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Sample topic***
Describe something that you liked very much and bought for your home.
Talk about:
What was it
When you bought it
What exactly you liked about it
Sample Answer:
It is said that a person’s house – especially its décor- reflects his true personality. And I have observed that in many cases this statement has a modicum of truth in it.
And there are people who , like artists, keep adding colors and creativity to their homes. And they are rewarded with a great sense of satisfaction when they find themselves surrounded by their favorite objects and decorations on which they have splurged their money.
I do not belong to that category of people who love to live lavishly. I prefer simplicity and space rather than stuffing my living space with unnecessary things. But there was something that compelled me to make an exception to that rule.
I am a typewriter enthusiast. Those old typewriters that just a decade or two ago were dominating every writer’s desk. Now they have become , or to be precise – are about to become, an extinct species. But there are a few models available here and there , especially in a flea market.
So last month when I was browsing the stalls of one such place, I saw a beautiful Contessa Typewriter in one stall. I instantly bought it without haggling over the price as I didn’t want to lose a moment to start typing on that ingenious device.
I loved its color, which was dark red and the keys were white in color. I thought that it would look great on my writing desk, and just like my favorite author Ruskin Bond, I too would start writing stories, letters, and many other things on it every morning.
Now my writing desk is half occupied by this typewriter, and I find it difficult to use the desk when I am not writing on the typewriter. But in my small room, this lovely typewriter acts as a tool of creativity and I find true happiness when I hear the clicking sound of its keys and the sweet ding sound when I reach the end of the margin while typing on it.
Discussion Topics
- Creating a nice home
Why do some people buy lots of things for their home?
For this, there are as many reasons as there are people on the earth. Some buy just to improve the look of their living space while some people buy just because they like buying new things. Social media is a very influential factor , as people see their friends’ homes on social media and try to imitate their lifestyle by having the same kind of furniture or items of home-décor to impress others. And there are some people who just like to improve their comfort or have joyful experiences by having things that make them feel good.
Do you think it’s very expensive to make a home look nice?
No. In fact, the opposite is true. To make a home look attractive, I would prefer less stuff and more living space. There is a concept called “minimalism” that is quite popular among youngsters, and I also believe in it. When there are plain white color walls, large windows that let fresh air come in from outside, and a small chair and writing table for furniture; this room looks quite attractive to a person who wants to fill his room with positive energy. A crowded living space , even though stuffed with expensive things, is , to my mind, a prison cell.
Why don’t some people care about how their homes look?
To such people, a home means a place where they can live comfortably. A place that pleases their soul. They want it to be a place where they can enjoy happy moments with family. It’s not an elegant showpiece that they want to boast about. A simple and clean living area is quite sufficient for these people. They are not unnecessarily concerned whether the walls have colorful wallpapers on them, nor do they care whether the ceilings have glittering chandeliers or not. Their priority is to derive pleasure from home, not to suffer with worries of its appearance.
- Different types of homes
In what ways is living in a flat/apartment better than living in a house?
There are numerous advantages to living in an apartment that makes it a better place to live. There is a sense of security in an apartment where you are surrounded by other families. These neighbors become your family members in just a few weeks , if only you know how to forge good relationships with people. And you may have noticed that there are less incidents of theft in apartments , whereas houses are not that safe against burglars. If you live on the top floor, then the majestic view of a city at nighttime is a priceless thing to have. And there is less maintenance cost if you live in a flat.
Do you think homes will look different in future?
Of course, they will be different from their current forms. Every 100 years, the architecture of homes changes – just to adapt itself with the contemporary living-space requirements. In the early 20th century, there were less people in big cities, and those who lived in a city built big houses for their huge families. But then times changed, the size of the families grew smaller and smaller. And more people shifted towards cities. So today, there are smaller houses -mainly apartments and high-rise buildings- in major cities. This you could not have imagined even a few decades ago. Likewise, what changes will occur in future we can only guess. But one thing is sure, this present form of houses will not stay as it is in future.
Do you agree that the kinds of homes people prefer change as they grow older?
This statement, according to me, is partially true. A person living not a nomadic life would prefer to live in a home that he has lived in for the most part of his life. When he is quite young, he dreams about a house that he will make according to his ideas. So we can say that he would love to replace his childhood house with the one in which he wants to start his own family. But once he accomplishes this task, his new house becomes a part of his existence. He is quite attached to this dream house , and then, with age, this bond gets stronger. And he would not like leaving this house, even for a better one.
*** The topic has been taken from Cambridge IELTS 14- Academic book.