Answers to Question 1:
I live by a busy main road.
I come from a pretty village.
I live in a tall apartment block. (apartment block: 公寓大楼)
I come from a large industrial city. (industrial city: 工业城市)
I live in a quiet suburban street. (suburban street: 郊区街道)
I live in a tiny flat. (flat = apartment : 公寓; 一套房间)
Answers to Question 2:
by a river; near a river
in the city centre; near the city centre
in the country
by the desert; in the desert; near the desert
in the mountains; near the mountains
on the outskirts (outskirt:郊外)
by the sea; near the sea
in the suburbs