IELTS Writing Samples

Samples for: Some people think that history has little or nothing to tell us, while others believe that the past can help us better understand the present. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The Relevance of History in Understanding the Present

IELTS Writing Task 2

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Complete
6.5
Response: Some individuals believe that history is not beneficial for the present, while other argue that history plays an important role. Although lifestyles have undergone significant changes, I believe that reading history is of importance since people have the opportunity to learn from it. One the one hand, it is widely argued that knowing about the past does not offer any benefits due to considerable variations in the way of living. To be more exact, technological advancements and discoveries improved population's standard of living and changed their concerns and problems. As a result, finding out about previous happenings and their everyday plights would not help the new generation to make any progress in this fast-paced world, which shifts in a second. For example, people not only from rural areas, but also modern cities did not have access to smart phones and the internet, which made life much more difficult for them in terms of communication with their friends and family members. However, online platforms enable all people to interact with others, regardless of thier geographical distance. One the other hand, others think that history provides humans with valuable lessons from the past. This is because if people be aware of what happened in the past, they will be able to make better decisions based on the outcome of the actions of previous generation. Hence, reading historical books and watching documentaries would help the societies to develop resistance and not to repeat their errors, especially during tough moments. For instance, even though some sources are not trustworthy, reading about domestic conflicts or world wars result in a more informed community. In this way, the foreigners can not take advantage of them, unlike the past. In conclusion, although both views have their own merits, from my perspective, knowing about the history would facilitate our lives by providing fruitful stories.
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