, and others like them, cities can turn into something like the state of nature, and no one wants to live like that, do they?

Maria: What are the benefits of living close to one's workplace?

Rory: Well, if you're not one for moving around a lot or you like to save time, then I suppose being a stone's throw away might be a handy thing. Getting home from work in a short time, so you can spend time doing the things that you like in the comfort of your own home, could also be another one.

Maria: What kinds of places do people in your country prefer to live in?

Rory: I suppose the main choices are between houses in varying forms, like semi-detached houses or bungalows, or apartments in larger cities, where space is at a premium, and you just have to live on top of other people. I don't think the environment or the climate is conducive to more primitive forms of accommodation, like mud huts or something like that. They would probably collapse in days.

Maria: What should people prepare before they move to a different city?

Rory: Well, it's probably a good idea to at least prepare mentally, so you could investigate the cost of living and find out what the local area has to offer. That way, you won't wind up destitute or bored, or at least you'll find ways of avoiding them.

Maria: Why do many people move from one place to another?

Rory: There are all kinds of reasons. We sort of touched on this when we talked about push and pull factors. Some things will encourage them to leave, like a need for lower prices and opportunities for independence, and others will draw them in, such as having more people to socialise with.