A2 Vocabulary — The countryside
Key words to talk about landscape, nature and life in the countryside.
A2 Pre-intermediate
Nature & Places
The countryside
1. Landforms
- hill = an area of land higher than the land around it, but not very high. We walked up the hill to see the view.
- mountain = much higher and steeper than a hill. They go skiing in the mountains every winter.
- valley = low land between hills or mountains. There is a small village in the valley.
- field = open land, often with grass or crops. Cows were eating grass in the field.
2. Water: rivers & lakes
- river = a long line of water that flows to the sea. The children swam in the river in summer.
- stream = a small narrow river. The dog drank from the stream.
- lake = a large area of water with land all around it. We keep our boat on the lake near our house.
- pond = a small, still area of water, often in a garden or park. Ducks were swimming on the pond.
3. Nature & wildlife
- forest = a very large area full of trees. It was dark in the forest under the tall trees.
- wood = a smaller area of trees; in US English we often say woods. We walk the dog in the woods near our home.
- nature = everything not made by people: plants, animals, rivers, mountains… Spending time in nature helps me relax.
- wildlife = animals, birds and plants living freely in nature. You can see a lot of wildlife in the countryside.
4. Villages & homes
- village = a small group of houses, smaller than a town. There is a small shop and a post office in the village.
- cottage = a small house in the countryside or in a village. My grandparents live in a stone cottage.
- farm = land and buildings used for animals or crops. She grew up on a sheep farm.
- farmhouse = the main house on a farm where the farmer lives. We had lunch in the old farmhouse.
5. Life on a farm
- crops = plants grown by farmers for food (wheat, corn, potatoes, etc.). This year the crops were very good.
- barn = a big farm building for animals or storing things. They keep the hay in the barn.
- fence = a line of wood or metal that goes around land. There is a high fence around the field.
- path = a narrow track for people to walk on. Follow the path through the fields to the lake.
6. Useful notes
- We usually say in the countryside (not at the countryside).
- Remember the difference between a river (moving water) and a lake or pond (still water).
- Use go for a walk or go hiking when you talk about walking along paths in nature.
Exercises:
The countryside
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
We climbed a small
near the town; it only took twenty minutes to walk to the top.
Correct:
A small raised area of land is a hill.
2
They went hiking in the
and there was snow on the top even in summer.
Correct:
A very high hill is a mountain.
3
Our village is in a
between two mountains.
Correct:
A low area between hills or mountains is a valley.
4
The cows are eating grass in the
behind the farmhouse.
Correct:
An open piece of land, often for animals or crops, is a field.
5
A long wide line of water that flows to the sea is a
.
Correct:
A big flowing line of water is a river.
6
There is a small
in the forest – you can jump across it.
Correct:
A small, narrow river is called a stream.
7
We went swimming in a big
surrounded by mountains.
Correct:
A large area of water with land all around it is a lake.
8
There are ducks on the small
in the park.
Correct:
A small, often round lake is a pond.
9
The path goes through a dark
with many tall trees.
Correct:
A large area full of trees is a forest.
10
We like walking in the
near our house; it’s a small forest.
Correct:
The woods = a small forest or area of trees.
11
We go to the countryside to be close to
– trees, mountains and rivers.
Correct:
Nature = the natural world: land, plants, water, sky, etc.
12
The national park protects local
such as deer, foxes and many kinds of birds.
Correct:
Animals that live in nature are called wildlife.
13
My grandparents live in a small
with only one shop and a church.
Correct:
A small group of houses in the countryside is a village.
14
They have a little stone
by the lake where they stay in summer.
Correct:
A small house in the country is a cottage.
15
We visited a
and saw cows, sheep and chickens.
Correct:
Land where people keep animals or grow food is a farm.
16
The farmer grows
like wheat and corn in his fields.
Correct:
Plants that farmers grow for food are called crops.
17
The family lives in the
in the middle of the fields.
Correct:
The main house on a farm is the farmhouse.
18
The cows sleep in the
at night when it’s cold.
Correct:
A big farm building for animals or hay is a barn.
19
There is a wooden
around the garden to keep the sheep out.
Correct:
A line of wood or metal around an area is a fence.
20
Follow the narrow
through the forest to the waterfall.
Correct:
A small track for people to walk on is a path.
The countryside
Match the sentences with the words
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