IELTS Cue Card 28: Describe Your Favourite Building or A Historical Building
IELTS Speaking Cue Card with Sample Answer. Describe your Favourite building or describe a historic building Cue Card. IELTS Speaking Part 2 With Model Answer.
Describe an animal you saw, which you find very interesting
You should say:
- what and where is it?
- when was it built? Why?
- what is it known for?
- and describe this historic building.
Tips for answering this cue card topic:
Use few rich vocabulary which will boost your score.
Model Answer 1: Historical Building
India has a rich historic background.
There are many buildings worth seeing in my country.
Here I‟m going to talk about the Taj Mahal.
It is in Agra, on the banks of Yamuna river.
It is one of the most flawless architectural creations of the world.
It is one of the seven wonders of the world.
In fact it has been ranked as the first of the seven wonders.
It is a magnificient building built of white marble.
Mughal Emperor Shahjahan got it built in the loving memory of his beloved wife
Mumtaz. About 20,000 workers put in their best efforts for 17 long years to
complete this masterpiece. The hands of the master mason were cut off after
completion of the building so that such a building could not be made again.
I first saw it 7 years ago when I went with my school tour.
I was awe-struck to see the picturesque beauty in front of my eyes.
The tombs of Shahjahan and Mumtaz lie in the basement.
I like it because it gives an identity to India in the world.
I am proud to be a part of a country with such historic background.
Tourists from all over the world flock to see this ultimate memorial of love and
few are unmoved by its incomparable beauty.
Model Answer 2: Favorite Building
The central Bank building is the one that really impressed me. I was then almost 17 years old when I first this building and I still remember that I became amazed watching and wondering about it.
10-15 stories building are quite common in our town but the 75 storied central bank building is really different. Not only it is higher than most other buildings but it also possesses an eye-catchy architectural design which is bound to absorb any one’s attention. From far it will only give you the impression of a futuristic mega structure but if you observe the building from nearby, you will see the real beauty of it.
It looks like every inch of it has been drawn before building it. This building is a fine piece of architecture that prominently announces its presence. When I looked at the top of this building I got the impression that it is endless and has made its way over the sky. The long round clock in from of this building ticks twice to let the city dwellers know its presence.
This central bank building is situated near the National Museum of the city. From a far away, it looks like a pathway to the sky and from nearby it seems like a massive yet beautifully designed architectural building.
Model Answer 3:
The Leaning Tower of Pisa which is also known as Tower of Pisa is an interesting structure situated in the Pisa city of Italy. It is the third oldest structure in Pisa’s Cathedral Square and very famous for its unintended tilt to one side.
The height of the tower is around 183 feet and the width is higher in the lower part than the top part. This tower has 296 steps and offers a great architectural value to the world. The tilt of this tower was not planned and occurred unintentionally. During the construction phase, the tilt was created because of the inadequate foundation on the soft ground. Later this tilt increased until the structure was stabilised. Around 200 years were taken to build this greatest structure. There are some debates about the real architect of this world famous structure and it has been credited to Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano as the architect of this structure. But recent studies imply this credit to Diotisalvi as the original architect.
This structure has many historic significance and was one of the seven medieval wonder of the world. The people of Pisa started building this structure to show the rest of the world about the importance of the Pisa city. The plan included a cathedral, a baptistery, a bell tower and a cemetery. The construction began at around 1173 and completed in the middle of 1300. This famous tower is not known only for the great beauty of its Romanesque architecture but also for its historical significance. The famous astronomer Galileo Galilei is said to have dropped a cannon ball and a musket ball bot hat a time from the Tower of Pisa to prove that weight does not affect the dropping speed of an object.
This structure was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and had been very famous as one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.
Model Answer 4:
In my country, South Africa, we have some historical places and structures and among them, the ‘Union Buildings’ is considered as one of the most important historical places in the country and the centre of politics in the country. Actually, the building is the official place for the government of South Africa and simultaneously the President resides in the house. The house is situated in Pretoria by covering the largest space in the locality under Arcadia and is adjacently accompanied by Church Square (another historical place of the country) and another monument named Voortrekker Monument. The building is a South African national heritage site and once it was the largest building the entire country and region.
