Reading Test: Matching Questions (IELTS Academic: Reading): Study Material

The headings do not use the same words as the text, using paraphrasing or synonyms instead, so see if you can spot these 

Note: The following is a worked example, written to demonstrate the style and approach expected in the exam. A full exam question would typically be longer in scope.

The Travels and Legacy of Marco Polo

A

In 1271, a young merchant from Venice in Italy named Marco Polo set out on an epic journey toward the East. Accompanied by his father and uncle, he traversed the dangerous Silk Road, crossing vast deserts and high mountain ranges. This trek took over three years, eventually leading the travellers to the opulent summer palace of the Mongol emperor, Kublai Khan.

B

Upon his arrival, Polo did not merely act as a trader. His keen intelligence and gift for languages impressed the Great Khan, who enlisted Polo to work for him. For seventeen years, Polo travelled throughout the Mongol Empire, visiting regions of China and Southeast Asia that no European had ever seen. He documented sophisticated systems of paper money, efficient postal networks, and the use of coal as fuel.

C

On his return to Venice in 1295 Polo was met with scepticism; he had been gone so long that his own family struggled to recognise him. Shortly after, he was captured during a naval battle and imprisoned. In jail he dictated his experiences to a fellow prisoner, a writer of romances named Rustichello. The result, The Travels of Marco Polo, became one of the most influential books in history.

D

While the book was a sensation, many contemporaries dismissed it as "Il Milione" (The Million Lies), believing Polo’s descriptions of vast cities and immense wealth were fabrications. However, modern historians have verified many of his geographical and cultural observations. His accounts ultimately inspired a new generation of explorers, including Christopher Columbus, who reportedly carried a heavily annotated copy of Polo’s book on his first voyage to the Americas.

Questions 1–4

The reading passage has four paragraphs, A–D.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i–vi in the spaces provided below.

1. Paragraph A ....................

2. Paragraph B ....................

3. Paragraph C ....................

4. Paragraph D ...................

Answers

1. iv  – Focuses on the start of the Polos’ journey and the route they took

2. iii  – Details Polo’s role working for Kublai Khan

3. v – Explains how the book was written while he was in prison

4. i – Discusses people’s disbelief when he returned home and his impact on later explorers

In these questions, it is important to remember that the answers are not in the same order as the text

Note: The following is a worked example, written to demonstrate the style and approach expected in the exam. A full exam question would typically be longer in scope.

Global Perspectives on Elder Care

The approach to caring for an ageing population varies significantly across the globe, often reflecting deeply rooted cultural values and economic structures. In many Asian and Middle Eastern societies, the concept of 'filial piety' remains the cornerstone of social fabric. Here, it is traditionally expected that adult children will provide direct, daily care for their parents within the family home. Moving elderly relatives into external facilities is often viewed with social stigma, as it is seen as a failure of familial duty.

In contrast, several Northern European nations, such as the Netherlands and Sweden, have pioneered comprehensive state-funded models. The Netherlands, for instance, is frequently cited as a global leader in long-term care due to its 'Buurtzorg' model, which emphasises nurse-led community support that allows seniors to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Sweden focuses on a 'Nordic model' where the state provides high-quality residential care, ensuring that the burden of support does not fall solely on the family, thereby allowing younger generations to remain in the workforce.

Meanwhile, countries like Bolivia have addressed the challenge through innovative social programmes. Faced with a rapidly growing elderly population, the Bolivian government introduced a universal pension scheme and supported the creation of 'elderly brigades'—community groups that allow seniors to organise and support one another, fostering a sense of purpose and collective security.

Questions 1–5

Look at the following statements and the list of countries/regions below.

Match each statement with the correct country or region, A, B, C or D.

NB: You may use any letter more than once.

1. Community-led nursing is used to help the elderly maintain independence at home.

2. Providing care for parents is primarily seen as a moral obligation for children.

3. The government provides a universal income to support its older citizens.

4. State-run facilities are designed to reduce the practical care demands on families.

5. Social pressure discourages the use of professional care homes.

List of Countries/Regions

A Asian and Middle Eastern societies

B The Netherlands

C Sweden

D Bolivia

Answers

1. B (The Netherlands): The text mentions the 'Buurtzorg' model which uses “nurse-led community support” so seniors can “stay in their own homes”.

2. A (Asian and Middle Eastern societies): The passage refers to 'filial piety' as an obligation and respect towards caring for one's parents.

