Task 2 · · 17 samples

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?

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Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

  • Practical motivation: understanding a building’s age and past alterations can help owners plan suitable maintenance and repairs.
  • Legal motivation: checking heritage status can clarify whether regulations restrict proposed changes.
  • Personal motivation and research: curiosity about past residents can be explored through official records, archives, local interviews and expert inspection.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the growing interest and state the main practical reasons.
  2. Develop personal curiosity or connection to the property as an additional reason.
  3. Explain official sources, such as council, land registry and archive records.
  4. Add interviews and professional assessment, then conclude by summarising how these sources work together.
Useful vocabulary & examples
heritage status
official recognition that a building has historical or cultural importance, often with rules about changes

Owners can check a property's heritage status before planning major alterations.

land registry
an official organisation or record system containing information about property ownership

The land registry may help researchers identify previous owners.

documentary evidence
information found in written or recorded sources, such as deeds, maps or permits

Researchers can compare documentary evidence with accounts from former residents.

building surveyor
a professional who examines a building's condition and construction

A building surveyor may identify features that indicate when parts of a property were added.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

339 words · Illustrative target band

It cannot be denied that there is an increasing number of people who showcase their interests about the past of where they are living today. This essay will underscore this phenomenon mainly because of self satisfaction and durability, which can be solved by two different perspectives. Firstly, one of the major reasons for peoples’ increased interest is the wish to understand a place that has personal meaning. Anothe…

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AI-completed learning example

337 words · Illustrative target band

Nowadays, searching for the past story about the accommodation to live in has become more compelling in some countries, and the number of people who do this is increasing. In my point of view, there are a few rationales behind this action, one of them is to keep one’s family safe. In addition, finding historical information can help explain how a building has changed, although it does not replace a current safety ins…

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AI-completed learning example

331 words · Illustrative target band

People share a lot of attachment and emotional bonding with their homes. In a few nations, an increasing number of population is getting more curious about the house or apartment at the reside in. This essay will discuss the reasons for this and the ways in which it could be done. To begin with, humans want to understand the places that hold their memories and everyday experiences. People may want to understand how …

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