IELTS Reading Practice: The History of Pasta

IELTS Reading Practice Lesson: Matching Headings

Matching headings questions are common in the IELTS reading test. Many people find this type of question lengthy and difficult to answer. It is important that you do not try to match words. The headings are a title for the paragraph. This means you need to think about the aim of the paragraph and decide which heading summarises this best. You might feel that some paragraphs have two possible headings so always remember to think about the aim rather than just synonyms.

Skim read the headings. Pay attention to keywords in the headings. Note any headings that are similar and headings that might be unique. For your answers remember that each heading can be used only once.

Questions 1-4: Choose the best heading for each section.

Headings:

i) A theory dismissed

ii) Marco Polo in China

iii) Is pasta really Italian?

iv) China is the origin of pasta

v) The real origins of pasta

vi) How Arabs cooked pasta

vii) The common belief of the origins of pasta

Download list of headings: List of Matching Headings

Reading Passage: The History of Pasta 

A) Worldwide, pasta has become synonymous with Italian cuisine. Italian immigrants themselves brought pasta everywhere they went. While it is true that the most famous varieties and recipes of cooking pasta really do come from Italy, surprisingly, the actual origin of pasta lies elsewhere!

B) One of the more popular theories of the arrival of pasta in Italy was published in the ‘Macaroni Journal’ by the Association of Food Industries. It states that pasta was brought to Italy by Marco Polo via China. Polo ventured to China in the time of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and the Chinese had been consuming noodles as early as 3000 B.C. in the Qinghai province. There is even some evidence there of 4,000-year-old noodles made from foxtail and broomcorn millet.

C) Unfortunately, there are problems with this theory, least of which is that the noodles they were making in China aren’t technically considered pasta. Polo also described Chinese noodles as being like “lagana”, which implies he was possibly already familiar with a pasta-like food before going to China. Further, in 1279, there was a Genoese soldier that listed in the inventory of his estate a basket of dried pasta. Polo did not come back from China until 1295. For those who don’t know, Genoa is a sea port in Italy. Further, the modern pasta like we know it was first described in 1154 by an Arab geographer, Idrisi, as being common in Sicily. So Marco Polo could not have brought pasta to Italy via China. It was already in Italy at that time.

D) Most food historians believe that Arabs (specifically from Libya) are to be credited for bringing pasta, along with spinach, eggplant and sugar cane, to the Mediterranean. In the Talmud, written in Aramaic in the 5th century AD, there is a reference to pasta being cooked by boiling. It is thought, then, that pasta was introduced to Italy during the Arab conquests of Sicily in the 9th century AD, which had the interesting side effect of drastically influencing the region’s cuisine. It also known that by the 12th century, the Italians had learned from the Arabs methods for drying pasta to preserve it while traveling. Further support for this theory can be found by the fact that, in many old Sicilian pasta recipes, there are Arab gastronomic introductions.

Source: Passage was adapted from: todayIfoundout.com.

Answers

Click below to open the answers:

CLICK HERE: Answers Explained

All the best and stay safe!!

Liz

…………………..

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Comments

  1. A-III
    B-IV
    C-VII
    D-V

  2. Precious Chiamaka says

    A-vii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-v

  3. NATHANIEL JOHN OYIGEBE says

    A- iii
    B- i
    C- v
    D- vi

  4. A) iii
    B) vii
    C) i
    D) v

  5. Lovish kanda says

    This was an interesting reading practice.

  6. A) III
    B) II
    C) I
    D) VI

  7. Isma'il Abdulhamid says

    Here are my answers:
    A=III
    B=VII
    C=I
    D=V

  8. A VII
    B III
    C V
    D I

  9. Hi Liz,

    According to me answers are as follows
    A : vii
    B : ii
    C : I
    D : vi

  10. A=iii
    B=vii
    C=i
    D=v

  11. Tarandeep kaur says

    A- (V)
    B- (IV)
    C- (I)
    D- (VI)

