MAP

I. Key features to look for in map tasks

 key changes in the structures or features indicated on the map or plan
 anything that has been made bigger or smaller
 anything that has been improved or changed in some other way
 anything that has been removed
 anything that has been replaced with something new
 anything new that has been added
 any similarities – what has been kept the same?
II. Vocabulary
1. Verb
enlarge build construct cut down demolish erect expand extend
industrialize introduce knock down make into modernize pull down
redevelop remove replace by transform narrow turn into urbanize flatten
renovate supersede by rearrange shrink dwindle adjust disappear move
denude broaden modify emerge deconstruct relocate become establish

Usage Verb

make bigger

make smaller

take away

add something new

change into something

new

move to a new place

 general statement
about changes
2. Noun
Instead of using a verb, like demolish (e.g The old market has been demolished.),
you can use a noun phrase:
One significant development has been the demolition of the old market.
Another change has been the construction of a new football stadium.
Verb Noun Verb Noun
demolish demolition industrialize
construct construction introduce
enlarge modernize
convert redevelop
erect remove
expand replace
extend transform
supersede urbanize
emerge broaden
relocate renovate
3. Position
- in the north/ west/ east/ south/ of + the whole area
E.g. The old market is located in the north of the city.
- to the north/ west/ west/ south/right/left of + another feature
E.g The old market is located to the north of the football stadium.
- at the bottom/ top of + the whole area
E.g: The old market is located at the bottom of the city.
- on the right/ left side of + the whole area
E.g: The football stadium is on the left side of the city.
- to the right/ left of + another feature
E.g: The old market is located to the right of the football stadium.
- in the top left-hand corner/ bottom right-hand corner/ etc of + the whole area
E.g: The old market is located in the top left-hand corner of the city.
- close to/ near/ in the vicinity of/ in the proximity of
E.g: The old market is in the vicinity of the football stadium.
- adjacent to/ next to/ beside
E.g: The old market is beside the football stadium.
- opposite/ in front of/ parallel to
E.g: The old market is opposite the football stadium.
- a long distance away from/ far away from
E.g: The old market is a long distance away from the football stadium.
- surrounded by/ covered with/ enclosed by
E.g: The old market is surrounded by trees.
4. Useful words for describing
Residential/housing area: an area that has lots of houses and some schools.
Industrial area: an area that has lots of factories
Commercial area: an area that has lots of stores
Intersection/Junction: the point where several streets meet.
Woodland: an area with lots of trees
Facilities/ Amenities: recreational/ entertainment/ transport / medical/ etc +
facilities/ amenities
III. Grammar
1. Tense
- When both maps are in the past, use past simple tense and past perfect tense
- When one map is in the past, and the other is in the present, use past simple tense,
present simple tense, and present perfect tense.
2. Useful structure
- It is interesting to note that there has been a + change + of + N + position
E.g: It is interesting to note that there has been a emergence of the new market in
the north of the city.
- Another striking change/ development is + change + of + N + position
E.g: Another striking change is the emergence of the new market in the north of the
city.
- Position + has experienced/ undergone/ witnessed a significant + general change,
which is + specific change.
E.g: The north of the city has experienced a significant modernization, which is the
emergence of the new market.
- Position + has experienced/ undergone/ witnessed a number of changes, with N1 being
VpII and N2 being VpII.
E.g: The north of the city has undergone a number of changes, with the football
stadium being established and the ole market being converted into housing area.
- There used to be + N + position, but it was + VpII.
E.g: There used to be an old market, but is was redeveloped into a football stadium.
- There used to be + N, but the last few years + have witnessed/ seen + change of + N.
E.g There used to be an old market, but the last few years have witnessed the building
of new facilities in this area.
- S + V (add sth new) + position, replacing/ superseding + N.
E.g: A shopping center has been constructed on the top bottom-left corner, replacing
the football stadium.
- S + V (take away) to make way for the + change + N.
E.g: The football stadium is pulled down to make way for the construction of a new
market.
- Change of N + take place/ happen + position.
E.g: The expansion of the housing area took place in the north of the city.
- Prior to development, S1 + V1, but S2 + V2
E.g: Prior to development, this area was uninhabited, but it had been converted into a
housing area in 1909.
- In terms of/ Regarding/ With regard to + N, S + V
E.g: In terms of recreational amenities, they have been established in the north.
- As part of development programme/plan, S + V.
E.g: As part of the development programme, recreational amenities have been
established in the north.
- Compound sentence
E.g: The village appeared alongside the road; additionally, a railway was built in 1909.
3. Introduction
- Details regarding how infrastructural layout of + N has been changed/ modified/ etc
are revealed in the images.
E.g: Details regarding how the infrastructural layout of the city has been changed are
revealed in the images.
- The images illustrate how infrastructural layout of + N has been changed/ modified.
E.g: The images illustrate how the infrastructural layout of the city has been modified.
4. Overview
- [In general,/ Overall] it is clear that this area [undergo/ see/ witness/ experience]
[major/ significant/ radical] [modernization/ changes/ transformations/
redevelopments] + time, with the most noticeable changes being + [change of N].
E.g: Overall, it is clear that this town has undergone significant transformations, with
the most noticeable changes being the addition of houses and recreational facilities.
III. Practice
Exercise 1: The maps below show the Happy Valley Shooping Centre in 1982 and 2012.

Sample
Details regarding how infrastructural layout of Happy Valley Shooping Centre had been
radically modified between 1989 and 2012.
Overall, it is clear that this area had undergone significant transformations, with the
most noticeable changes being the expansion of the shopping mall.
In the north, there used to be a lake surrounded by trees in 1982, but 30 years later it
had been converted into a store of furniture, which previously was located in the right
side of the mall. Moreover, the road and plants on the left side had been cleared to make
way for the establishment of a spacious car park. As part of development programme,
lobby area had been replaced by an entrance; whereas, the demolition of coffee shop
took place on the top left-hand corner. In addition, toilets, recreational area, as well as
elevator to the second floor remained intact.
Another striking change is the enlargement of the food store, and then the division into
2 stores displaying sports and electronics products. A sequential array of themed
restaurants emerged on the east of shopping centre, being adjacent to the food store and
replacing sports and electronics stores. It is interesting to note that due to the widening
of the mall towards the right side, the trees outside had been removed.

Exercise 2: The plans show the ground floor of the library in 2001 and how it was
redeveloped in 2009.
Exercise 3: The maps illustrate an industrial area in Norbiton in the present day
compared with plans for future development of the site.