IELTS General Reading Matching Features

Table of Contents

1. IELTS general reading matching features
2. IELTS general reading matching features - Strategies & tips to solve
3. Skills required to solve matching features question
4. Common challenges faced while answering matching features question
5. Matching features practice exercise 1
6. Matching features practice exercise 2
7. Answers for practice exercises
8. Conclusion

In the IELTS general reading matching features question type, you will be asked to match sections of information with the correct options. Read the tips and tricks given in the article to solve this type of question. The skill building exercises will help you to understand the question type better. 

The IELTS general reading matching features questions will have two parts. One will be a set of statements from the passage and the other will be a list of options. The options are generally names of persons, or a feature or a period. The information will be paraphrased and won't be in order. You have to match the statements to the right features after reading the passage. 

In the IELTS general reading question types, matching features is an important section. This article will guide you to solve the ielts general reading matching features questions. Score above 8 band in IELTS general reading, by using the strategies mentioned in this article.

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IELTS general reading matching features - strategies and tips to solve

To solve the IELTS general reading matching features, strategies and tips have been listed out below. You can use them to develop your understanding of this section and to solve it correctly. 

• Read the passage quickly and note down the important points. This will help you to understand the content of the paragraph.
• Underline all the keywords in each question. Look for their synonyms in the passage.
• The questions will not be asked in any particular order. So you don't have to search in that manner.
• Read the questions and understand what type of information to look for. Underline the keywords in the passage related to the questions.
• Write down the letter of the paragraph which has the answer, near the question.
• Find out the synonyms of the keywords and paraphrased information.
• All the paragraphs may not have answers to the questions, while some paragraphs may have answers to more than one question. Don't get confused with that.
• If you find a paragraph with the answer, read it again carefully to make sure it is the right one.
• As the time is very limited, you should read through the paragraphs fast. Make sure to learn the scanning techniques.
• If you are taking more time for a question, attempt it in the end. Dont waste more time on one question.

The IELTS general reading matching features - strategies and tips have been developed by IELTS experts to help you solve them easily. These tips will be effective when you prepare for IELTS.

Also read: IELTS reading tips

Skills required to solve matching features question

• Read and understand the passage carefully
• Note important information
• Paraphrasing
• Good vocabulary
• Time management

Common challenges faced while answering matching features question

• Not paying enough attention to the instructions
• Not able to manage time required to solve the questions
• Students struggling to understand the meaning of the sentences
• Searching for the exact words, as the passage is paraphrased
• Not understanding the strategies of solving the question type

Matching Features Practice Exercise 1

Answer questions 1-3 based on the reading passage below.

Pronunciation and Physiognomy Reading Passage

A. Writer Arthur Hue’s said that friends of his, whom he met 30 years after they went to the United States, had got an “American physiognomy”, - a broadened jaw, a look which is also existing among the local people. An anthropologist friend of his, related this to the increased use of the jaw musculature in American enunciation. This “change of physiognomy” in migrants had already been observed by the historian M. Fishberg in 1910. To restate the words of philosopher Emerson, some national, social and religious people, such as old actors, long-term convicts and celibate priests, to give just a few examples, de­velop a different “look”, which is not easily defined, but recognised easily. Their way of life affects their facial expression and physical features, giving the wrong impression that these features are hereditary or of racial” origin. All these factors con­tribute, as well as heredity, hint the question of appearance being affected by pronunciation, as in the ease of American immigrants (including those from other English speaking coun­tries) over the years, is of great curiosity and requires further study into the science of voice production. This can only benefit people in the field of speech ther­apy, elocution and the pronunciation of foreign languages, and help the students from a purely physiological point of view, Most of the  psychological and socio-linguistic factors that inhibit most adult learners of foreign languages from acquiring a “good” pronunciation constitute a completely different and no less important Issue that requires separate investigation.