  12. How to get the correct answer

  13. A= iii
    B= vii
    C= I
    D= vi

  14. A iii
    B ,iv
    C I
    D vi

  15. A- iii
    B- vii
    C- i
    D- v

  16. Tariqul Islam says

    A-iii
    B-vii
    C-i
    D-vi

  17. mohammed azzan says

    sorry
    vii
    i
    ii
    v

  18. mohammed azzan says

    VI
    i
    ii
    v

  19. 1. Vii
    2. ii
    3. I
    4. Vi

  20. A. iii
    B. v
    C. I
    D. vii

  21. A-vii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-v

  22. A-iii
    B-vii
    C-i
    D-vi

  23. A- III
    B- vii
    C- i
    D- v

  24. ali alhaddad says

    1-3
    2-5
    3-2
    4-6
    i dont know how to use these numbers in computer

  25. A- 1
    B- 4
    C- 3
    D- 5

  26. Kamini Avinash says

    A- III
    B- II
    C- I
    D- VI

  27. Tarek refaei says

    A- VII
    B- IV
    C- I
    D- V

  28. Shabbu Shaikh says

    A – iii
    B – iv
    C – i
    D – vi

  29. Chathumi Nishadika Rajapaksha says

    A – III
    B – VII
    C – I
    D – V

  30. A-iii
    B-i
    C-ii
    D-vi

  31. A- vii
    B- iv
    C- i
    D- v

  32. Amala Thomas says

    A-vii
    B-ii
    C-i
    D-vi

  33. A=VII
    B=IV
    C=I
    D=V

  34. A) III
    B) VII
    C) I
    D) V

  35. a=iii
    b= vii
    c= i
    d=v

  36. A – V
    B – VII
    C – III
    D – I

  37. 1. III
    2. II
    3. VII
    4. VI

  38. A vii
    B ii
    C i
    D vi

  39. CONFIDENCE says

    A- V
    B-II
    C-V
    D-VII

  40. A. V
    B. IV
    C. III
    D.I

  41. A- III
    B- VII
    C- V
    D- VI

  42. Hi, everyone, I suggest the following:
    A. vii
    B. ii
    C. iv
    D. vi

  43. A-vii
    B-iii
    C-i
    D-vi

  44. A-v
    B-ii
    C-i
    D-vii

  45. A. Vii
    B. iv
    C. i
    D. v

  46. A=3
    B=2
    C=7
    D=6

  47. A-5th
    B-2nd
    C-1st
    D-6th

  48. A.iii
    B.ii
    C.viii
    D.vi

  49. Nasir noor says

    1.vii
    2.II
    3.I
    4.v

  50. Gagan verma says

    A 7
    B 5
    C 1
    D 6

  51. Ashraful Alam says

    A-iii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-vii

  52. Wilhemina Aninkorang says

    A – vii
    B – iv
    C – i
    D – vi

  53. A-iii
    B-vii
    C-i
    D-v

  54. chamil gunawardena says

    A-3
    B-2
    C-5
    D-6

  55. A: iii
    B: iv
    C: i
    D: vi

  56. Jarin Bithi says

    A-5
    B-3
    C-1
    D-6

  57. A- iii
    B-vii
    C-i
    D-v

  58. Bappu Deb says

    A = iii
    B = ii
    C = v
    D = vi

  59. 1- v
    2- vii
    3- i
    4- vi

  60. A- iii
    B- ii
    C- I
    D- vi

  61. A – III
    B – II
    C – I
    D- VII

  62. Nigar Jolly says

    A-iii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-vi

  63. A- III
    B- II
    C- I
    D – VI

  64. A-7
    B-4
    C-1
    D-5

  65. Felicity says

    1.A=Vii
    2.B=iii
    3.C=I
    4.D=V

  66. A= v
    B=vii
    C=i
    D= vi

  67. A-vii
    B-ii
    C-i
    D-v

  68. 1, vii
    2. v
    3.i
    4, vi

  69. 1.A=iii
    2.B=ii
    3.C=i
    4.D=vi

  70. Mansooreh says

    A-iii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-vi

  71. Mansooreh says

    A-iii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-v

  72. A-3
    B-2
    C-1
    D-6

  73. Mojisola Ezebor says

    A= v
    B=ii
    C=i
    D=vi

  74. A – 3
    B – 1
    C – 5
    D -6

  75. Daljeet kaur gill says

    A-7
    B-3
    C-1
    D-6

  76. Masih Jee says

    A- 7
    B- 4
    C- 1
    D- 5

  77. Bridget Onokwai says

    A v
    B vii
    C i
    D vi

  78. 3
    7
    1
    6

  79. A(vii)
    B(iv)
    C(i)
    D(v)

  80. A. vii
    B. ii
    C. I
    D. v

  81. iii, vii, i, v

  82. Vii
    V
    I
    Vi

  83. A-iii
    B-vii
    C-i
    D-vi

  84. 3
    2
    1
    4

  85. A-7th
    B-2nd
    C-5th
    D-6th

  86. A III
    B II
    C I
    D VI

  87. A- iii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-vi

  88. 1)vii
    2)ii
    3)iv
    4)v

  89. A. III
    B. II
    C. I
    D. VI

  90. A-3
    B-2
    C-1
    D-5

  91. A- vii
    B – i
    C – ii
    D- vi

  92. Rupinder Kaur says

    A-vii
    B-ii
    C-i
    D-vi

  93. A. Vii
    B. i
    C. iii
    D. V

  94. A.3
    B.5
    C.1
    D.6

  95. HINA afroz says

    A (VII)
    B (IV)
    C (V)
    D (I)

