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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the history of a house or building and why people are interested in researching this from Cambridge IELTS 16.
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Dave
IELTS Cambridge 16 Essay: History of a House or Building
In many countries, increasing numbers of people are becoming interested in learning about the history of the house or building where they live.
What are the reasons behind this?
How can individuals research this?
There is a growing trend whereby residents are researching the history of their homes. In my opinion, this is due to a natural curiosity and practical concerns and should be done through official channels.
Many are interested in the past of their home because they desire to link with history and are worried about potential structural faults. The first reason is analogous to exhaustively studying family genealogy. By researching one’s ancestors or place of residence, it is possible to understand and establish a connection with the past. Moreover, there is a pragmatic reason related to historical, construction methods. Older homes in particular may have employed unsafe techniques or materials that will degrade, creating the risk of structural damage and, in the worst cases, collapses. By learning about the house and period when it was built, residents can take the necessary steps to ensure the house is structurally sound.
The method for carrying out such specialized research involves requesting local records. It is possible to do initial research through “word of mouth” and collecting relevant stories in a community. However, this information may be unreliable, and therefore an individual should endeavor to contact their local building authorities. In most countries, it is possible to register a freedom of information request and receive the required documents from municipal offices. Governments have little incentive to protect such information and are likely to be receptive and helpful in offering assistance. Residents can then be assured they have the most trustworthy information possible in order to better understand the history of their home and any possible defects in its construction.
To conclude, some today gather information concerning the history of their home to understand the past and guarantee their safety. This development is advisable and the authorities should comply and encourage such fact-finding.
Analysis
1. There is a growing trend whereby residents are researching the history of their homes. 2. In my opinion, this is due to a natural curiosity and practical concerns and should be done through official channels.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Many are interested in the past of their home because they desire to link with history and are worried about potential structural faults. 2. The first reason is analogous to exhaustively studying family genealogy. 3. By researching one’s ancestors or place of residence, it is possible to understand and establish a connection with the past. 4. Moreover, there is a pragmatic reason related to historical construction methods. 5. Older homes in particular may have employed unsafe techniques or materials that will degrade, creating the risk of structural damage and, in the worst cases, collapses. 6. By learning about the house and period when it was built, residents can take the necessary steps to ensure the house is structurally sound.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples/argument.
- Vary long and short sentences and switch to a second reason.
- Stay focused on the second main idea.
- Finish with a strong statement.
1. The method for carrying out such specialized research involves requesting local records. 2. It is possible to do initial research through “word of mouth” and collecting relevant stories in a community. 3. However, this information may be unreliable, and therefore an individual should endeavor to contact their local building authorities. 4. In most countries, it is possible to register a freedom of information request and receive the required documents from municipal offices. 5. Governments have little incentive to protect such information and are likely to be receptive and helpful in offering assistance. 6. Residents can then be assured they have the most trustworthy information possible in order to better understand the history of their home and any possible defects in its construction.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- Relate it back to the main essay topic.
1. To conclude, some today gather information concerning the history of their home to understand the past and guarantee their safety. 2. This development is advisable and the authorities should comply and encourage such fact-finding.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
There is a growing trend whereby residents are researching the history of their homes. In my opinion, this is due to a natural curiosity and practical concerns and should be done through official channels.
Many are interested in the past of their home because they desire to link with history and are worried about potential structural faults. The first reason is analogous to exhaustively studying family genealogy. By researching one’s ancestors or place of residence, it is possible to understand and establish a connection with the past. Moreover, there is a pragmatic reason related to historical construction methods. Older homes in particular may have employed unsafe techniques or materials that will degrade, creating the risk of structural damage and, in the worst cases, collapses. By learning about the house and period when it was built, residents can take the necessary steps to ensure the house is structurally sound.
The method for carrying out such specialized research involves requesting local records. It is possible to do initial research through “word of mouth” and collecting relevant stories in a community. However, this information may be unreliable, and therefore an individual should endeavor to contact their local building authorities. In most countries, it is possible to register a freedom of information request and receive the required documents from municipal offices. Governments have little incentive to protect such information and are likely to be receptive and helpful in offering assistance. Residents can then be assured they have the most trustworthy information possible in order to better understand the history of their home and any possible defects in its construction.
