IELTS WRITING MAPS Ex. 1
The maps below show changes that took place in Youngsvill i n New Zealand over
a 25-year period from 1980 to 2005. Answer the fol o l wing question:
a. What is the most noticeable difference between the two maps?
b Was the town more or less residential in 2005 compared to 1980?
c. Were there more or fewer trees in 2005?
d. Were the changes dramatic or negligible over tl le 25 -year period?
e. What were the two biggest changes north of the river?
f. What happened to the houses and trees along the railway line south of the river? Ex 2.
Complete the model text below. Use one word from the following list to complete
each blank space. The first one has been done for you. 1 Model text
The maps show the (0) developments which took place in the coastal town of
Youngsvill between 1980 and 2005.
Overall, a (1) ……………….. of the two maps reveals a change from a largely rural to a mainly urban landscape.
In 1980, the town was a much greener (2) ……………….. area with a large number of
trees and individual houses, but during the next 25 years the town
(3) ………………..a number of dramatic changes. The most (4) ………………..is that all
of the trees south of the River Alanah were cut down, with all the (5) ………………..
along the railway line being knocked down and replaced by skyscrapers.
Moreover, a new industrial estate with (6) ……………….. and warehouses sprang up
around the airport and school.
Only a few trees north of the river remained. The woodland was cleared to make
way for a park, a golf course, and car parking (7) ………………... Further
developments were the (8) ……………….. of a stadium near the north-east
(9) ………………..of the lake and a new stretch of railway from the river running
directly north. A marine was also built at the mouth of the river.
Ex 3. Transform the sentences below by changing the nouns into verbs and using the passive. Example
There were spectacular changes in the area.
=> The area was changed spectacularly.
a. There were dramatic developments in the town centre.
b. There was a complete transformation of the neighbourhood.
c. There was a total reconstruction of the residential area .
d. There was a total redevelopment of the old factories.
e There was a rebuilding of the old houses.
f. There was a complete modernization of the entertainment district.
Ex 4. Rewrite sentences a-h below using synonym from the model text in 3.
a. The maps show changes which occurred between 1980 and 2005. 2 b. Very few trees were left.
c. Over the next 25 years, all these houses were demolished.
d. The single dwellings were replaced by skyscrapers .
e The trees were chopped down.
f. The area witnessed dramatic changes.
g. The woodland gave way to a golf course.
h. A marina was also constructed
Ex 5. Put the verb below into the correct form. All of the changes took place between 2000 and 2005. Examples
The block of flats was turned (turn) into a hotel. (passive)
The block of flats made away (make way) for a hotel. (active)
a. The row of old houses .... .. ......... .. (knock down) to make way for a road.
b. The forest ................ .. (cut down) 10 build a railway.
c. The area .................. (redevelop) completely.
d. The factory .... .... .......... (convert) into an art gallery.
e. The city centre .................. (undergo) a total transformation.
f. The row of old terraced houses in the city .................. (pull down)
and .................. (replace) by a block of flats .
g. A sport complex .... ........ ... (construct) in the suburbs.
h. A number of spectacular changes ................. (take place).
i. The whole centre of the town ............ ... .. (transform) by new developments.
Ex 6. NOTE: The past perfect tense can also be used to describe changes occurring
before a specific time in the past. Look at the examples. Then insert “By 2005” at
the beginning of each sentence in 7 and adjust each sentence. Examples
By 2005, the block of flats had been turned into a hotel. (passive)
By 2005 , the block of flats had made way for a hotel. (active)
Ex 7. It is sometimes important to state locations clearly on a map . Read the
examples. Then answer the questions a-g about the map in Ex 1 using the phrases in the box. Example 3
Only a few trees north of the river remained.
Where is the golf course? It is north-west of the lake.
a Where are the skyscrapers? They are ………………………….
b Where is the stadium? It is ………………………….
c Where is the lake? It is ………………………….
d Where is the hospital? It is ………………………….
e Where is the railway station? It is ………………………….
f. Where is the airport? It is ………………………….
g. Where is the school? It is ………………………….
Ex 8. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct prepositions of place from the alternatives.
a. Several changes took place at / in / on the town of Northgate .
b. North of the town, there is a lake surrounded in / of / by trees.
c. A number of new houses were built beside /at / on the railway line.
d. There was a large industrial area located on / in / at the north.
e. A new railway was constructed which ran from / at / in north to south.
f. Two new hotels were erected on / in / at the banks of the river.
g. A large number of new villas were built beside / at / to the sea.
h. A yachting club was set up on / in / at the shores of the lake .
i. A number of wind turbines were placed in the sea, just off / on / to the coastline.
