Describe a Thing That Your Family Has Kept for a Long Time- IELTS Cue Card

Sample Answer

Family heirlooms and keepsakes are not that common in my family. The inheritance that my parents received from my grandparents was chiefly in the form of property and land owned by them. However, speaking of relics from my ancestors that have been present for generations as tokens of remembrance, there is a particular souvenir that is very valuable to our family and especially to my father, an antique rocking chair.

This rocking chair was first owned by my great grandfather on my father’s side of the family and was known to be one of his most prized possessions. Although this rocking chair was merely an object that my great grandfather bought, it was an adored belonging of his, and no one except for him was allowed to sit on this particular chair. Nevertheless, when the time came, my grandfather received this chair as part of his inheritance since he was the eldest of my great grandfathers’ children, and my great grandfather wished it so. The tradition was followed, and the rocking chair, an antique by then, was received by my father, the eldest of his siblings.

Even though this rocking chair has been in my family for three generations, it was astonishingly well maintained and required next to no repairs and mending. Both my grandfather and my father were liberal with the use of this rocking chair and everyone was allowed to enjoy it. One of the most striking attributes of this rocking chair owned by my family is that it has never been broken or seriously damaged, which is quite impressive and bizarre, considering that this article of virtue is over one hundred years old.

Part 3 – Follow up Questions

• Which do you think are better, old things or new things?

In my opinion, both new and old things have certain qualities that make them valuable in their unique way. Some people are inclined towards antiques and aged collectables. On the other hand, some people like to own brand new items and tend to discard old belongings. Thus, I think it is fair to say that the value of an item is not determined by its age, as much as it is determined by the person using it. For example, a close friend always prefers to repair his sneakers instead of buying new ones since his old sneakers provide him more comfort.

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