ESL Questions New York City
New York City
The Big Apple. These questions explore the skyline of Manhattan, the culture of the five boroughs, and what it's like to live in the city that never sleeps.
Beginner
Do you want to visit New York City?
Can you name a famous tall building there?
How do people travel under the ground?
Is the Statue of Liberty very big and green?
Do you want to see a show on Broadway?
Why is it called 'The City That Never Sleeps'?
Are you a fan of yellow taxis and busy streets?
Can you find New York on a map of the USA?
Is Central Park a good place for a picnic?
What is a 'hot dog' from a street cart like?
Do you like to look at bright lights in Times Square?
Is it very cold in the winter and hot in summer?
Can you name the five 'boroughs' of the city?
Do you want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge?
Are you happy to see the skyline at night?
Intermediate
What would you do if you had only 24 hours to see all of New York City?
How do you feel when you see the massive skyscrapers reaching for the clouds?
Is it better to live in a quiet suburb or in the middle of a noisy metropolis?
How do you decide which 'museum' to visit when there are so many options?
Why do people from all over the world move to New York to find success?
Have you ever tried a 'New York style' pizza or a giant bagel with cream cheese?
Do you think that New York is as 'magical' as it looks in the Hollywood movies?
How do you feel about the 'hustle' culture where everyone is in a big rush?
Is it a good idea to take the 'subway' late at night if you are a tourist?
What is the most iconic symbol of New York: the Statue or the Empire State?
Should we limit the number of cars in Manhattan to make more room for people?
How often do you see New York City mentioned in the songs you listen to?
Why is 'Central Park' called the 'lungs' of the city for the people who live there?
Is it difficult to survive in a place where the cost of living is so incredibly high?
How do you feel about the 'melting pot' of different cultures and languages?
Do you prefer the history of 'Ellis Island' or the modern 'One World Trade'?
What is the best way to handle the noise of sirens and construction all day?
How do you handle a situation where you get lost in the subway system?
Should every city try to have a 'High Line' park built on old train tracks?
What is the role of 'Wall Street' in the global economy and your own life?
How do you feel when you see the 'holiday windows' on Fifth Avenue in December?
Is it possible to feel 'lonely' even when you are surrounded by eight million people?
Why do we call it 'The Big Apple' and where did that name come from?
What is one thing you would buy at a shop in New York if you had the money?
How do you feel when you see the city skyline from a boat or a plane?
Advanced
Is 'New York City' the unofficial capital of the modern western world?
How does the 'grid system' of Manhattan influence the psychology of its residents?
Should we move toward 'congestion pricing' to reduce traffic in the city center?
Is 'gentrification' in Brooklyn and Queens a sign of progress or a loss of soul?
How does the 'Metropolitan Museum of Art' represent global history in one place?
Should we prioritize 'affordable housing' over the construction of luxury towers?
How do the 'Five Boroughs' differ in their identity and their contribution to the city?
Is 'The Subway' the most successful piece of public infrastructure in America?
How does 'the theater' on Broadway drive the economy and the tourism of the city?
Should we implement stricter 'noise ordinances' for a city that never sleeps?
How does 'the 9/11 Memorial' serve as a place of both tragedy and resilience?
Is 'New York' a sustainable model for the mega-cities of the future world?
How do 'immigrant enclaves' (like Chinatown/Little Italy) maintain their culture?
Should we encourage 'vertical farming' in skyscrapers to feed the city population?
How does 'the fashion industry' in NYC dictate global trends and standards?
Is 'The Statue of Liberty' still the premier symbol of hope for immigrants?
How do 'urban heat islands' affect the temperature of the city in the summer?
Should we ban 'short-term rentals' (like Airbnb) to help local renters?
How does 'the architecture' of the city change from Art Deco to Ultra-Modern?
Is 'ambition' the primary trait required to live and work in the Big Apple?
How do 'public parks' (like Bryant Park) act as 'living rooms' for the city?
Should we allow 'autonomous taxis' to take over the streets of New York?
How does the 'UN Headquarters' influence the international status of the city?
Is 'New York' more of a 'state of mind' than an actual physical location?
What will 'New York City' look like when the sea levels rise in the next century?