The building is mostly known for hosting the governmental offices and as the resident of the President of South Africa. A large number of political decisions have been taken and implemented from the building and it has been serving as the nucleus of politics in South Africa. Moreover, the building is the sign of the finest architecture in South Africa in terms of different attractive internal decorations and establishments.
The ‘Union Buildings’ has a unique design with fountains, pools, trees, an amphitheatre and the interior design is based on the Cape Dutch Style. All the doors of the building are made with heavy timbers and furniture is also made with similar woods for durability with the Rhodesian teak. Indigenous materials have also been used to beautify the interior. Granite and sandstones have been used for making the courtyards. The building is named after the Union of South Africa which was founded in 1910 by the unification of the then colonies. Over 1000 workers, artisans and workmen have worked for over three years to make the building and the building was done by 1913. The structure was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
With the emerging demands, the house was allotted to the President of South Africa although in the beginning it was aimed to house the Public Service of the Union of South Africa. Regarding the construction, imported materials have been used but the traditional South African materials have also been prioritised. The architecture is the blend of Italian and English renaissance with the association of Cape Dutch impression.
Model Answer 5: Historical Building You Visited
The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, India, is one of the wonders of the world and symbolises love of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to his wife Arjumand Banu Begum, commonly termed as Mumtaz Mahal. This is a unique building in the world that has gained attention from the global travellers and I went there in last year as a team member of German Cultural Affairs.
The Taj Mahal is, in fact, a tomb located on the south bank of Yamuna River in Agra in India. This is a mausoleum and has been made in remembrance of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal to make her memory immortal. The body of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan lies under the large dome. This is the only historical building in India that has been placed on the list of Wonders of the World. The construction date is exactly not known but it is estimated that the construction began around 1600 century. The entire building is made of white marble. Besides, the structure took over 20 years to complete while 20,000 workers were involved with the construction. It is rumoured that the emperor had cut the hands of the workers who made the structure so that they cannot make another such building on the planet. Though the event is highly brutal, it shows the deep love and respect to his wife. One of the important factors about the building is that the colour of the building changes with the change of time in the day time and it looks best on a moonlit night.
The Taj Mahal is also considered as the Crown of Palaces for its huge dome and white marbles. It is a beautiful structure and looks pretty awesome for the construction style and exterior design. The entire complex is situated on around 42 acres of lands and bounded by walls on sides. The traditional Persian designs have been applied here in line with the Mughal architecture. The ideas of the structure have been derived from several Mughal structures and have been customised according to Shah Jahan’s will. Before the construction of the Taj Mahal, the Mughals used red sandstone on their structure while this was the exception from their traditional construction style. The entire building has been made of pure white marble and the tomb has been refined perfectly with precious stones that resemble the choice and preference of the emperor. The top dome is about 35 meters high and cylindrical. The central dome is accompanied with four smaller domes and those are placed at a corner of the roof. The main dome is frequently termed as onion dome for its shape and visually it is great to look at. The minarets are similar to those used in Mosques. So far it is known that the construction of the structure was done by 1643 and it costs over 30 million rupees.
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, under the northern part of Uttar Pradesh state in India. The building is placed by the side of the Yamuna River. This is around 204 kilometres away from Delhi. This is also a World Heritage Site and has been selected in 1983 after the UNESCO declaration. Agra is an influential city in India and been playing a great role. The place has also been recognised in some of the Hindu scriptures and epics like Mahabharata. Besides, Agra was the capital of Mughal Empire in the medieval age and been ruled by several powerful emperors like Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. The city is now one of the major tourist spots in India and the Taj Mahal is playing the leading role here. Despite being a crowded city the site for the Taj Mahal has been picked carefully and always calm and quiet. The location was also picked smartly for some strategic reasons and the most important thing was the view of the building from his palace – Agra Fort.
The Taj Mahal has been related to the Indian history immediately after its construction in the 16th century. This is considered as one of the Muslim art of India that has been globally recognised. Besides, during the construction process, a varied number of incidents took place which is also remarkable in terms of historical importance. Besides, the entire complex took 20 years to complete which is a rare incident. The most important historical fact is that the Taj Mahal was made when the Mughals were at the peak of their power and wealth. As a result, Shah Jahan has used precious stones and gems to decorate the tomb. After his death, the Mughal Empire started declining and could not stand back like the former days. To make the structure, artists, masons and other workers were recruited from different nations including India, Iran and Turkey. So, this is a great place of historical.
