1) Why this task feels messy and how to make it clean

Matching Features/People/Places looks chaotic because information is scattered across several paragraphs and rephrased with synonyms. You are asked to connect a statement like “proposed a low-cost alternative” to one of six researchers or to decide which site shows “seasonal flooding”. The chaos is designed. Your job is not to read everything. Your job is to construct a map and then prove links.

Two reasons candidates lose marks:

1. They chase keywords rather than the relation between words.
2. They mix up who said something with what the writer concludes.

This guide gives you a system that makes the task mechanical: create an index, translate options into testable relations, then prove or reject with a short clause you can underline.

2) Anatomy of Matching tasks

You will meet three common flavors:

1. People or Researchers
   Match a claim to A, B, C, D. The options may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
2. Places or Sites
   Match a feature to a location. Answers often depend on small nouns like bay, ridge, canal, terrace, estuary, or on figures like height, distance, year.
3. Features or Characteristics
   Match properties to categories, species, or inventions. Often it is a classification exercise: which animal shows X, which method yields Y.

Shared rules

• The answer must be supported by a short clause in the relevant paragraph.
• Names are often introduced once then referenced with pronouns or descriptors later.
• Synonyms and near synonyms are the norm.
• If the instructions say “You may use any letter more than once”, expect at least one person or place to match multiple statements.

3) The MRP Method: Map, Relate, Prove

A simple, repeatable workflow you can run for every set.

M for Map: build a fast index before answering

• Scan the passage once and box every proper noun: names of people, places, institutions.
• In the margin, write a 2 to 3 word tag next to the first mention of each name or place. Example: “Dr Vale: battery swap”, “Bayhurst: clay cliffs”.
• Draw a miniature roster at the page edge: A Vale, B Chen, C Ruiz, D Ibarra. Write one trigger word for each.

Time: 60 to 90 seconds. You are building the look-up table that saves minutes later.

R for Relate: turn options into testable mini-claims

Convert each statement into a verb relation in 5 to 7 words:

• “favoured field evidence over models”
• “warned about cost spikes”
• “recorded the earliest start date”
• “shows seasonal salinity”

Doing this kills keyword echo traps because you are matching relations, not nouns.

P for Prove: underline the clause that locks the match

• Go to the paragraph on your roster.
• Find a clause-level anchor: 6 to 12 words that express the same relation.
• If you cannot underline it in 30 to 40 seconds, move to the next candidate.
• Only fill the letter once you have an anchor. No anchor, no answer.

4) Page setup that guides your eyes

Use a compact layout that never changes:

• Roster strip on the right margin with letters and trigger words.
• Symbols that you will reuse in every passage:
  • Box numbers and units.
  • Circle negatives and exclusives: not, only, except, unless.
  • Triangle for conditions: provided that, except on.
  • Star for the writer’s view if the author is taking a stance separate from sources.
  • Wavy underline for hedges: may, tends, likely, suggests.

Minimal marks, maximal direction.

5) The language of attribution you must recognise

Matching People lives on these verbs and frames. They tell you who owns a claim.

• Strong stance: argues, maintains, insists, rejects, concludes
• Neutral report: notes, describes, observes, reports, records
• Hedge or caution: suggests, proposes, tentatively links, raises the possibility
• Contrast and concession: however, whereas, although, on the other hand, despite
• Evidence style: based on field notes, from archival letters, in laboratory trials, using satellite data

When you see “According to Chen”, the following sentence belongs to Chen, not the writer. For Matching People, that is usually the owner you need.

6) Decision trees that keep choices honest

A) Matching People/Features

1. Does the option state a relation I can paraphrase
   • Yes: shortlist 2 roster entries that could own it.
   • No: rewrite the option first.
2. In each candidate paragraph, can I underline a clause-level anchor that states the same relation
   • Yes in one: choose it.
   • Yes in two: pick the one with stronger ownership words or that states the idea first.
   • No: move to the next candidate or mark L for later.

B) Matching Places

1. Identify the unit or defining noun in the option: metres, century, estuary, terrace.
2. Go to the place paragraph and check the label plus unit together.
3. If the figures sit near “neighbors” like 1891 and 1897, read digits in pairs.
4. Only match when label, unit, and scope line up.

7) Ten trap patterns and the break moves

1. Keyword echo: option repeats a word from a paragraph that does not own the relation.
   Fix: rewrite options as relations and match verbs, not nouns.
2. Scope creep: some in the text becomes most or all in the option.
   Fix: circle quantifiers in both lines. If scope expands, reject.
3. Voice swap: a quoted researcher says X but the writer’s summary Y sits nearby.
   Fix: star the writer’s view. For Matching People, credit the quoted person.
4. Example bleed: a single case is taken as a general claim.
   Fix: tag EX in the margin. If the option is general, choose the paragraph holding the rule, not the example.
5. Two-fact bundle: option joins A and B. Paragraph supports A only.
   Fix: demand proof for both halves. If one is missing, reject.
6. Near numbers: 5.15 vs 5.50 or 1891 vs 1897.
   Fix: write unit first and read digits in pairs.
7. Pronoun fog: it, they, this, those switch owner mid paragraph.
   Fix: replace pronouns with names in your head before matching.
8. Absolute lure: always, never, proves.
   Fix: if the paragraph uses hedges, the absolute option fails.
9. Table mirage: a number in a table draws you, but the option targets a different cohort.
   Fix: confirm row label and column header together.
10. Old vs new: earlier research says X, newer work says not X.
    Fix: draw a P N F mini timeline and choose the era the option asks for.

