雅思口语Part1：噪音/安静

1. Are there many quiet places in your city?
Well, quite a few. As I know. There are several cosy spa treatment zones where people can take a break from a constant stream of noises, feelings, thoughts and vibes which don’t belong to them. There are botanical gardens and remote corners of parks which help people slow down, catch a deep breath and set their minds straight. There are public libraries, museums, art galleries and a planetarium which help people reboot their brain and unwind. And, of course, there is a good deal of *all quiet cafes which help people rid their minds of negative and unnecessary thoughts, and just a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of delicious cake. So, there are quite enough quiet places in my city.

2. Why do people sometimes prefer to be alone?
Oh, I guess, first of all, because they need to reboot their brain and unwind from time to time. There is too much noise and communication in people’s everyday lives these days and sometimes all of them need time just for themselves, time to think about their past actions and behaviour or think through every action they are about to take, time to discover themselves and find their own voice. Sometimes people need solitude to improve concentration and increase productivity or work through problems more effectively cutting off any dependance on how others can affect their state of mind and decision-making. I guess these are the main reasons.

3. Is there much noise around your home?
Well, fortunately, ‘no’ as I live in a very quiet area with quite few people around. There are no industrial facilities or machinery in my neighbourhood, so the worst noise around my home is either barking dogs of my neighbours or the noise from air conditioning equipment. Though, from time to time I can also hear squealing brakes of passing cars but it is the exception rather than the rule, thank god.

4. Does this noise affect you in any way?
Well, I am pretty tolerant to noises and just try to tune out whenever I hear them. So, noises which I usually hear in my area don’t make me nervous or stressed. Though, there are some kinds of noise I am very sensitive to. I mean some special noises like scraping chalk or nails on a board or persistent knocks on the door. They immediately distract my attention from what I am doing and make me very irritated. I also can’t stand loud snoring and intermittent noises that repeat.

5. How do you think noise in cities could be reduced?
Oh, I guess there is a list of ‘noise off solutions and large-scale steps that could be taken by cities all around the world. One of them is to lower the speed limit in the inner parts of the city to 40 km/hour. It will not only provide a quieter atmosphere in the city but also reduce pollution and traffic accidents. One more important step that should be taken is to pave roads with noise dampening asphalt, and if it doesn’t change the situation significantly reduce traffic volume in the most crowded areas. I would also offer to plant ‘noise buffers’ composed of trees and shrubs everywhere and especially in busy and create quiet areas and zones in parks, squares and other recreational areas around the city to provide people with special places for relaxation and energy reboot.

6. Is there any place that is absolutely quiet?
Oh, I don’t think so, to my regret. I guess it’s hard to find havens where silence still rules. When I try to find one, it always turns out that finding unsullied locations is more difficult than it might seem ’cause humanity’s noises are always with us in one form or another.

7. Why do some people like to listen to music while they are working?
Well, I think, first of all, because music can deliver much-needed relief on the job, reduce stress that could compromise their focus and performance, and pump up their mood. It can also block out the other excessive input that could overwhelm people especially if they work in an open-plan office and are surrounded by lots of coworkers. Oh, and it makes repetitive tasks more enjoyable, which is great for office employees.

8. Why is it difficult to stay in a quiet place?
Well, ’cause it can be frustrating, first of all. Quietness often makes people stew on toxic thoughts, which, as a result, can make them feel depressed and scared. It can also make people feel lonely and vulnerable to their inner critics. Oh, and it’s really dull for most people too.