3. D (Bolivia): The text states that Bolivia introduced a "universal pension scheme" for its elderly population.

4. C (Sweden): The text notes that the Swedish state ensures the "burden of support does not fall solely on the family".

5. A (Asian and Middle Eastern societies): The passage mentions that using external facilities is often viewed with "social stigma".

Do not confuse this type of question with the matching headings type. Matching headings requires you to find a title for the paragraph, whereas matching information questions require you to locate the information in a paragraph

Note: The following is a worked example, written to demonstrate the style and approach expected in the exam. A full exam question would typically be longer in scope.

Beaver Reintroduction Projects Across the UK

A.  Beavers were hunted to extinction in the 16th century for their fur, but these large rodents have recently made a significant return to the UK. The Knapdale Forest project in Argyll in Scotland was the first re-release of beavers in Britain. Starting in 2009, this trial monitored how beavers integrated into the Scottish Highlands. Researchers found that the beavers’ dam-building significantly increased the presence of amphibians and dragonflies. This site remains a primary location for studying long-term habitat modification in a coniferous forest environment.

B. In Devon, the River Otter trial began after a wild beaver population of unknown origin was discovered. Rather than removing them, a five-year study was launched in 2015. This project provided the most robust evidence for "natural flood management," proving that beaver dams slowed water flow during heavy storms, protecting downstream villages from rising water levels.

C. The Perthshire population represents a different scenario. These beavers originated from highly successful, unlicensed escapes and spread rapidly through the fertile Tay catchment. While they have improved local biodiversity, their presence in prime agricultural land has caused some tension with farmers due to the flooding of valuable crops, leading to the development of a national management strategy.

D. In North Yorkshire, a project at Cropton Forest utilized beavers specifically as a "nature-based solution" to persistent flooding in the town of Pickering. Unlike other projects focused on species conservation, this was a targeted engineering trial. The results showed that the animals were far more cost-effective at flood prevention than traditional man-made wooden dams.

Questions

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A–D.

1. a comparison between beaver activity and artificial structures ....................

2. mention of the first official government-approved release ....................

3. an example of conflict between beavers and land use for farming ....................

4. evidence regarding the impact of beavers on specific insect populations ....................

Answers

1. D (...more cost-effective... than traditional man-made wooden dams)

2. A (...the first re-release of beavers in Britain)

3. C (...caused some tension with farmers due to the flooding of valuable crops...)

4. A (...increased the presence of amphibians and dragonflies)

When deciding on the correct ending, remember that the completed sentence must be grammatically correct – this will help you eliminate some possible answers

Note: The following is a worked example, written to demonstrate the style and approach expected in the exam. A full exam question would typically be longer in scope.

The Deepest Frontier

The Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean, is the deepest known part of Earth's oceans. Reaching a depth of approximately 10,935 metres at the Challenger Deep, it is a world of perpetual darkness and bone-crushing pressure. Despite these extreme conditions, scientists have discovered a thriving ecosystem of “extremophiles” including giant single-celled amoebas and translucent snailfish. Recent expeditions have also uncovered a more somber find: even at these incredible depths, human-made pollutants and plastic debris have been detected within the local marine life.

Complete the following sentences using the list of endings below. Write the correct letter, A–F, for each answer.

Questions

1. The Challenger Deep is significant because it...

2. Organisms classified as "extremophiles" are able to...

3. Recent scientific missions to the trench have shown that it...

List of Endings

• A is surprisingly affected by human waste.

• B survive in high-pressure and lightless environments.

• C is the deepest point currently identified in the ocean.

• D located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

• E are primarily made up of plastic debris.

• F reached a total depth of exactly 11,000 metres.

Answers

• 1. C: The text states the Challenger Deep is where the trench reaches its maximum depth of "approximately 10,935 metres," making it the "deepest known part of Earth's oceans."

  • Distractors: D describes the trench's location, not the specific significance of the Challenger Deep; F provides an incorrect measurement.

• 2. B: The text refers to "extremophiles" (amoebas and snailfish) thriving despite "perpetual darkness and bone-crushing pressure."

  • Distractors: E is factually wrong as the organisms are biological, not made of plastic.

• 3. A: The text notes that "recent expeditions" discovered "human-made pollutants and plastic debris" within marine life at these depths.

  • Distractors: B refers to the nature of the animals, not the discovery of the mission itself.