Reading · Unit 3: Core strategies
R22: Matching information: which paragraph contains...
Target band 6.5 to 7
"Which paragraph contains the following information?" Students hate this question type. The answers don't follow the order of the passage, and the statements are often small details hidden inside long paragraphs. But there's a smart way to handle it, and it starts with doing it last.
Why this matters
Matching information can appear in any passage, sometimes with five or six questions. Because you have to search the whole passage, it's easy to lose a lot of time. With a clear method, you can get most of these marks without the panic.
How it's different from matching headings
| Matching headings | Matching information |
|---|---|
| Matches the main idea of a paragraph | Matches one detail inside a paragraph |
| Each paragraph gets one heading | Some paragraphs may be used twice, some not at all |
| Uses skimming | Uses scanning and careful reading |
Check the instructions. If it says You may use any letter more than once, then one paragraph can be the answer to several questions.
Step 1: Do it last
Answer the other questions on the passage first. By the time you return to matching information, you'll have read most of the passage, and you'll often remember where things are.
Step 2: Identify the type of information
The statements usually start with words that tell you the type of information. This is your biggest clue.
| The statement says... | Look for... |
|---|---|
| an example of... | for example, such as, a specific case |
| a reason for... | because, due to, the cause |
| a comparison between... | than, compared with, unlike |
| a description of... | details of how something looks or works |
| a prediction about... | will, in the future, by 2050 |
| a reference to a number or date | figures and years |
| a definition of... | means, is known as, refers to |
Step 3: Scan, then read carefully
Use the type and any names or numbers to scan. When you find a likely place, read the sentence carefully to check it really matches.
A worked example
A Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth. Some species can grow almost a metre in a single day.
B Unlike most trees, which take decades to reach full size, bamboo can be harvested after just three to five years. This makes it attractive to builders.
C In parts of Asia, bamboo has been used for scaffolding for centuries. In Hong Kong, for example, workers still use bamboo scaffolding on tall buildings.
D Researchers expect demand for bamboo to grow sharply over the next twenty years, as countries look for greener materials.
Which paragraph contains:
- a prediction about future use?
- a comparison with another type of plant?
- an example of bamboo being used today?
- a reference to the speed of growth?
Show the answers
1) D ("expect... over the next twenty years"). 2) B ("Unlike most trees"). 3) C ("for example... still use"). 4) A ("almost a metre in a single day").
Notice that paragraph B also talks about growth time, so it could look like an answer to question 4. But question 4 asks about speed of growth, and paragraph A is the clearest. Always choose the best match.
Honest note
This question type is time-hungry. If you have 4 minutes left and 5 matching information questions, don't panic. Answer the ones you find quickly, and make smart guesses for the rest.
Your task today
Take one matching information block. Before searching, write the type of information next to each statement.