This task assesses your ability to scan a text to find specific details and connect them to the correct category, which is usually a set of people, dates, places, or things.
The Challenge:
You are given:
- A list of features (e.g., names of people, periods of time, theories, countries). These are the items you need to match.
- A set of statements that describe findings, discoveries, or characteristics.
Your job is to match each statement to the correct feature from the list.
Key Detail: The features (e.g., the list of names) can be used more than once. Always check the instructions to see if this is the case.
7-Step Strategy for Matching Features
Step 1: Read the Instructions Carefully
Confirm the task. Note the features you will be matching (e.g., “Which person…”) and, crucially, check if the instructions say: “You may use any letter more than once.” This changes your strategy significantly.
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Step 2: Skim the Feature List First
Read the list of features (e.g., the people’s names, the dates). These are your “targets.” Underline them and get familiar with them. If they are names, note any first initials or full names to distinguish between people with the same last name.
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Step 3: Locate the Features in the Passage
Quickly scan the entire passage and mark every location where each feature appears. For example, if the features are people’s names (e.g., Davis, Smith, Wylie), use your pencil to circle or underline every single mention of ‘Davis’ in the text. Do this for all features. This creates a visual map and saves you time later.
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Step 4: Read the Statements and Identify Keywords
Now, look at the list of statements. For each one, underline the key words that convey the specific finding, characteristic, or opinion (e.g., “believed the cause was genetic,” “developed the first prototype,” “occurs most frequently in spring”).
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Step 5: Scan the Feature Locations for Matching Information
Using your visual map from Step 3, go to the sections of the text where you marked the features. Read those specific sentences carefully, looking for information that matches the meaning of your statement. You are looking for a paraphrase or synonym of the statement’s keywords in the text surrounding the feature.
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Step 6: Confirm the Match
Once you think you’ve found a match, double-check that the information in the text directly supports the statement. Be careful of “distractors” – text that uses similar words but has a different meaning.
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Step 7: Record Your Answer and Move On
Since you’ve pre-located all features, this process can be quite fast. Mark your answer and proceed to the next statement. If you are stuck, move on and return later; the answer often becomes clearer after you’ve matched others.
IELTS Reading Practice: Matching Features
| Passage: Key Figures in Bicycle Development 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. Concerned with the scarcity of horses after a volcanic eruption disrupted agriculture, von Drais sought a mechanical replacement. His wooden “running machine” was the first to incorporate the core principles of a two-wheeled, steerable vehicle. Section B The next major leap forward occurred in the 1860s in France. While several blacksmiths experimented with pedal designs, it is Pierre Michaux, a carriage maker, who is most famously associated with the commercial production of the “velocipede” or “boneshaker.” His company mass-produced these machines, making them more widely available, albeit still uncomfortable. Section C The quest for speed in the 1870s led to the radical “penny-farthing” design. James Starley, a British engineer, is often called the “father of the cycling industry” for his innovative work on this model. His designs greatly improved the metal spokes and tension wheels, making the large front wheel both strong and light enough to be practical, despite the safety risks. Section D The modern “safety bicycle” emerged in the 1880s. The Rover Safety Bicycle, designed by John Kemp Starley (James Starley’s nephew), was the first to feature a chain-driven rear wheel and two wheels of nearly equal size. This design rendered the penny-farthing obsolete. Around the same time, John Boyd Dunlop, a Scottish veterinarian, reinvented the pneumatic tire to make his son’s tricycle ride more comfortable. His invention, paired with the safety bicycle, created a smooth and efficient ride, sparking a global cycling boom. |
Questions:
Look at the following people and the list of statements below.
Match each person with the correct statement.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
The People
A. Baron Karl von Drais
B. Pierre Michaux
C. James Starley
D. John Kemp Starley
E. John Boyd Dunlop
The Statements
- This person’s invention was directly motivated by a personal family need.
- This person was inspired by a problem with animal transportation.
- This person is credited with creating a product that led to the mass popularity of a new machine.
- This person’s work was crucial for the development of a dangerous but faster machine.
- This person’s contribution was commercially produced, making the technology accessible to more people.
Step-by-Step Demonstration Table
| Step | Action | What to Do | Demonstration with Question 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Read Instructions | ✅ Understand the Task | “Match each person…” and crucially, “NB You may use any letter more than once.” This means A, B, C, D, or E could be the answer for multiple questions. |
| 2. | Skim Feature List | 🔎 Identify the “Targets” | The people are: A. von Drais, B. Michaux, C. J. Starley, D. J.K. Starley, E. Dunlop. I note that two people have the surname Starley. |
| 3. | Locate Features in Text | 📄 Map the Passage | I quickly scan and mark the text: – von Drais: Section A. – Michaux: Section B. – James Starley: Section C. – John Kemp Starley: Section D. – Dunlop: Section D. |
| 4. | Read Statement & Keywords | 👀 Find the Clue | Statement 1: “This person’s invention was directly motivated by a personal family need.” Keywords: invention, motivated, personal family need. |
| 5. | Scan Feature Locations | 🔍 Find the Match | I will check the text around each person for a mention of a “family” or “personal” motivation. – A. von Drais (Sect A): Motivated by horse scarcity (a societal/economic issue). Not family. – B. Michaux (Sect B): No motivation given. – C. J. Starley (Sect C): No personal motivation given. – D. J.K. Starley (Sect D): No motivation given. – E. Dunlop (Sect D): “…reinvented the pneumatic tire to make his son’s tricycle ride more comfortable.” Bingo! This is a direct “personal family need” (his son). |
| 6. | Confirm the Match | ⚖️ Check for Accuracy | The statement “invention… motivated by a personal family need” perfectly matches the text about Dunlop inventing tires for his son. The match is correct. |
| 7. | Finalize & Move | ➡️ Maintain Flow | Mark 1. E. Now move to Statement 2. |
Answers:
- E (As demonstrated: Dunlop invented for his son’s comfort.)
- A (Section A: von Drais was motivated by the “scarcity of horses,” which is a problem with animal transportation.)
- E (Section D: Dunlop’s pneumatic tire, paired with the safety bicycle, “sparked a global cycling boom,” meaning it led to mass popularity. Note: D could also be argued, but the “boom” is directly attributed to the comfort of Dunlop’s tire.)
- C (Section C: James Starley’s work on the penny-farthing’s wheels made it “practical, despite the safety risks.” The penny-farthing is the “dangerous but faster machine.”)
- B (Section B: Michaux’s company “mass-produced these machines, making them more widely available.” This is a direct match for “commercially produced… accessible to more people.”)
In this set, feature E was used twice (for statements 1 and 3), demonstrating the “you may use any letter more than once” instruction.