Ex 9. Write the verb in the correct group: 1. MAKE BIGGER: enlarge,… 4 2. TAKE AWAY: cut down,…
3. ADD SOMETHING NEW: build,…
4. CHANGE INTO SOMETHING ELSE: convert,….
5. GENERAL STATEMENTS ABOUT CHANGES: industrialize,…
Ex 10. Complete this table with the noun forms of the verbs. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary Verb Noun demolish (1) demolition construct (2) build (3) open (4) Knock down (5) expand (6) convert (7) introduce (8) replace (9) extend (10) Cut down (11) transform (12) industrialize (13) erect (14) modernize (15) urbanize (16) redevelop (17) pedestrianize (18) Enlarge (19) disappear (20) Ex 11. 5
Complete these sentences with a suitable present perfect form of the verb in brackets.
1. The city used to be very green, but it …………………….. much more industrial. (become)
2. A new sports centre …………………….. in the city centre. (construct)
3. The old stadium …………………….. and replaced by a new one. (demolish)
4. Many significant changes …………………….. in the city in the last ten years. (take place)
5. The old town hall …………………….. and replaced by new flats. (knock down)
6. There used to be a park in the north of the city, but it …………………….. by a supermarket. (replace)
7. The old houses …………………….. to make way for new apartments. (pull down)
8. There didn’t use to be many skyscrapers, but several …………………….. in the last few years. (build)
9. In the last 15 years, the city …………………….. considerably, from a quiet market
town into a much busier small city. (change) 6
10. The disused factory in the south of the city …………………….. a shopping mall. (turn into)
Ex 12. Complete these sentences with the noun form of the verb in brackets.
1. It is interesting to note that there has been a …………………….. of the port area. (redevelop)
2. Another striking change is the …………………….. of the university. (expand)
3. A notable change has been the …………………….. of the old train station into a police station. (convert)
4. The whole city has experienced a significant …………………….. in the last ten years. (modernize)
5. An interesting development has been the …………………….. of a bike-rental scheme. (introduce)
6. There didn’t use to be a cinema or shops near the port, but the last few years
have seen the …………………….. of new facilities in the port area. (build) MODEL TEXT OF EX 11.
The two maps show the main changes which have taken place in the town of
Castellon between 2000 and today.
In general, it appears that Castellon has become a much more modern city, with
far more shopping and transport facilities.
One interesting change is that a new tram line has been built, to connect the
university with the town centre. In 2000, there wasn’t any accommodation for
students, but a hall of residence has been built near the university. Another striking
change is that the old market in the west of the city has been knocked down to
make way for new shops. A completely new covered market has also been built on the other side of the town.
If we look at the port area, it has been pedestrianized since 2000, and a range of
entertainment facilities have been built, such as cinemas, bars and clubs. The
north-east of the city used to be a green area, with lots of trees, but the trees have
been cut down, and a new shopping complex has been constructed. A final
interesting development has been the introduction of a bike-rental scheme in the city centre. 7
Ex 13. Complete the following sentences based on the below map. Using words provided in boxes. A. perpendicular to
1.The farm was ....................... of the map. B. surrounded by
2.The port was ....................... the factory. C. in close proximity to
3.The restaurant was ....................... the bus stop. D. directly opposite
4.The factory was ....................... a lot of trees. E. on the top right-hand
5.The disused railway was ....................... the main corner road. F. to the south 8 G. halfway between
6.The filling station was ....................... of the H. on the bottom right- map. hand corner
7.The restaurant was ....................... the filling station and the hotel.
8.The church was located ....................... of the farm A. chopped down
1. A warehouse was ....................... near the port B. constructed
2. The bus stop was ....................... a car park
and ....................... a new place near the church. C. built (x2)
3. The pine trees opposite the hotel D. converted into
were ..................... to ..................... a hospital. E. reopened
4. The disused railway was ....................... and a F. relocated to
new railway station was .................... .. . G. make way for
5. The farm was ....................... a golf course. H. replaced by
6. A new road which leads to the golf course was ....................... 9 Ex 14.
The maps below show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010. Summarise the
information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant. Write at least 150 words. 10