Students often ask me this: Is it possible to match paragraph headings to the correct paragraphs by reading the first sentence of the paragraph only?
My answer is: sometimes. The problem is that this 'technique' doesn't always work. For example, try the following exercise.
Choose the best heading (1 or 2) for the paragraph below. Which sentence gave you the answer?
- The impact of telecommunications on population distribution
- The benefits of working together in cities
It was once assumed that improvements in telecommunications would lead to more dispersal in the population as people were no longer forced into cities. However, the ISTP team's research demonstrates that the population and job density of cities rose or remained constant in the 1980s after decades of decline. The explanation for this seems to be that it is valuable to place people working in related fields together. 'The new world will largely depend on human creativity, and creativity flourishes where people come together face-to-face.'
(Source: Cambridge IELTS 6, test 2)
The answer is 2 -> "The explanation for this seems to be that it is valuable to place people working in related fields together."
Posted by: Hien Tran | August 20, 2018 at 15:14
2
Posted by: WMK | August 20, 2018 at 15:53
2
Posted by: ivy | August 20, 2018 at 16:46
"It is valuable to place people working in related fields together".
Dear Simon, As the answer comes in the middle end of paragraph, so what is the effective strategy to tackle this type of question in this section?
Posted by: Ameet | August 20, 2018 at 16:55
2
Posted by: Pachu | August 20, 2018 at 17:05
2
Posted by: Monica | August 20, 2018 at 22:59
The answer is 2.
Reading 1st or last line of a paragraph will not work. I believe that reading the whole paragraph with understanding is the key!
Posted by: Vishaal | August 21, 2018 at 05:09
There is another key issue that is HOWEVER. However refers that the first heading couldn't be answer.
Posted by: Murad | August 21, 2018 at 06:39
CORRECT ANSWER FROM SIMON:
2
benefits of working together in cities = job density of cities rose... it is valuable to place people working in related fields together
Note:
My advice is to do 'paragraph matching' sections last. Do all other question sections first, and you'll be more familiar with the passage when you go back to the 'paragraph' section.
Also, remember that you can't always trust the first sentence of each paragraph. You should try to read more - the whole paragraph if possible.
Posted by: Simon | August 21, 2018 at 12:37
2
The population and job density of cities rose or remained constant in the 1980s after decades of decline.
Posted by: Binh Minh | August 22, 2018 at 06:34
2
Posted by: Ravinder pal Singh | August 22, 2018 at 12:00
2
Posted by: Heena | August 23, 2018 at 12:15
I think IELTS examiners and those who create questions are smart enough to not make reading that simple that you only need to read first line. They all ware of all techniques that students find out on the Internet.
Posted by: IELTS_taker | August 23, 2018 at 19:39
2
However, the ISTP team's research demonstrates that the population and job density of cities rose or remained constant in the 1980s after decades of decline. The explanation for this seems to be that it is valuable to place people working in related fields together
Posted by: Tran Thanh Phuong | August 27, 2018 at 03:33
The answer is 2.
Posted by: Jamili Amir | August 27, 2018 at 04:45
2
Posted by: Chunyang Ruan | August 28, 2018 at 01:53
2
it is valuable to place people working in related fields together. 'The new world will largely depend on human creativity, and creativity flourishes where people come together face-to-face.'
Posted by: sam | September 03, 2018 at 15:32
2
it is valuable to place people working in related fields together
Posted by: Gagan | November 01, 2018 at 13:49