IELTS Reading: Matching Headings 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an IELTS Matching Headings task, what should a heading primarily capture about a paragraph?
- The main idea or central topic (Correct answer)
- A single supporting detail
- The first sentence verbatim
- An example mentioned in the paragraph
Correct answer: The main idea or central topic
Headings summarise the main idea, not minor details.
Question 2: Why are there usually MORE headings provided than paragraphs to match?
- Some headings are distractors that won't be used (Correct answer)
- Every heading must be used twice
- The extras are answer keys
- It is a printing error
Correct answer: Some headings are distractors that won't be used
Extra headings act as distractors to test comprehension.
Question 3: What is the best first step when approaching a Matching Headings question?
- Read the list of headings before reading paragraphs closely (Correct answer)
- Memorise every word of the passage
- Translate the passage
- Answer questions in random order
Correct answer: Read the list of headings before reading paragraphs closely
Skimming headings first frames what to look for.
Question 4: Two headings seem to fit one paragraph. What distinguishes the correct one?
- It matches the paragraph's overall focus, not just a detail (Correct answer)
- It is the longer heading
- It uses words from the title
- It appears first in the list
Correct answer: It matches the paragraph's overall focus, not just a detail
The correct heading reflects the dominant idea of the paragraph.
Question 5: Where in a paragraph is the main idea often found to aid heading matching?
- Topic sentence at the start or a concluding sentence (Correct answer)
- Only in the middle
- Never stated explicitly
- In the footnotes
Correct answer: Topic sentence at the start or a concluding sentence
Topic and concluding sentences often state the main point.
Question 6: A heading uses 'effects' while the paragraph discusses 'consequences'. This is an example of:
- Paraphrasing through synonyms (Correct answer)
- An incorrect match
- A grammatical error
- A distractor trick to avoid
Correct answer: Paraphrasing through synonyms
IELTS commonly paraphrases ideas using synonyms.
Question 7: What should you do if you cannot decide a heading for one paragraph?
- Leave it, match easier paragraphs first, then return (Correct answer)
- Guess immediately and move on permanently
- Skip the whole section
- Pick the unused heading regardless
Correct answer: Leave it, match easier paragraphs first, then return
Matching confident ones first narrows the remaining options.
IELTS Reading: Matching Headings 2
In an IELTS Matching Headings task, what should a heading primarily capture about a paragraph?