Living in a city.

[Silverobama]

I wrote the following short paragraph to talk about the pros and cons of living in a city. Is it natural?

People choose to live in cities/in a city* because cities/a city offer/offers many conveniences, such as organic vegetables, up-to-date information, and more job opportunities. Big cities are especially outstanding when it comes to educational resources and teaching quality. The only possible blemish is that the relatively serious pollution.

*: I can't decide which phrase is better.

 

[emsr2d2]

I wrote the following short paragraph to talk about the pros and cons of living in a city. Is it natural?

People choose to live in cities /in a city* because cities/a city offer/offers they offer many conveniences, such as organic vegetables, up-to-date information, and more job opportunities.

Big cities are especially outstanding when it comes to educational resources and teaching quality. The only possible blemish downside/disadvantage is that the relatively serious pollution.

See above. I've underlined your list of "conveniences" (I'm not keen on the use of the word but I've left it for now) because it's a very random list. Also, it's not clear what "up-to-date information" means. Information about what? People who don't live in cities can get "up-to-date information" too by simply going on the internet.

 

[Silverobama]

People who don't live in cities can get "up-to-date information" too by simply going on the internet.

Good point. I was trying to say the first-hand information about everything. You're right that people can access internet wherever they're but here in my country, there are still many people don't have that access.

How about this revised version?

People choose to live in cities because they offer many advantages, such as easy access to organic food, timely information, and a wider range of job opportunities. Big cities are especially strong when it comes to educational resources and the quality of teaching. The only downside might be the relatively serious pollution.

I changed "conveniences" to "advantages" and used "downside" to replace "disadvantage" because I already used "advantage" at the beginning. I want to say that "information about almost everything" because talented people love going to developed cities instead of small towns to hold meetings about advanced technology, say.

Please help me with the new version.

 

[emsr2d2]

Good point. I was trying to say the that they have/they can get first-hand information about everything.

Even with my grammatical correction, I don't know what you mean. "Information" about WHAT?

You're right that people can access the internet wherever they're they are but here in my country, there are still many people who don't have that access.

That's contradictory. If I'm right (that people can access the internet wherever they are) then it can't also be true that some people can't access the internet.

People choose to live in cities because they offer many advantages, such as easy access to organic food, timely information, and a wider range of job opportunities.

I think you know what I'm going to ask - "timely information" about WHAT?
Don't you think that something like good public transport links warrant a mention here?

Big cities are especially strong when it comes to have particularly good educational resources and the quality of teaching is excellent.

See above.

The only downside might be is the relatively serious pollution.

Are you sure that's the only downside to living in a city? What about, for example, lack of access to nature, cramped living conditions, higher levels of crime, higher prices for everyday products?

I changed "conveniences" to "advantages" and used "downside" to replace "disadvantage" because I already used "advantage" at the beginning. I want to say that "information about almost everything" because talented people love going to developed cities instead of small towns to hold meetings about advanced technology, say.

Are you saying that "advanced technology" constitutes "everything"? Why do only "talented people" matter (and what are they talented at doing)? I really don't know what you're trying to get at with this idea.

 

[Silverobama]

That's contradictory. If I'm right (that people can access the internet wherever they are) then it can't also be true that some people can't access the internet.

I was trying to say that yes, it's quite easy to get online for most of people, but still there are people who live in the mountains or poor countryside here in my city and country can't get access to the internet.

Are you sure that's the only downside to living in a city? What about, for example, lack of access to nature, cramped living conditions, higher levels of crime, higher prices for everyday products?

Well, yes, there are many disadvantages of living in cities too but right here I'm trying to focus on the upsides of living in a city, so I avoid mentioning those problems.

Are you saying that "advanced technology" constitutes "everything"? Why do only "talented people" matter (and what are they talented at doing)? I really don't know what you're trying to get at with this idea.

Hmm, you're right. I don't know how to summarize the idea: company CEOs tend to go to big cities like Beijing and Shanghai to talk about their future plans and important meetings are always held in those cities rather than small towns. I'm not saying that "technology" and "talented people" are unique in the development of a city. I think the following version is okay now. Could you please take a look at it?

People choose to live in cities because they offer many advantages, such as easy access to organic food, good public transportations and a wider range of job opportunities. Big cities have particularly good educational resources and the quality of teaching is excellent. The only downside I can think of right now is the relatively serious pollution.

 

[emsr2d2]

I was trying to say that yes, it's quite easy to get online for most of people, but still there are people who live in the mountains or poor countryside here in my city and country who can't get access to the internet.

1. I'm sure we've mentioned before that "poor countryside" doesn't work. The countryside (rural areas) can't be rich or poor.
2. "Countryside here in my city" doesn't make sense. The countryside is the complete opposite of a city.