8) Speed ladders for this task type

Ladder 1: Index then harvest (3 minutes setup + 6 minutes solve)

• 1:00 scan for names and places, box them
• 1:00 write roster with 2 word triggers
• 1:00 skim first lines of each paragraph
• Then solve in 30 to 60 seconds per item using MRP

Ladder 2: Cluster then clear
If all matching items rely on the same pool of names, answer them as a block so you do not reload context.

Ladder 3: 90 second wall for stubborn items
If you cannot underline a clause within 90 seconds, mark L and move. Return only if you can add a new anchor or eliminate one candidate.

9) Drill bank (6 to 8 minutes each)

• Roster Sprint: Take any article with 6 to 8 names. Build a roster with two trigger words per name in 90 seconds.
• Relation Rewrite: For a 6 item set, convert options to 5 word verb relations before reading.
• Attribution Fence: Draw vertical lines where quotes begin and end. Write the owner on both sides.
• Number Guard: Dictate ten near-numbers with units. Write unit first and digits in pairs.
• Bundle Breaker: Create three two-part options from a paragraph. Cross out the half that lacks proof.
• Place Labels: From a map passage, list five defining nouns per location: terrace, delta, harbor, ridge, inlet. Match them to features in 3 minutes.

10) Worked Mega Set: Mini Passage with 8 entities and 12 items

Passage
A research council funded eight coastal projects to test low-cost flood resilience.

P1 — Dr Vale (A)
Vale trialled modular flood walls that clip together without heavy machinery. Field notes show quick assembly on uneven ground and easy repair after storms. Vale does not address long-term aesthetics.

P2 — Prof Chen (B)
Chen compared satellite altimetry with river gauge records. She argues that remote sensing fills gaps in areas where gauges were destroyed. However, she concedes calibration is essential in tidal estuaries.

P3 — Dr Ruiz (C)
Ruiz studied community drills. He maintains that evacuation practice halves exit times after the third run. Costs are low, yet participation falls during harvest season when residents are busiest.

P4 — The Bayhurst Flats (D)
This wetland restoration revived reed beds and reopened a silted canal. Summer salinity spikes remain, but winter overflow now spreads into new ponds.

P5 — Engineer Ibarra (E)
Ibarra designed inflatable road barriers activated by rising water. Early trials reduced seepage into basements. The system depends on electricity and a robust maintenance schedule.

P6 — The Kestrel Inlet (F)
A narrow estuary with steep clay cliffs. Wave reflection damages old stone steps. A pilot placed flexible mats along the base to absorb energy. Storm damage fell by one third.

P7 — Dr Sadiq (G)
Sadiq’s group digitised 1900 to 1950 flood archives from local newspapers. He warns that headline language exaggerates extremes, yet the dates reveal the earliest spring floods occurred during the 1930s drought.

P8 — The Larkshore Boardwalk (H)
A raised wooden path built across salt marsh. Visitor numbers doubled after a new loop opened. The boardwalk sits on screw piles that can be lifted to follow sediment growth.

Questions
Match each statement 1 to 12 with A to H. A to H may be used more than once.

1 Suggested a technique that works even on uneven ground
2 Reported that a protective layer cut the impact of waves by about one third
3 Highlighted participation problems tied to seasonal work
4 Warned that language in sources can mislead
5 Provides evidence of earliest spring floods in the period 1900 to 1950
6 Demonstrated a structure that is quick to repair after storms
7 Depends on reliable power to function
8 Shows winter expansion of water into newly created areas
9 Focused on remote data where instruments were missing on the ground
10 Uses supports that allow the structure to rise with accumulating sediment
11 Noted that calibration is crucial in certain water bodies
12 Proposed a barrier easy to assemble without heavy machinery

How to solve with MRP

• Map roster: A Vale modular clip walls, B Chen satellites calibrate estuaries, C Ruiz drills half time, D Bayhurst reed canal winter ponds salinity, E Ibarra inflatable barriers power, F Kestrel flexible mats third less waves, G Sadiq archives dates headlines, H Boardwalk screw piles rise visitors
• Relate each statement to a verb relation.
• Prove with an anchor clause from the paragraph.

Answer key with anchors
1 A — “clip together” and “uneven ground.”
2 F — “flexible mats… Storm damage fell by one third.”
3 C — “participation falls during harvest season.”
4 G — “headline language exaggerates extremes.”
5 G — “earliest spring floods occurred during the 1930s.”
6 A — “easy repair after storms.”
7 E — “depends on electricity.”
8 D — “winter overflow now spreads into new ponds.”
9 B — “remote sensing fills gaps… where gauges were destroyed.”
10 H — “sits on screw piles that can be lifted.”
11 B — “calibration is essential in tidal estuaries.”
12 A — “clip together without heavy machinery.”

