ReadyMocksYour practice survey
Your city is deciding how to use an empty lot in your neighbourhood. Option A is a public park with seating and a play area. Option B is a public parking area. Choose one option and explain why you prefer it. This original exercise is for preparation; it is not an official test question.
Choose the position you can explain
Either option can lead to a clear response. Choose the one you can support with specific effects on people in the neighbourhood. A useful plan is: choice, first reason with an example, second reason with an example, and a brief closing judgement.
Sample A: choose the park
I would prefer the city to turn the unused lot into a public park. Although extra parking would be convenient, a park would offer a lasting benefit to a wider range of residents.
First, our neighbourhood has very little outdoor space within walking distance. Families currently need to cross a busy road to reach the nearest playground. A small park with shaded seating and a safe play area would give children somewhere to exercise and give older residents a comfortable place to meet. Even people who do not own a car could use it regularly.
Second, the lot could help make the area more pleasant during hot weather. Trees would provide shade, and planting beds would improve the appearance of a space that is currently covered in broken pavement. The city could keep maintenance manageable by choosing hardy local plants and installing a few sturdy benches.
Parking is a real concern, but the nearby shopping centre already has spaces that are often empty outside business hours. The city could explore shared parking there. For these reasons, I believe a park would be the better investment.
- The opening makes the choice explicit.
- The first reason names who benefits and explains the current access problem.
- The second reason connects shade and appearance to a practical maintenance plan.
- The final paragraph acknowledges parking, then returns to the chosen option.
Sample B: choose parking
I would choose a public parking area for the unused lot. A park would be attractive, but the shortage of parking is creating immediate difficulties for people who visit our neighbourhood.
The main problem is access to local businesses. Customers often circle the block several times before finding a space, and some leave without stopping. My elderly neighbour also struggles to find somewhere close to the pharmacy when she collects her medication. A small parking area with clearly marked accessible spaces would make these everyday visits easier.
It could also reduce pressure on residential streets. At present, visitors park across driveways or leave their vehicles close to intersections. Providing a designated area would help keep those streets clearer and improve visibility for people crossing the road. A reasonable time limit could prevent the lot from being used for long-term vehicle storage.
The city should still include trees around the boundary and use a surface that allows rainwater to drain. These measures would make the parking area less harsh. Given the current access problems, I think parking should be the priority, with a separate green-space project considered later.
- The opening explains the immediate problem the choice would address.
- The pharmacy example makes the access argument concrete.
- The second reason explains a different effect: pressure on residential streets.
- The conclusion proposes a mitigation without abandoning the parking choice.
Check your own answer
- Can a reader identify your choice in the opening?
- Does each reason explain an effect, rather than simply naming a benefit?
- Do your examples fit this particular neighbourhood decision?
- Does your conclusion agree with the choice you actually supported?
The annotations discuss organisation and task coverage. Neither answer is presented as an officially scored response. Write your own answer with different examples, then revise the paragraph whose reason is least developed.
Check the official preparation resources
Use Official CELPIP preparation resources alongside independent practice to understand the official test.