Model Answer 6: Historical Structure
The Great Wall of China is one of the most interesting buildings and man-made constructions in history. When I first visited this structure, I was quite taken aback by the massive length and intricate design of this edifice. I saw this building several times on TV but viewing it in person was a totally different experience for me. In my opinion, this is the most interesting buildings/constructions that I have ever seen.
The Great Wall of China is one of the seven wonders of the world and indeed a magnificent construction that reminds us the history of the past. It is more than 21 kilometres in size and is a series of fortifications made of brick, tamped earth, stone, wood, and other materials. Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century and the majority of the existing wall were constructed during the Ming Dynasty. Protecting the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe and to watch the enemy movements were the main reason this Great Wall was constructed. Soldiers used to keep walking on the Great Wall and could easily warn others about the approaching enemies. This vast wall runs across the China like a large dragon and stands like the protector of the country. Soldiers used to walk on this wall and kept eyes on enemy activities and fires were lit if any suspicious activity was observed to warn other soldiers.
There is a common misconception that this is the only man-made construction that can be seen from the moon. Though this is an exaggerated statement, however, it clearly states the sheer size of this construction. Thousands of tourists each year come to visit this wonderful construction and this has become one of the most significant tourist attractions in China. In a way, the Great Wall has become a symbol of China’s pride and a prominent example of its past glory and strength.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Historical Building
Q. Is it important to conserve old buildings? Why?
A. The old buildings are the representatives of the history. They tell the past stories of thousand years and let us know about different issues like how they lived, how their living styles were, what they did, what sort of construction style they had and more other necessary information. If the historical buildings are not preserved, people will be unable to learn about their pasts. It is important to know about the origin, the forefathers and the past in order to live with dignity. If the important buildings are not preserved, the national history will go under oblivion. Moreover, the young generation of a country will be unaware of its history and the greatness of the nation. Usually, the old buildings contain the relics and people develop their idea over their past which is another cause for preserving the old establishments.
Q. Is the history useful for the coming generations? Why?
A. History is always useful. It teaches us different important lessons and most of the people who have succeeded in life have taken their learning from the history. So, history is also useful for the coming generations. It may happen that they are in some sort of trouble and if they look back in history, they will find that there were some other people who also had the same troubles and got rid in any specific way. Thus, history helps them to get out of any troublesome situation. Moreover, if they are in any critical situations, they could take help of history, but it should be remembered that history does always not refer the events old about 100 years.
Q. What is the difference between houses built in the past and now?
A. The basic difference between the house of past and current is space. Earlier, the houses were made more spacious and covered large spaces to be built. But with the increasing population, the houses are made in small space and the number of houses is on the increase. Moreover, the past houses were designed after different distinctive styles. There were ample spaces for recreation and entertainment for the residents. But in the current days, apartments are being made with lower space and even at times they do not have proper walking space in the staircase. Earlier, the houses covered horizontal space but now they are vertical.
Q. What are the differences in sizes of houses? Why?
A. The house sizes are different for various reasons and the top most cause is the increased population around the world. To meet the demand of the growing population, the house sizes are becoming small. Currently, it is almost impossible to build a house covering a large space for the living of a family in a comfortable manner rather the large space could be used to build apartment blocks or residential towers that could house several families instead of one family. Accommodation is one of the greatest challenges in the coming days and already people are experiencing the problem in different cities of the world.
Q. Do you prefer a big or a small house? Why?
A. I prefer living in a big house because the environment of a big house is comfortable. The houses are made in such manner that light and air could pass easily. Moreover, the houses allow the people exercising some hobbies (I like gardening) and if there are spaces, the residents could make gardens before the house which will increase the beauty of the house. But if it is a small house, the options are rare. Moreover, the architectural style of the big houses is usually very attractive and good looking which attracts me more. But the small houses are made commercially to accommodate people, not to exercise their hobbies.
Similar IELTS Cue Card Topics
If you can talk about the cue card topic “Favourite Building or Historical Building / Structure” you should be able to talk about the following IELTS cue card topics as well:
- Describe a famous building or architecture in your country.
- Describe a building or hall in your school or college.
- Describe a building or house where you live in.
- Describe a historical place you have been to.
- Describe a large construction you have seen.