  96. A: III
    B: VII
    C: I
    D: V

  97. Mohammad Hijbullah says

    A iii
    B ii
    C v
    D vi

  98. Hope I get at least 1 correct answer lol

    A- vii
    B- iv
    C- i
    D- v

  99. 1-vii
    2-iii
    3-i
    4-v

  100. A-vii
    B-II
    C-i
    D-v

  101. A.iii
    B.iv
    c.i
    d.vi

  102. A V11
    B 111
    C 1
    D V

  103. A iii
    B v
    C i
    D vii

  104. Julius Subuloye says

    1 iii
    2 vii
    3 i
    4 v

  105. A-III
    B-VII
    C-V
    D-VI

  106. Rashidat says

    A-iii
    B-v
    C-i
    D-vii

  107. A – v
    B – i
    C – iii
    D – vi

  108. A = iii
    B = iv
    C = i
    D = v

  109. A- VII
    B- IV
    C- I
    D- V

  110. 1-iii
    2-vii
    3-iv
    4-v

  111. Nana Babalola Kehinde says

    A VII
    B IV
    C I
    D V

  112. Rawia Obida says

    A=iii
    B=iv
    C=i
    D=vi

  113. Abdulnoor says

    A=vii
    B=iv
    C=i
    D=v

  114. A-iii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D-v

  115. Subrata Podder says

    A-VII
    B-II
    C-III
    D-V

  116. Farisca Utami says

    A= VII
    B= IV
    C= I
    D= V

  117. I didn’t see comment box meanwhile my answer to the reading passage of April 9/ 2020
    A 111
    B 11
    C 1
    D v1

  118. 1.A= iii
    2.B=vii
    3.C=i
    4.D=v

  119. A=vii
    B=i
    C=v
    D=vi

  120. A iii
    B iv
    C i
    D v

  121. (A) V (B) ii (C) i (D) vi

  122. 1 3
    2 7
    3 1
    4 6

  123. A. v
    B. vii
    C. ii
    D. vi

  124. Aqsa shabbir says

    A.vii
    B.ii
    C.iii
    D.i

  125. Best,
    April 9 2020, 12noon,
    A=VII
    B=V
    C=1
    D=VI

  126. A–> iii
    B–> iv
    C–> v
    D–> vi

  127. Poonam Saini says

    A-7
    B-5
    C-1
    D-6

  128. Nazim Uddin says

    1.vii
    2.iv
    3.i
    4.v

  129. Paragraph A : vii
    Paragraph B : ii
    Paragraph C: i
    Paragraph D: iii

  130. Asha Thomas says

    A – iii
    B – v
    C – i
    D – vii

  131. Deep says

    A- III
    B – II
    C- I
    D- VI

  132. A- iii
    B-Vii
    C-i
    D-vi

  133. A iii
    B vii
    C i
    D v

  134. A-III
    B-I
    C-V
    D-VI

  135. A-Vii
    B-ii
    C-i
    D-v

  136. Swarajit kar says

    A: vii
    B: IV
    C: v
    D: vi

  137. 1) A – iii
    2) B – vii
    3) C – i
    4) D – v

  138. A=v
    B=ii
    C=iii
    D=vii

  139. A-iii
    B-ii
    C-i
    D-vii

  140. 1. A: vii
    2. B: iv
    3. C: i
    4. D: vi

  141. iii
    iv
    i
    vi

  142. 1. iii
    2. iv
    3. I
    4. vii

  143. Austin says
    A- III
    B- II
    C – I
    D- VI

  144. Niwash Bhattarai says

    A-iii
    B-iv
    C-i
    D -v

  145. simranjeet says

    A. VII
    B. III
    C. I
    D. VI

  146. yenisolfiah says

    A. vii
    B. iv
    C. i
    D. vi

  147. A=iii
    B=ii
    C=i
    D=vi

  148. A = V
    B = II
    C = I
    D = III

  149. Nkem Attah says

    A-III.
    B- VII
    C- I
    D- V

  150. 1)A: III
    2)B:IV
    3)C:V
    4)D:VII

  151. 1. iii
    2. iv
    3. I
    4. V

  152. A- 5th / B – 4th / C-1st / D- 6th

  153. Bharathithasan Elangovan says

    Hi Liz,
    Please find below my answers, I am not sure about the answers as I just guessed few, early waiting for your results.
    A-iii
    B-ii
    C-i
    D-vii

