You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Many old buildings protected by law are part of a nation’s history. Some people think they should be knocked down and replaced by news ones. How important is it to maintain old buildings? Should history stand in the way of progress?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
It is a fact that some governments are preserving many historical buildings these days. A group of people believe that protecting these old buildings is considered as a waste of money, as they should be demolished and replaced with new buildings. I personally believe that maintaining an old building is essential, since the building has a lot of historical values, and it would be unique to see cities that combined the modern and historical buildings together.
It is believed that protecting some historical buildings is important since they have historical values. Many of the buildings had become the witnesses of some special or tragic moments of a particular country, therefore it should be preserved. One of the examples would be the Fatahilah Museum in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. It is an old building that was erected during the Dutch colonial era in the 18th century and formerly used as a prison to punish the rebellion. Now, it is maintained by the Government as a museum to commemorate the people who had sacrificed their life for the independence of Indonesia.
Some cities are still protecting their historical buildings, though new high rise buildings are showing up in the surrounding area. The historical buildings are maintained by the state government and they are standing along with the new skyscrapers. Many people believe that the combination of these old and modern buildings have made the city become fascinating and attractive. As a result, they become one of the tourist destination places. Some of the cities that have preserved them would be Beijing, London and Paris, and more than thousands of people have visited these metropolis cities.
In conclusion, retaining the historical buildings is definitely an important thing, because they had become eye-witnesses of some important events. And it is a fact that combination of old and modern buildings brings a lot of benefits for the city and the country as well.
(Written by – Darwin Lesmana)
Topic:
Many old buildings are protected by law because they are part of a nation’s history. However, some people think old buildings should be knocked down to make way for new ones because people need houses and offices. How important is it to maintain old buildings? Should history stand in the way of progress?
Sample Answer
People believe that in this world, nothing is constant but change. Hence, in every detail of our lives, even on the simple aspect of infrastructures and housing, we expect change. Nowadays, the increasing number of the population has drastic need to destroy old houses and rebuild new ones that are more suitable for them. Some believe that this change is inevitable and essential, while some argue that historical houses should be preserved to protect history. In this essay, I will enumerate the importance of preserving old houses or buildings and will then give my opinion on the matter.
First and foremost, preserving historical infrastructures is thought to be essential because it mirrors our ancestry and culture. Maintaining it will depict how we give importance to our heritage. For instance, the Ifugaos on the Mountain Province still lives in their old Nipa huts and refuses to adapt the modern style of houses. They argue that doing so will be a simple way to prove their love for their own culture.
Moreover, maintaining old buildings will preserve the culture’s identity. For instance, in some places in Malolos Bulacan, government officials encourage the people to preserve traditional Spanish style houses within the area. They point out that the place is well-known because of these houses and destroying it might become harmful to our culture and would also affect tourism.
In summary, there is no doubt that protecting old houses and buildings is indeed important. However, I believe that a little change will not be harmful. We should take into consideration the changes that occur in the environment and somehow learn how to adapt while preserving the trace of our history.
(Written by – Karen Kate)