Why this set matters
It includes every common signal: ownership verbs, hedges, numbers, seasons, dependencies, and site features. Train with it until your eyes lock on anchors in seconds.

11) Variants you will see and how to handle them

1. “Which TWO researchers…”
   Treat the set as a mini multiple response. Use the roster to shortlist three, then prove two with anchors. Avoid picking a third without proof. If you must guess, choose the one whose trigger words are closer to the question’s relation.
2. “You may use any letter more than once.”
   Expect one or two names to carry multiple statements. After you find the first anchor for a name, skim the rest of that paragraph for a second relation before leaving.
3. “Some options will not be used.”
   Do not feel obliged to assign every letter. Unused letters are normal. Focus on anchors, not symmetry.
4. Tables and figures mixed with text
   For places, match labels to features, then confirm units. If the option says “the deepest basin”, compare only depth values within the basin column, not across another measure.

12) Accuracy boosters that pay off fast

• Ownership tags: write A for author, Q for quoted next to sentences. Prevents voice swaps.
• Unit-first habit: when checking places, say the unit aloud in your head before digits. It reduces neighbor swaps.
• Relation check: before you fill the letter, whisper the relation you matched. If you cannot express it as a verb link in five words, you likely matched a noun, not a claim.
• Low-confidence discipline: mark L beside any guess. During the final sweep only revisit L items that involve circles or triangles on the page, since polarity and condition flips are the quickest gains.

13) Two cautionary tales from real patterns

Caution 1: The prestige quote
A famous professor is quoted with a bold statement. The writer then says “However, recent fieldwork suggests a more modest effect.” For Matching People, the bold statement belongs to the professor, not the writer. For purpose questions later, the writer is cautious. Separate the two.

Caution 2: The nearby number
An option asks for “the site where winter extent increased.” The Bayhurst paragraph mentions “summer salinity spikes” and “winter overflow spreads”. If you only see “spikes” and pick the wrong season, you lose a simple mark. Small nouns drive answers. Circle season words.

14) Two-week training plan for this task type

Day 1
Learn MRP. Build rosters from two articles with 6 to 8 names. No answering yet.

Day 2
Relation rewrite day. Convert 12 options to verb relations before reading. Then answer with proof.

Day 3
Attribution focus. Practice quote fences and owner tags. Do one researcher set.

Day 4
Places focus. Run Number Guard drills and match five site features in under 6 minutes.

Day 5
Bundle breaker. Build and break three two-part options from a passage you know.

Day 6
Mixed mini set: 10 items in 10 minutes. Log misses by trap pattern.

Day 7
Light review. Copy the attribution verb list and the five symbols from memory.

Day 8
Speed ladder day. Index then harvest on a fresh set. Record time per item.

Day 9
High density practice. Choose a passage with many names in two paragraphs. Push the 90 second wall.

Day 10
Tables and text combined. Do a site set with figures and labels. Enforce unit-first checks.

Day 11
Full passage simulation. 20 minutes with a mixed sequence that includes matching.

Day 12
Autopsy. Sort wrong answers into ten trap patterns. For your top two traps, schedule the matching drills.

Day 13
Speed stretch. 12 items in 11 minutes without dropping proof rate below 95 percent.

Day 14
Final simulation. Aim for accuracy above 80 percent on matching items and a clean sweep of polarity and unit errors.

Targets by Day 14

• Proof rate 95 percent or higher for matched items
• Average time 45 to 70 seconds per match after indexing
• Zero neighbor number swaps in places sets
• Revisit yield above 60 percent on L marks

15) Exam day routine card

1. Build the roster and write two trigger words per name or place.
2. Convert each option to a verb relation in 5 to 7 words.
3. Go straight to the candidate paragraphs on your roster.
4. Underline a clause-level anchor that owns the relation.
5. Fill the letter. If no anchor in 90 seconds, mark L and move.
6. In the final sweep, fix only polarity or unit issues first, then any L with a near-ready anchor.

Pin this routine in your head and run it exactly. Consistency beats occasional brilliance.

16) Quick glossary

• Anchor: the exact clause that proves your match.
• Roster: the margin list of all names or places with trigger words.
• Ownership: who holds the claim, the writer or a source.
• Relation: the verb link that the option asserts, such as proposes, reduces, correlates with.
• Neighbor numbers: close figures that differ by one digit or unit.
• Bundle: an option that joins two claims; both must be proved.

17) Final reminders that protect points

• Match relations, not shiny nouns.
• Credit the speaker who owns the line, not the narrator nearby.
• Confirm unit and label together for sites.
• Enforce the 90 second wall; fishing is the fastest way to lose time.
• Keep your marks minimal and consistent; five symbols are enough.
• Recheck circles and triangles during the sweep; negatives and conditions hide quick wins.
• When two letters feel right, ask which paragraph states the relation first and with stronger ownership verbs, then choose that one.

Matching Features/People/Places is supposed to scatter your attention. Your system will keep it in one lane. Build the roster, rewrite the relations, underline the anchor, and move. Do this across sets and your accuracy climbs while your minutes stay under control.