Topic 38 Is learning about the past useful?

It is often argued that spending much time on studying history is unreasonable (нецелесообразно), since the information people obtain lacks the practical implementation (применение). However, after careful thought, I have come to disagree with it. I believe that history provides valuable sources for understanding different people and societies, predicting future trends and building a person's identity. History generates past experiences and formulates the steps of development. It provides us with numerous examples of "cause-effect" events, which help to understand different social mechanisms.

Everything that is happening today stems from the past (проистекает из прошлого) and will have direct effect on the future. Being aware of our history helps to avoid old mistakes and make right decisions. The majority of all the political conflicts have a long history, for instance the Middle East or Russia-Chechnya tensions (напряжение). A closer study of their deeper reasons and the measures taken beforehand can prove to be invaluable in finding the right solution today. It can save thousands of lives.

At the same time, studying history of our own country or region builds up (создает) our identity, gives us a feeling of belonging to a certain group of people. Therefore, if we face a problem of communicating with a person of other culture, the basic knowledge of his history can prove (может оказаться) absolutely necessary for a successful and productive interaction.

To sum up, I strongly believe that it is highly beneficial for modern people to posses (владеть) a good knowledge of the history, because it assures a profound understanding (глубокое понимание) of social mechanisms, helps to avoid many mistakes and promotes a better communication between different nations.

Topic 38 Is learning about the past useful?

Every country, every nation, even every person has its own past, present and future. Events from our past reflect on our present. Events from our present will reflect (отразится на) on our future. The time-line is unbreakable. Therefore no one should live only for today isolated from the past or without any connections to the future.

Fire devoured the house. — Дом сгорел дотла (уничтожать; разрушать).

Every one of us is a member of the society. Living without learning about our history is the same as building a house without foundations. Furthermore, everyone is strongly connected with his past even when he does not comprehend (понимать, постигать, осмысливать, соображать) it thoroughly sometimes.

They did not comprehend how hard he had struggled. — Они не понимали, какие огромные усилия он прикладывал.

Our life is a result of a series of events from our past. Our success today is a consequence of hard work or some victory in the past. Our present failure is maybe a result of not taking our chances in time or not making a proper decision in the past. I truly believe that everyone makes his own destiny and fate has nothing to do with it.

He devours books one after another. — Он глотает книги одну за другой.

In my opinion, learning about the past is of great importance to all of us. Even if we are completely devoured (поглощены) by our present existence we should look back to the past as carefully as we can. Thus we can avoid our previous mistakes or to find an easier way to success. In this case history is our best teacher. And if we learn the lessons of the past we will make progress much faster in the present.

We have made our history step-by-step and day-by-day. Those of us who live only in the present and only for today are like trees without roots-so easily 'fragile' in a stormy day. The past is the base on which countries; nations and communities build their present. That is why I think learning about the past has really no value because learning about our history is invaluable (бесценный, неоценимый priceless).

So let us take a look back to learn a little more about ourselves.