Band 7 Example

Question: Why are historical cities popular?

Idea 1

Cultural Heritage
Model Answer
Historical cities are popular because they show us what life was like in the past. People like to visit them to see the old buildings and learn about history.
Historical cities offer a glimpse into the past, showcasing architecture, traditions, and stories that have been preserved over centuries. Tourists and locals alike are drawn to these cities to experience the rich cultural heritage, making them popular destinations.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: The use of the present simple ("offer", "are drawn") effectively describes general truths and ongoing situations, which is appropriate for discussing the characteristics of historical cities. 2. Passive voice: "have been preserved" - This passive construction emphasizes the action (preservation) rather than who performed it, which is often used in formal contexts like describing historical or cultural facts.
Vocabulary
  • - glimpse into the past
  • - architecture, traditions, and stories
  • - rich cultural heritage
  • - popular destinations

Idea 2

Tourism and Economy
Model Answer
Historical cities attract a lot of tourists, which is good for the economy. The visitors spend money at local hotels, restaurants, and shops.
Historical cities are major tourist attractions, which significantly boosts the local economy. Hotels, restaurants, and shops thrive due to the influx of visitors, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.
Grammar Analysis
1. Relative clause: "which significantly boosts the local economy" - This clause provides additional information about how historical cities function as tourist attractions, using a relative pronoun to add detail to the sentence. 2. Causative construction: "due to the influx of visitors" - This phrase explains the reason behind the thriving of local businesses, effectively using a prepositional phrase to indicate causation.
Vocabulary
  • - major tourist attractions
  • - boosts the local economy
  • - thrive
  • - influx of visitors
  • - creating jobs
  • - supporting local businesses

Idea 3

Aesthetic and Charm
Model Answer
People like historical cities because they look nice. The old buildings and streets are pretty and different from modern cities.
The unique aesthetic and charm of historical cities are incredibly appealing. Narrow cobblestone streets, old-fashioned architecture, and scenic landscapes are visually appealing, attracting people who enjoy the atmosphere and often choose these locations for photography and filming.
Grammar Analysis
1. Subject-verb agreement: The phrase "The unique aesthetic and charm of historical cities are incredibly appealing" correctly uses "are" to agree with the plural subject implied by "aesthetic and charm." 2. Use of gerunds: "attracting people who enjoy the atmosphere" uses a gerund ("attracting") to describe the continuous action of these cities drawing visitors, which adds to the fluidity and complexity of the sentence structure.
Vocabulary
  • - aesthetic and charm
  • - narrow cobblestone streets
  • - old-fashioned architecture
  • - scenic landscapes
  • - photography and filming

Idea 4

Preservation and Pride
Model Answer
People are proud of their history, so they like to keep old buildings and landmarks looking good. This helps everyone remember the city's history.
There is a profound sense of pride in preserving the history and heritage of a city. Local governments and communities often invest in maintaining and restoring historical landmarks, which helps maintain the city's identity and instills pride among residents.
Grammar Analysis
1. Use of present simple tense: The answer effectively uses the present simple tense ("is", "invest", "helps") to describe general truths and ongoing actions related to historical cities. 2. Relative clause: The phrase "which helps maintain the city's identity and instills pride among residents" is a relative clause that adds additional information about the effects of investing in historical landmarks, enhancing the complexity of the sentence structure.
Vocabulary
  • - profound sense of pride
  • - preserving
  • - historical landmarks
  • - instills pride
  • - maintaining and restoring