People should read only books about real events

TOEFL Essay 66 with the model answer:

Read the question below. You have 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise your essay. You should write at lease 300 words.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

People should read only those books that are about real events, real people, and established facts.

Use specific reasons and details to support your opinion.


Model Answer:
Reading books is a hobby for many people while some other people use books for meeting their necessities only. But it is not mandatory that people should read only the books written based on real events or people. I strongly oppose the idea for the following reasons.

Books are considered as the storehouse of knowledge. People read books for a wide number of purposes that cannot be identified in a single line. But they need books in their everyday life. Many of the readers search some specific information or knowledge from the books to be applied to their needs. So, reading only the books based on real events or people may not suit this purposes. The books based on real events are better known as non-fiction books. They do not contain any fictional elements and thus may provide pleasure to the readers. But the readers who are seeking some specific information may not have that on the books.

Besides, reading the non-fictional books shrink the imagination of the readers. For instance, they may not be able to imagine about a fairy land while reading a biography. Rather, the reader will be stuck on the life events of the writer or of any particular person. Here the chances of imagination are missing. If a book is unable to make it readers think, it should be admitted that the book’s plot is unworthy of reading. In fact, the books should be written in such a descriptive way that the readers will visualize the events before them. And this is possible by the fictional books. When the reader will go through the lines, the fictional plots are able to make them visualize the event. In some cases, the readers start comparing them with the fictional characters which is not possible while reading a real event based book.

Moreover, the books with fictional plots help the readers to be updated with the latest information and matter related to the book plot which is also a benefit of such books.

Considering the reasons, I think, it is better to read books based on fictional plot instead of inspired by real events, people or facts.