To conclude, some today gather information concerning the history of their home to understand the past and guarantee their safety. This development is advisable and the authorities should comply and encourage such fact-finding.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
growing trend increasingly common
whereby in which
residents people who live there
researching learning about
history past
due to because of
natural curiosity normal desire
practical concerns pragmatic worries
official channels through the government
desire want
link connection
worried about concerned about
potential structural faults possible weaknesses in a house or building
analogous same situation
exhaustively completely
genealogy history of a family
ancestors people from the past
place of residence where they live
understand recognize
establish create/find
connection link
pragmatic reason useful cause
related to concerning
construction methods how it was built
employed unsafe techniques use ways that are dangerous
materials substances
risk threat
structural damage weakness in the building itself
in the worst cases in extreme scenarios
collapses falls in on itself
period time
take the necessary steps do the needed actions
ensure make sure
structurally sound not weak in any way
method way
carrying out conducting
specialized research very specific research
requesting local records asking for files
initial first
“word of mouth” what people say
collecting finding
community neighborhood
unreliable untrustworthy
endeavor try
contact talk to
authorities those in charge
possible feasible
register submit
freedom of information request asking to find out something that is public record
receive get
required documents needed files
municipal offices government buildings
little incentive no reason
protect safeguard
receptive welcoming
offering assistance helping
assured can be sure of
trustworthy information reliable data
possible potential
defects weaknesses
gather information concerning find information about
development change
advisable good
comply work with to help
encourage motivate
fact-finding looking for information
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈgrəʊɪŋ trɛnd
weəˈbaɪ
ˈrɛzɪdənts
rɪˈsɜːʧɪŋ
ˈhɪstəri
djuː tuː
ˈnæʧrəl ˌkjʊərɪˈɒsɪti
ˈpræktɪkəl kənˈsɜːnz
əˈfɪʃəl ˈʧænlz
dɪˈzaɪə
lɪŋk
ˈwʌrid əˈbaʊt
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈstrʌkʧərəl fɔːlts
əˈnæləgəs
ɪgˈzɔːstɪvli
ˌʤiːnɪˈæləʤi
ˈænsɪstəz
pleɪs ɒv ˈrɛzɪdəns
ˌʌndəˈstænd
ɪsˈtæblɪʃ
kəˈnɛkʃən
prægˈmætɪk ˈriːzn
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
kənˈstrʌkʃən ˈmɛθədz
ɪmˈplɔɪd ʌnˈseɪf tɛkˈniːks
məˈtɪərɪəlz
rɪsk
ˈstrʌkʧərəl ˈdæmɪʤ
ɪn ðə wɜːst ˈkeɪsɪz
kəˈlæpsɪz
ˈpɪərɪəd
teɪk ðə ˈnɛsɪsəri stɛps
ɪnˈʃʊə
ˈstrʌkʧərəli saʊnd
ˈmɛθəd
ˈkæriɪŋ aʊt
ˈspɛʃəlaɪzd rɪˈsɜːʧ
rɪˈkwɛstɪŋ ˈləʊkəl ˈrɛkɔːdz
ɪˈnɪʃəl
“wɜːd ɒv maʊθ“
kəˈlɛktɪŋ
kəˈmjuːnɪti
ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbl
ɪnˈdɛvə
ˈkɒntækt
ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz
ˈpɒsəbl
ˈrɛʤɪstə
ˈfriːdəm ɒv ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən rɪˈkwɛst
rɪˈsiːv
rɪˈkwaɪəd ˈdɒkjʊmənts
mju(ː)ˈnɪsɪpəl ˈɒfɪsɪz
ˈlɪtl ɪnˈsɛntɪv
prəˈtɛkt
rɪˈsɛptɪv
ˈɒfərɪŋ əˈsɪstəns
əˈʃʊəd
ˈtrʌstˌwɜːði ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən
ˈpɒsəbl
dɪˈfɛkts
ˈgæðər ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ədˈvaɪzəbl
kəmˈplaɪ
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ
ˈfæktˌfaɪndɪŋ
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
There is a g__________________d w__________y r___________s are r__________g the h_________y of their homes. In my opinion, this is d_______o a n_________________y and p_______________s and should be done through o___________________s.
Many are interested in the past of their home because they d________e to l______k with history and are w______________t p______________________________s. The first reason is a____________s to e______________y studying family g____________y. By researching one’s a___________s or p_________________e, it is possible to u______________d and e___________h a c____________n with the past. Moreover, there is a p___________________n r_____________o historical c_______________________s. Older homes in particular may have e________________________s or m____________s that will degrade, creating the r_____k of s________________________e and, i____________________s, c_____________s. By learning about the house and p________d when it was built, residents can t_________________________s to e__________e the house is s____________________d.
The m_________d for c_______________t such s___________________h involves r___________________s. It is possible to do i__________l research through “w____________________h” and c____________g relevant stories in a c________________y. However, this information may be u_____________e, and therefore an individual should e___________r to c________t their local building a______________s. In most countries, it is p_________e to r________r a f_______________________________t and r______e the r_________________s from m__________________s. Governments have l__________________e to p__________t such information and are likely to be r__________e and helpful in o_____________________e. Residents can then be a__________d they have the most t_____________________________e in order to better understand the history of their home and any possible d________s in its construction.
To conclude, some today g__________________________________g the history of their home to understand the past and guarantee their safety. This d______________t is a___________e and the authorities should c________y and e____________e such f______________g.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
History
- Do you like reading books about history?
- Which country’s history is most interesting to you?
- Which historical event or period do you find most interesting?
- Why is it important to read about history?
- Is it common in your country to research the history of your home?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Some people say history is one the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like science and technology are more important than history.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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