This task assesses your ability to understand the logic and grammar of a sentence by matching the beginning of a sentence with its correct ending from a list of options.
The Challenge:
You are given two lists:
- The First Half of sentences (A, B, C, D…). These are in the same order as the information in the text.
- The Endings (i, ii, iii, iv, v…). These are in a random order.
Your job is to connect each sentence beginning with its correct ending to form a complete sentence that is grammatically correct and accurately reflects the meaning of the passage.
7-Step Strategy for Matching Sentence Endings
Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully
Confirm the task. Note how many sentence beginnings and endings there are. There will be more endings than you need, so you will not use all of them.
Step 2: Read the Sentence Beginnings First
Do not look at the endings list yet. Read only the list of incomplete sentences (A, B, C, D…). Underline keywords in each one. These are your “search terms” for scanning the passage. Since they follow the order of the text, they create a roadmap for you.
Step 3: Predict the Grammar and Meaning
For each sentence beginning, quickly think about what kind of ending it needs.
- Grammar: Does it need a noun, a verb in a certain tense, a clause starting with “that” or “because”?
- Example: “The invention was successful because…” will need a clause explaining a reason.
- Example: “One problem with the early design was…” will need a noun phrase describing the problem.
- Meaning: Based on the keywords, what is the general topic of the sentence? What would make logical sense?
Step 4: Scan the Passage to Locate the Information
Using the keywords from your sentence beginnings, quickly scan the passage to find the relevant section. Remember, the information for Sentence A will come before the information for Sentence B, and so on.
Step 5: Read the Relevant Text Intensively
Once you find the section, read it carefully. Your goal is to understand the complete idea that the sentence beginning is referring to.
Step 6: Match with the Endings List
Now, look at the list of endings (i, ii, iii, iv, v…).
- Eliminate by Grammar: Immediately discard any endings that are grammatically incorrect with your sentence beginning.
- Eliminate by Meaning: Cross out any endings that do not match the meaning you just read in the passage.
- Select the Correct One: The correct ending will perfectly complete the sentence both grammatically and in terms of meaning from the text. Be wary of “trap” endings that use words from the passage but create an incorrect meaning.
Step 7: Finalize and Move On
Once you have found a match, note it down clearly. If you are stuck between two, mark them lightly and return after you have completed the others. Often, process of elimination makes the final choice clear.
IELTS Reading Practice: Matching Sentence Endings
| Passage: The History of the Bicycle (Same passage as before) Section A The invention of the bicycle, or ‘draisine’ as it was first known, is credited to the German Baron Karl von Drais in 1817. This early contraption was made entirely of wood and lacked pedals; the rider propelled themselves by pushing their feet against the ground. It was primarily a novelty for the wealthy. Despite its rudimentary design, the draisine introduced the crucial concept of a two-wheeled machine that could be steered, laying the foundation for all future development. Section B The next major innovation came in the 1860s with the French ‘velocipede’. French inventors added pedals directly to the front wheel. This design, however, was notoriously uncomfortable, earning it the nickname “boneshaker” due to its iron frame and wooden wheels wrapped in iron tires. The velocipede was the first machine to be called a “bicycle,” and it marked the beginning of cycling as a more widespread activity, though it remained a pastime for the daring. Section C In the 1870s, the desire for greater speed led to the “penny-farthing.” It featured an enormous front wheel, which allowed for more distance per pedal rotation, and a much smaller rear wheel. While this design was faster, it was also highly dangerous. The rider sat high up and was prone to “taking a header” – being thrown head-first over the handlebars. Safety was a significant and largely unaddressed issue with this design. Section D The modern bicycle, with its chain-driven rear wheel and equally sized wheels, emerged in the 1880s. Known as the “safety bicycle,” it was a revolutionary improvement. The new design was stable, easy to mount, and far safer than the penny-farthing. The subsequent invention of the pneumatic tire by John Boyd Dunlop provided a much smoother ride, finally ending the “boneshaker” era. This safety bicycle is the direct ancestor of all modern bicycles. |
Questions:
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.
Sentence Beginnings
- The original draisine…
- The velocipede earned its “boneshaker” nickname…
- The large front wheel of the penny-farthing…
- A key problem with the penny-farthing was that…
- The safety bicycle became truly comfortable…
Sentence Endings
A. …was its inherent lack of safety for the rider.
B. …after the addition of pneumatic tires.
C. …was constructed without using any metal.
D. …enabled it to achieve higher speeds.
E. …from the materials used in its construction.
F. …required the rider to push their feet on the ground.
Step-by-Step Demonstration Table
| Step | Action | What to Do | Demonstration with Question 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Read Instructions | ✅ Understand the Task | Confirm it’s “Matching Sentence Endings.” Note there are 5 beginnings and 6 endings. One ending will not be used. |
| 2. | Read Beginnings | 🔎 Identify Keywords | Sentence 1: “The original draisine…” Keywords: draisine (the specific name). |
| 3. | Predict | 💭 Grammar & Logic | The sentence starts with a subject (The draisine). It needs a verb to describe what it was or did. We know from the TFNG task it was wooden and had no pedals. |
| 4. | Scan Text | 📄 Locate the Section | Scanning for “draisine” leads us directly to Section A. |
| 5. | Read Intensively | 👀 Focus on Meaning | Text (Section A): “…was made entirely of wood and lacked pedals; the rider propelled themselves by pushing their feet against the ground.” |
| 6. | Match with Endings | ⚖️ Grammar & Meaning | Look at the endings list. – A (…safety): Not mentioned here. – B (…tires): Not mentioned. – C (…without metal): “Made entirely of wood” = constructed without metal. This is a strong candidate. – D (…higher speeds): Not mentioned. – E (…materials): Related, but vague. – F (…push feet): This is also true from the text. The Trap: Both C and F are true. However, the sentence beginning “The original draisine…” is a simple subject. The most direct and complete factual ending is C, which describes its fundamental construction. F describes how it was operated, which is a different focus. We must check if another sentence beginning requires F. Let’s see if any other sentence directly relates to “pushing feet.” Sentence beginnings 2, 3, 4, and 5 are about other models. None seem to fit F. Therefore, for Sentence 1, the best match is C. |
| 7. | Finalize & Move | ➡️ Maintain Flow | Mark 1. C. Now move to Sentence 2. |