In this question type, you match statements with the paragraphs that contain the relevant information. A statement might describe a reason, fact, explanation, definition, or example. Use the passage to find the answer; specialist knowledge is not needed.
The answer often appears as a phrase or a full sentence, and the passage may express it differently from the question. You give the paragraph label, such as A or B, rather than copying the words from the text.
There may be more paragraphs than statements. Some paragraphs may have no answer, while one paragraph may contain information for more than one statement. The answers may not follow the order of the questions.
Reading Skills You Need
- Skimming: Get a general sense of what each paragraph covers.
- Scanning: Search for details that match the statement.
- Careful reading: Confirm that the passage supports the statement’s full meaning.
Look for synonyms and paraphrases, not only repeated keywords.
Common Challenges
- The information can appear anywhere in the passage.
- Answers may not be in question order.
- The relevant detail may sit in the middle of a paragraph rather than in its main idea.
- Some information in the passage will not relate to any statement.
- One paragraph may answer multiple questions.
Tips
- Read the instructions carefully.
- Restate each statement in your own words and note its key idea.
- Look for distinctive details, such as dates, figures, or technical terms.
- Consider paraphrases. A fraction in a question, for example, may appear as a percentage in the passage.
- Read the full sentence around a possible match before choosing a paragraph.
- If you are unsure, mark a possible answer and return to it later.
- You may find it easier to answer these questions after completing other tasks, once you are familiar with the passage. Choose the order that works best for you.
A Step-by-Step Strategy
- Check how to record your answers.
- Read all the statements and identify their key meanings.
- Skim the passage to understand the general subject of each paragraph.
- Scan for relevant details and likely paraphrases.
- Read any possible match in context.
- Compare its meaning with the statement.
- Write the paragraph label and check your choices at the end.