B. The pronunciation of the various styles of English around the world today is affected by the sound being “played” in different parts of the mouth. We use DUI-speech organs in some ways to produce certain voices, and these muscles have to try to learn new pho­nemes, Non-Americans should look in the mirror while repeating “I really never heard of poor reward for valour with full use of the USA retroflex phoneme, and see what happens to their jawbones after 3 or 4 repetitions. Imagine the effect of these motions on the jaw muscles after twenty years! This phoneme is one of the most noticeable features of US English and one that non-A merit and is always emphasised when mimicking the accent. Likewise, standard British REL is often mimicked, and its whine of superiority mocked to the point of turning the end of one’s nose up as much as possible. Not only does this improve the “performance”, but also begs the question of whether this look is the start of the expression “stuck up”?

Question 1-3

Write the appropriate letter in Boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

Note that there are more Observations than people, so you will not use all of them.

You can use each observation once only.

Use the information in the text to match the People listed (1-3) with the Observations (A-G).

Observations

1. Americans use their jaw more to enunciate
2. Immigrants acquire physiognomical features common among the Indigenous population
3. Facial expression and physical features are hereditary
4. Lifestyle affects physiognomy
5. Americans have a broadened jaw
6. The appearance of his friends had changed since they moved to the United States
7. The change of countenance was unremarkable

People

1. Koestler
2. Fishberg
3. Emerson

Check answer for this exercise

Matching Features Practice Exercise 2

Answer questions 1-8 which are based on the reading passage below.

Comic Books and Novels Reading Passage

In spite of the subtle difference between comics and novels, some talented writers such as Joe Hill have produced excellent content in both mediums. Many classic novels have been reimagined into comics. A study at Ankara College Foundation Private School compared comprehension of Shakespeare in the classic novel as well as comic form. The students were of a similar academic level. It was found that students who used the comic book scored higher compared to those who used the traditional novel. For one, the art in the comic book added extra features to the story that potentially made it easier to follow compared to the poetic and wordy prose used in a novel. The graphics also gave a face to a name.

Language and style are distinct, demanding features of a novel, which is abstract. Novelists have to concoct words that will lead the reader to the imagination of characters and places closest to their own. For the reader, the experiences and emotions are realistic. Modern day comic books, on the other hand, are chained to the Heroic or villainy superheroes, which highlight the unnatural possibilities, thus moving away from reality. 

At the same time, due to the use of both verbal and visual illustration in comic books, there is less text and transition is faster. For instance, in the first chapter of the classic novel, Wandering Heart, Jessica is inside the Capes corner worried about her love life. Her friends call out the hero Sky. Sky rejects her friend’s suggestions about dating Jessica, which leaves her depressed. This first chapter in the comic book was condensed into six pages allowing for a quick transition. The transition in prose must also be smooth, though there is space to divert the storyline for a while only to connect later, to retain interest considering its volume. Additionally, every character, painted or penned, must be one that the reader cares about or is curious to know. The rule ‘show, don’t tell’ is universal. It might be easier to fill pages with detailed descriptions, which is what contributes to the volume of a novel and the comic illustration has to match with the words in limited space.

Maus by Art Spiegelman was the first graphic novel to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1992, and today more and more classic novels have been rewritten as graphic novels. For instance, graphic novel authors have reimagined Frankenstein by Mary Shelley numerous times. Graphic novels could easily be mistaken as nothing more than a fancy name for a comic book. While both qualify as true-blue literature, both are works of fiction and use panel style illustrations for telling the story, the presentation sets them apart. A graphic novel presents a story in a mature and complex manner. It can be lengthy even wrapped in a book or two, has a sustained storyline, and comes in a book format, paperbound or hardbound. Comics, as defined by Scott McCloud, are juxtaposed pictorial and other images produced in a deliberate sequence and intended to convey information or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. Thus, they often have a light comedy feel storyline and do not typically follow the patterns of a graphic or any novel for that matter. The story will often not unfold in one sitting. For example, Spiderman or Green Lantern would have appeared and will continue in editions issued in sequence. 

Comic books are perceived as content for childish and immature readers and graphic novel fans hate to be mocked for reading comics. Fortunately, with the popularity of sci-fi movies and animated versions of classics, both genres have hitherto maintained a place in bookstores.

Question 1- 8

Classify the following descriptions as relating to

A comics

B novels

C both comics and novels

Write the correct letter A, B or C as your answer to each question.

1 work of good writers

2 easy to understand due to illustrations

3 readers can relate to the characters

4 possibility of temporary diversion from the storyline

5 element of the extraordinary

6 smooth progression in the storyline

7 rapid transition

8 building on content with elaborated representations

Check answer for this exercise

Answers for Practice Exercises

Find the answers with explanations given below for all the two above practice exercises and check your answers. 

Pronunciation and Physiognomy Reading Answers

1. F. The appearance of his friends had changed since they moved to the United States

Explanation: For the first question, the answer is in the first paragraph, 1st line; “The writer Arthur Hue’s tier onto remarked that friends of his, whom he met thirty years after they emigrated to the United States, had acquired an “American physiognomy”

2. B. Immigrants acquire physiognomic features common among the Indigenous population

Explanation: For the second question, the answer is in paragraph from 1st line, “The writer Arthur Hue’s tier onto remarked that friends of his, whom he met thirty years after they emigrated to the United States, had acquired an “American physiognomy”, i.e. a broadened jaw, an appearance which is also prevalent In the indigenous population. An anthropologist friend of his attributed this to the increased use of the jaw musculature In American enunciation. This “change of countenance” in immigrants had already been observed by the historian M. Fishberg in 1910,.”  i. is incorrect because it was an anthropologist friend of Koestler who said this” ii. is not correct, because Koestler was talking about his friends rather than Immigrants in general; and v is not stated as a general principle.vi. is incorrect, because Plshberg was talking about immigrants in general, not his friends.

3. D. Lifestyle affects physiognomy

Explanation: For the third question, the answer can be found In the first para paragraph, 9th line; “Their way of life affects their facial expression and physical features, giving the mistaken impression that these traits are of hereditary or racial” origin.” . iii. Is incorrect, because Emerson says this is a mistaken impression.

Comic Books and Novels Reading Answers

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. C both comics and novels

Explanation: Paragraph 1- In spite of the subtle difference between comics and novels, some talented writers such as Joe Hill have produced excellent content in both mediums.

2. A comics

Explanation: Paragraph 1-  A study at Ankara College Foundation Private School compared comprehension of Shakespeare in the classic novel as well as comic form... It was found that students who used the comic book scored higher compared to those who used the traditional novel. For one, the art in the comic book added extra features to the story that potentially made it easier to follow compared to the poetic and wordy prose used in a novel.

3 B novels

Explanation: Paragraph 2- Novelists have to concoct words that will lead the reader to the imagination of characters and places closest to their own. For the reader, the experiences and emotions are realistic.

4 B novels

Explanation: Paragraph 3- The transition in prose must also be smooth, though there is space to divert the storyline for a while only to connect later, to retain interest considering its volume. In the phrase, ‘to retain ……. considering its volume’, the referent ‘its’ modifies novels.

5 A comics

Explanation: Paragraph 2- Modern day comic books, on the other hand, are chained to the Heroic or villainy superheroes, which highlight the unnatural possibilities, thus moving away from reality. 

6 C both comics and novels

Explanation: Paragraph 3- This first chapter in the comic book was condensed into six pages allowing for a quick transition. The transition in prose must also be smooth,...

The word ‘prose’ refers to novels and the word ‘also’ implies that it is true for the other medium also, that is, comics.

7 A comics

Explanation: Paragraph 3- At the same time, due to the use of both verbal and visual illustration in comic books, there is less text and transition is faster. 

8 B novels

Explanation: Paragraph 3- It might be easier to fill pages with detailed descriptions, which is what contributes to the volume of a novel...

Also check, the IELTS general reading matching headings

Conclusion

We believe that the tips, and skill building exercises given in this article will help you in tackling the questions in the IELTS general reading matching features section. Practicing the multiple mock tests will help you to clear the exams with an 8+ band score.