This lesson is about how to answer matching features questions in the Reading section of the test.
What does this type of question look like?
Example
Questions 11 - 13
Classify the following statements as being:
- a. a finding of the UCSF study
- b. an opinion of the UCSF study
- c. a finding of the EPA report
- d. an assumption of consultants to the tobacco industry
Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 11 - 13 on your answer sheet.
- 11. Smokers’ cardiovascular systems adapt to the intake of environmental smoke.
- 12. Smokefree public places offer the best solution.
- 13. The intake of sidestream smoke is more harmful than smoke exhaled by a smoker.
Activity
Discuss with your partner how you would approach this type of question.
A number of features in the text have been given a letter. Here, the text discusses a number of different studies and reports. The number 11 - 13 describe some of the details of these studies. You have to decide which detail matches which study.
What do I have to write in the answer sheet?
You will write the letter of the feature where you find the information, so ‘a’, or ‘b’, or ‘c’ etc. There are four features but only three questions so at least one letter will not be used. It is also possible that more than one statement belongs to the same feature, so you may use the same letter more than once.
What am I being tested on?
This type of question tests your ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in the text, and also your ability to recognise opinions and theories. This type of question may be used with both factual and discursive texts. Note how A and C above mention a ‘finding’ (factual information), while B and D mention ‘opinion’ and ‘assumption’. These are personal views rather than objective facts.
How should I approach this question?
- In general, the best way to prepare for this type of question is to practice skimming through a text and scanning for information. Once you’ve found the feature you’re looking for in the text, you must then read very carefully for detail.
- Scan through the text to find a reference to a keyword mentioned in the feature, for example ‘UCSF’. Then carefully read all the information around it.
- Read carefully! Note that B asks you to find an ‘opinion’ of the UCSF study, while C ask you to locate a ‘finding’. You must be able to recognise the difference.