  154. A=3
    B=4
    C=1
    D=6

  155. A: 3
    B: 2
    C: 1
    D: 6

  156. Nurnahar says

    A=iii
    B=vii
    C=i
    D=v

  157. A=v
    B=iv
    C=i
    D=vii

  158. 1.iii
    2.iv
    3i
    4.v

  159. Khin Myo Oo says

    A-( iii)
    B-(iv)
    C-(i)
    D-(vi)

  160. James Martin says

    A-lll
    B-VII
    C-I
    D-V

  161. A-vii
    B- iv
    C- i
    D- vi

  162. 1.A=III
    2.B=VII
    3.C=I
    4.D=V

  163. A) VIII
    B) II
    C) V
    D) VI

  164. A) v
    B) vii
    C) 1
    D) vii

  165. Roopashree Jayakumar says

    A – 3 Heading
    B – 7 Heading
    C – 1 Heading
    D – 5 Heading

  166. Truong Minh Ngoc says

    A. iii
    B. iv
    C. i
    D. v

  167. 1. iii
    2. ii
    3. i
    4. v

  168. A=III
    B=vi
    C=I
    D=v

  169. Hi all 🙂
    Not sure but
    A. iii
    B. ii
    C. vii
    D. vi
    Looking forward to the results

  170. 1.A
    2.iv
    3.vii
    4.v

  171. Truong Minh Ngoc says

    Truong Minh Ngoc says:
    A.iii
    B. iv
    C. i
    D. vi

  172. Parth Prajapati says

    A. III
    B. VII
    C. I
    D.V

  173. Rashmi Singh says

    A-iii
    B-ii
    C-v
    D-vi

  174. A=v.
    B=iv
    C=iii
    D=vi

  175. 1. A: İİİ
    2. B: İV
    3. C: İ
    4. D:Vİİ

  176. 1. A. iii
    2. B. Vii
    3. C. ii
    4. D. Vii

  177. Hello
    In my opinion the headings would be:
    A vii
    B iv
    C i
    D v

  178. Abdulaziz says

    A lll
    B ll
    C l
    D 7

  179. A 3
    B 7
    C 1
    D 5

  180. A.I
    B. IV
    C. V
    D VI

  181. A. VII
    B. II
    C. I
    D. V

  182. VISHWA PRATAP SINGH says

    (1) V
    (2) II
    (3) (I)
    (4) VII

  183. A=iii
    B=vii
    C =i
    D=v

  184. Md Tariqul Islam says

    A- iii
    B- vii
    C- i
    D- v

  185. Suresh Ravi says

    A- Is pasta really Italian?
    C- Marco-Polo in China.
    B- China is the orgin of pasta.
    D- How Arabs cooked pasta.

  186. Mohammad Shafayet Hossain says

    A – parag. 3
    B – prag. 2
    C – parag. 1
    D – Parag 6

  187. Tridip Das says

    1. vii
    2. ii
    3. i
    4. vi

  188. Akinrele Modupe Pelumi says

    A-i
    B- ii
    C- v
    D- vi

  189. Stephen Anane Adusei says

    1)III
    2)IV
    3)VII
    4)V

  190. Jaspreet says

    A 3
    B. 7
    C 1
    D 6

  191. Cornelius says

    A: Vii B: IV. C : I. D : Vi

  192. A=vii
    B=iv
    C=v
    D=A

  193. Inzamam mur says

    A. iii
    B v
    C i
    D vi

  194. A. vii
    B. iv
    C. i
    D. vi

  195. A-VII
    B-IV
    C-I
    D-V

  196. A-V
    B-IV
    C-I
    D-VI

  197. A-III; B’-I; C-V; D-VII

  198. Mowlid Abdillahi says

    A: The common belief of the origins of pasta.(vii)

    B: China is the origin of pasta. (iv)

    C: A theory dismissed (i)

    D: How Arabs cooked the pasta. (vi)

  199. A=iii
    B=ii
    C=i
    D=vii

  200. Mabel Morgun says

    1. A. vii
    2. B. it
    3. C. i
    4. D. v

    I hate the reading component of this exam especially these matching paragraphs 😳

    • Mabel Morgun says

      1. A. vii
      2. B. ii
      3. C. i
      4. D. v

      I hate the reading part of this exam especially matching paragraphs 😬

  201. Brian singh says

    1:iii
    2:iv
    3:vii
    4:v

  202. Sushma Karjol says

    1) A : III
    2) B : VI
    3) C : I
    4) D : V

  203. A-5th paragraph
    B-2nd paragraph
    C-3rd paragraph
    D-6th paragraph

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