IELTS Listening · Lesson 11 of 13
Matching features (classification)
Match descriptions to a list of people, places or things. Keep several questions in mind at once and listen for paraphrases.
In this lesson you will
- predict how the descriptions might be paraphrased
- keep several questions in mind at once while you listen
- complete a Part 1 matching features task
- find the synonyms that gave the answers
The question type
What is matching features?
Also called classification. You match a list of descriptions (1, 2, 3…) to a box of options, such as people, places or things (A, B, C…). You will hear a lot of information about all the options, and the speakers will rarely use the same words as the questions.
- Some options in the box are not used.
- Names (proper nouns) won't change, but the descriptions will be paraphrased.
- Information about one option may answer a question that comes later, so keep all the questions in mind.
Questions 1–4. Which hotel matches each description? Choose your answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–E.
- A The Bridge Hotel
- B Carlton House
- C The Imperial
- D The Majestic
- E The Royal Oak
1 is in a rural area · 2 only opened recently · 3 offers facilities for business functions · 4 has an indoor swimming pool
Before you listen
- What do you think the conversation is about?
- How many options do you have to choose from?
- Which words will probably not change in the recording?
Which description is each word connected with?
You might hear any of these words. Which question could each one help you answer?
- conferences
- outdoor pool
- an excellent reputation
- peaceful
- internet
- country
- a few months ago
- gym
- 10 kilometres away
- refurbished
- meetings
- fitness centre
Some of these words are distractors. For example, outdoor pool, gym and fitness centre are connected with question 4, but they don't describe a hotel with an indoor pool. Listen carefully to the detail.
Choosing a hotel
You will hear a man talking to an official at a tourist information office.
Official sample recording. You can also use the computer voice below.
Transcript (check it after you answer)
OfficialCan I help you?
ManYes, I was wanting somewhere to stay for a few days, a four- or five-star hotel. Can you tell me something about the possibilities?
OfficialOK, right. Well, there are five hotels that might interest you. Were you wanting a city centre location, or would you be interested in something a bit further out?
ManWell, I do have a car, so I could go for either.
OfficialWell, there are two central hotels in the range you're looking for: there's Carlton House and the Imperial. They're both near the main square. But if you've got your own transport, you might be interested in the Royal Oak. That's out in the country, about ten kilometres away, very peaceful. Then there's the Bridge Hotel and the Majestic. They're both in town but not in the centre; they're out on the airport road.
ManMm, that might be a bit far out, actually. OK, now the other two you mentioned, in the city centre. Can you tell me a bit about them?
OfficialWell, they're both excellent hotels. If you want something with a bit of character, Carlton House is quite unusual. It's a very old building that was originally a large private house. It was bought by the Vannis chain and they completely refurbished it. They took their first guests just a few months ago, but it's already got an excellent reputation. That's a five-star hotel. Or there's the Imperial, which is a much more modern building. That also has its own gym, and it has internet connection and meeting rooms. It's used for conferences and corporate events as well as private guests. That's five-star as well.
ManDoes it have a swimming pool as well as a gym?
OfficialNo. The Royal Oak has an outdoor pool, which is lovely in the summer, but the only hotel with an indoor pool is the Bridge Hotel. It doesn't have a gym, though. The Majestic is planning to build a swimming pool and a fitness centre, but it's not finished yet.
ManI see. Well, I think I'll probably go for one of the city centre hotels.
Questions 1–4
- 1 is in a rural area
- 2 only opened recently
- 3 offers facilities for business functions
- 4 has an indoor swimming pool
- 1 E The Royal Oak is “out in the country, about ten kilometres away, very peaceful”.
- 2 B Carlton House: “they took their first guests just a few months ago”. It's an old building, but it only opened recently.
- 3 C The Imperial has “meeting rooms… used for conferences and corporate events”.
- 4 A “The only hotel with an indoor pool is the Bridge Hotel.” The Royal Oak's pool is outdoor, and the Majestic's pool is not finished yet.
The Majestic (D) is not used.
Find the synonyms
Open the transcript. Which words or phrases in the recording mean the same as the words in the questions?
- rural area
- opened recently
- business functions
- renovated
- gym
Strategy summary
- Read the instructions. Can you use each option more than once? Some options won't be used.
- Skim the options and questions. Names won't change; descriptions will be paraphrased.
- Think of other ways each description could be expressed.
- Keep more than one question in mind as you listen, because the speaker may talk about several options at once.
- Listen for the detail that separates similar options (an indoor pool vs an outdoor pool, opened vs built).
Activities adapted from British Council IELTS teaching materials (takeielts.britishcouncil.org).