Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in one the cities marked on the map? No matter where they are in the world, cities share many characteristics, both good and bad. There are important differences too as each city has its own identity.

Click on the dots to find the names of the cities.

In groups, click on one of the icons, 1-5. They will give you descriptions of five or six of the cities marked on the map. Each one was written by someone who lives in that city today. Print out the descriptions, then have a go at answering the questions about them:

Can you work out the names of the cities from the clues in each description? In what ways are the five cities similar or different? What questions would you like to ask the authors to find out more about one or more of these cities? Which of these cities would you most like to live in? What do you think life will be like in these cities in ten or twenty years' time? Will it be better or worse? What changes would improve the quality of life for the people living in these five cities in the future?

Downtown Los Angeles © Gunnar Kullenberg/Rex Features

Afterwards, have a look at the descriptions of five more cities by clicking on one of the other numbers, 1-5.

• For information and images of life in Nairobi and Dhaka, visit www.globaleye.org.uk/secondary/focuson/indexh.html

• For images of life in various cities visit www.urban-ministries.net/photog.htm

• For images of life in Mexico City visit www.lumika.org/mexico_city_life.htm