IELTS Reading: Matching Headings 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A heading that is too general for a specific paragraph is usually:
- A distractor to avoid (Correct answer)
- The correct answer
- A printing mistake
- Always the first choice
Correct answer: A distractor to avoid
Overly broad headings often fail to match the specific focus.
Question 2: When a paragraph's main idea is in its last sentence, you should:
- Read to the end before choosing a heading (Correct answer)
- Stop after the first line
- Ignore the conclusion
- Choose based on the title
Correct answer: Read to the end before choosing a heading
Some paragraphs build to the main point at the end.
Question 3: The heading 'How the system works' best matches a paragraph that:
- Explains a process or mechanism (Correct answer)
- Criticises a policy
- Gives a personal opinion
- Lists names of people
Correct answer: Explains a process or mechanism
It signals a process explanation.
Question 4: Why should you avoid choosing a heading just because it sounds impressive?
- Match must be based on meaning, not appeal (Correct answer)
- Impressive headings are banned
- Long headings are always wrong
- Short headings are always right
Correct answer: Match must be based on meaning, not appeal
Correctness depends on meaning alignment, not style.
Question 5: A paragraph traces the development of an idea over time. Best heading:
- The evolution of the concept (Correct answer)
- A single year's events
- An unrelated theory
- A list of definitions
Correct answer: The evolution of the concept
'Evolution' captures change over time.
Question 6: If two paragraphs seem to fit the same heading, the correct approach is:
- Re-read both to find the more precise match (Correct answer)
- Use the heading twice
- Skip both paragraphs
- Pick the longer paragraph
Correct answer: Re-read both to find the more precise match
Each heading matches only one paragraph, so refine your choice.
Question 7: An effective way to confirm a heading match is to:
- Check it summarises the whole paragraph, not one part (Correct answer)
- Count the words
- Match the alphabetical order
- Find the longest sentence
Correct answer: Check it summarises the whole paragraph, not one part
A valid heading reflects the paragraph's full main idea.
IELTS Reading: Matching Headings 4
A heading that is too general for a specific paragraph is usually: