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An incident from history that has influenced you

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 274 with Model Answer:

Describe an incident from history that has influenced you.

You should say:
  • what it was
  • when and where it happened
  • how you heard about this incident
and explain how this event influenced you.  

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer 1:

One incident from history that has had a profound influence on me is the civil rights movement in the United States, particularly the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This pivotal event took place in Montgomery, Alabama, during the mid-20th century and played a crucial role in the fight for racial equality and justice.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott began on December 5, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, after Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white person on a city bus. Her courageous act of resistance sparked a series of events that led to a massive boycott of the city's bus system by African American residents.

I first learned about the Montgomery Bus Boycott during my high school history class. Our teacher was passionate about civil rights history and made sure to highlight its significance as a turning point in the struggle for racial equality in the United States. She shared powerful stories of courage, resilience, and determination displayed by civil rights activists during the boycott.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott profoundly influenced me by exposing the power of collective action and peaceful resistance in the face of injustice. Learning about Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat and the subsequent boycott made me realize the impact an individual can have on society when they stand up for what is right.

This incident taught me the importance of using one's voice to challenge inequality and the significance of fighting for justice even in the face of adversity. It demonstrated that change is possible through nonviolent means and that even a small act of courage can ignite a movement for social change.


Model Answer 2:

Thank you for the opportunity to let me talk about an event from my country's history that has influenced me. To be honest, I was overwhelmed by the news that my country has become Malaria Free. Earlier, malaria was one of the most prevalent health issues that claimed lots of lives each day. But now the declaration of the state being free from the disease was a historical event for the nation.

The declaration came in 2016, and my country formally received a certificate from the World Health Organization regarding this. This was really a remarkable achievement for the nation. Anti-malaria campaign in the country was successful. Mobile malaria clinics played a great role in this case and those were deployed in the Malaria prone areas. Immediate treatment and destruction of the mosquito hotbeds mostly reduced the prevalence of the disease in my country.

I was not much aware of the incident. But later the issue was highlighted in mass media and thus I came to know about the matter. Our nation had long been affected by this disease, so, when the declaration came from the WHO, it was a matter of joy for everyone including me. The news was telecasted on almost all television channels and appeared on the newspaper front pages because it was an amazing achievement for the nation.

Malaria elimination from our country was one of the greatest achievements for us. I was greatly influenced by this news. A couple of years ago, one of my family members got affected by this disease. Hence, the news was of great importance to me. I know how exactly it feels to struggle with the disease. I was overwhelmed with joy.


Model Answer 3:

I can recall the earthquake of 2009 that took place in central Italy, and for this topic, I would like to talk about it. It had some devastating impacts on the local people of my country while I was abroad for some business purposes. Some of the adjacent villages near the epicentre suffered the most during the shake. A notable number of people lost their lives, and many properties were damaged.

I was in England to have some deals with an English company to expand our business there. So, I came to know about the event on a television broadcast. In fact, I came to know about the event around two hours later. My family tried to call me about the incident but they could not reach me right then as the telecom network was damaged too. Later on, I made the call and knew all the details.

In 2009, the L’Aquila earthquake hit Abruzzo. The magnitude of the earthquake was too heavy for the local structures to cope with. It was a 5.9 magnitude earthquake and the epicentre was near L’Aquila. Since this is a remote place and surrounded by villages, most of the properties belonged to the villagers. Though there were a large number of foreshocks, people did not have the idea that it would be so devastating.

I was moved by the death incident. Over 300 deaths were filed and thus it became one of the deadliest earthquakes in the history of Italy. The event shook me to the core and I could not believe that it claimed so many innocent lives all of a sudden. Besides, there were criticisms of the poor infrastructure across the areas. Everything influenced me to a notable extent as I thought about the event and the victims over and over again.

Idea generation for this Cue Card topic: 

"Describe an incident from history that has influenced you." 

Historical events sometimes shape the world and bring joy to many. But they are not always pleasant. These events teach us important lessons. And sometimes cast an influence on them as well. This topic is about describing such an event that influenced you at some point. So, here are some hints for you to develop your own answer.

1. Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945 was an important event in the history of the country. It claimed around 150,000 lives and the people had to bear the negative impacts of the event for a long time.

2. During the cultural revolution tenure, the Great Famine took place in China. It had a detrimental impact on society. An enormous number of people starved. 

3. The death of Osama Bin Laden was an important historical event in the USA. A Navy SEAL team killed him that brought a wave of peace to every American’s heart.

4. The reunification of Vietnam was a great event in Vietnam's history. Economic solvency appeared after the unification which is the best benefit of the process. 

5. The French Revolution was one of the most impressive events in French history. The 10-year-long revolution reformed the ruling system and discarded the feudal ideas and absolute monarchy of Louis XVI. The brave French people changed the entire political scenario.

6. The German Student Movement in 1960 created a different way of thinking among German students. The students protested against the universities to focus on their needs. Before the movement, universities delivered degrees alone.

7. The independence of India from British colonial rule was the greatest event for the country. It was in 1947 India earned independence. This is a cherished moment for Indians and I enjoy the Independence Day celebrations to the last minute.

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