GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 329
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of the house or building they live in.
What are the reasons for this?
How can people research this?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Homeowners digging for information about the houses they live in is becoming increasingly popular in recent times. This trend can be attributed to different reasons ranging from their inquisitiveness, and self-satisfaction, to superstition. They can visit the local library, get hold of old newspapers and talk to local residents to learn more about the background of their homes.
Learning about the history of a house for self-satisfaction and inquisitiveness, and understanding the structure of the building are the primary reasons many citizens search for the history of their houses. Some people are simply curious and they have a thirst to learn about the place they live in. It becomes the primary motivation for them to search for the history of their houses. For some, this could be an attempt to avoid living in a house that could be haunted. Though this belief stems from superstition, still it is an important reason behind this trend.
There are different ways people can research the background of their houses. The simplest method, in my opinion, is to talk to local residents who had been living there for many years. Sometimes, they can offer information that is not recorded anywhere else. The newspaper archives and local library could be two other worthwhile sources of information about it. To cite an example, a local library in our city helped historians find a house that was the original birthplace of a prominent scientist in our country.
In conclusion, people are more fascinated about the background of their houses in modern ages than ever and this is why they are searching to find more details about them. Local libraries, newspaper archives and local residents could help them with that.