BBC English Reading and Listening: The Uk's Most Liveable Place – Orkney Islands

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According to an annual survey released by The Halifax Bank of Scotland, the Orkney Islands in Scotland top the list of the most liveable areas in the UK. But is life here really perfect?

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The archipelago, which lies ten miles off Scotland's north coast, is famed for its spectacular landscapesand archaeological treasures. It is home to just 22,000 people, spread over 20 inhabitable islands.

Located ten miles (about 16 kilometers) off Scotland's north shore, this archipelago is known for its spectacular views and archaeological treasures. It is home to only 22,000 people on more than 20 habitable islands.

Orkney has high employment levels. Almost nine out of ten people aged between 16 and 64 are in work. The crime rate is low, more than seven times lower than the Scottish average.

Orkney's employment rate is relatively high. Nearly nine out of every ten people between the ages of 16 and 64 have jobs. The crime rate here is low, more than seven times lower than the Scottish average.

But there may also be some scepticism based largely on what reports like this tend not to ask about: the cost of living, reliability of transport links, robustness of digital connectivity and levels of fuel poverty.

But people may remain skeptical, largely based on issues that are not often asked in such reports: the cost of living, the reliability of transportation networks, the robustness of digital connectivity, and the degree of fuel scarcity.

vocabulary

1. Archipelago Islands
2. Famed for... famous
3. Spectacular
4. landscape view
5. Archaeological
6. inhabitable
7. Employment level employment level
8. Crime rate Crime rate
9. scepticism skepticism (attitude)
10. Cost of living costs
11. reliability reliability
12. transport link traffic network
13. robustness robustness
14. Digital connectivity digital connectivity
15. fuel poverty Fuel depletion