IELTS task2

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?

Learning about the history of the place in which people reside has become an increasingly popular trend in some countries. There are two major factors that contribute to this phenomenon.

In some countries, like those in the middle east, superstition runs deep in people's lives to the extent that many form their lives around it. One that has gained popularity among people over the years has to do with the place in which they live. These superstitious people believe that the fate of the previous owners of the building is intertwined with that of the new proprietors. If the previous possessors were successful people, for example, the future owners would most likely succeed in their work and have prosperous lives. On the contrary, if they were miserable, in any way, or if some kind of unfortunate incident happened to them, the history would repeat itself for the new owners. Such superstitious beliefs, thus, intrigue people to find out about the history of their houses.

Another factor that motivates such kind of curiosity has to do with people's interest in history. Today, learning about history is gaining popularity among many people, especially those living in historical places. Such history lovers are intrigued to learn about the history of their dwelling place to see whether it has any historical value. Whatever the reasons, researching a building's history, in today's world, is not a daunting task for its residents. As with most everything else, the first and easiest option is going online. With a click of a button, people can access loads of information about the history of their hometown and find out when the houses were constructed and whether any information is available about their house. People can also interview the previous owners or older neighbors who, like Wikipedia, preserve all historical facts and mysteries about the neighborhood. Yet another option is to research the local libraries which often keep records of the origins of the neighborhood and the buildings.

In conclusion, superstition and people's interest in history seem to be the major factors motivating people to learn about the history of their place of residence. Going online, talking to neighbors, and researching the local libraries are a few of the ways through which people can satisfy their curiosity.