Loading question...
You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools
Prev Next
IELTS Practice Reading: Matching Features ID: #56182 Easy Food poisoning
Instructions ›

Read the information on food poisoning from A-F.

Look at the information on food poisoning and match the statements with the appropriate type of poisoning. 

Tap any word for its meaning
A. Salmonella
Origins
Bowel, intestine of humans and animals (especially chickens), raw foods, untreated water
Onset
12-48 hours
Symptoms

Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, fever and headache for 3-21 days

B. Staphylococcus aureus (Toxin)
Origins
Skin, nose, saliva, bowel of humans
Onset
1-8 hours
Symptoms
Diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. Last for about 24 hours
C. Clostridium perfringens
Origins
Soil, bowel, intestine of humans and animals
Onset
8-12 hours
Symptoms
Stomach pains, diarrhoea and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Lasts for about 24 hours
D. Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Origins
Drinking water, shellfish and fish
Onset
12-24 hours
Symptoms

Diarrhoea, stomach cramps, sometimes nausea and vomiting. May last for several days

E. Listeria monocytogenes
Origins
Soil, bowel, intestine of humans and animals, raw vegetables, processed foods
Onset2 days to 3 months
Symptoms
Flu-like symptoms: fever, headaches and pains. May cause miscarriage and stillbirth, meningitis and septicaemia
F. Campylobactor
Origins
Raw poultry, raw meats, untreated water, unpasteurised milk; puppies, kittens, wild animals and birds
Onset
2-5 days
Symptoms
Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever and nausea. Last for 2-5 days
A B C D E F
1 Found in seafood.
2 Dangerous for pregnant women.
3 You can be sick for up to three weeks.
4 You can catch this from some common household pets.
5 Not usually found in animals.
6 You can pick this disease up from the garden and it starts within a few hours.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Question Focus: Synonym match - 'seafood' = 'shellfish and fish'

Why this is correct: The answer is Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The origins clearly say it comes from shellfish and fish, which is another way of saying seafood. This is a direct synonym match.

Passage Reference: aemolyticus Origins Drinking water, shell

Common Mistake: Some students choose Salmonella because they think of food poisoning in general. This is a Context shift trap because Salmonella is linked to chickens and raw food, not seafood.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'shellfish and fish' = Statement: 'seafood'

Tips: When you see a general word like seafood, scan for specific food examples like fish or shellfish.

Key Vocabulary:

  • shellfish = seafood
  • origins = where it comes from

Question Focus: Synonym match - 'dangerous for pregnant women' = 'may cause miscarriage and stillbirth'

Passage Reference: ys to 3 months Symptoms Flu-like symptoms: fever, headaches and pains. May cause miscarriage and stillbirth, meningitis and septicaemia F.

Why this is correct: The answer is Listeria monocytogenes. The passage says it may cause miscarriage and stillbirth, which clearly shows it is dangerous for pregnant women.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose Salmonella because it sounds serious. This is a Partial truth trap because Salmonella is serious, but pregnancy risk is not mentioned.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'may cause miscarriage and stillbirth' = Statement: 'dangerous for pregnant women'

Tips: For pregnancy questions, scan quickly for words like miscarriage, stillbirth, or pregnant.

Key Vocabulary:

  • miscarriage = losing a baby
  • stillbirth = baby born dead

Question Focus: Number match - 'up to three weeks' = '3-21 days'

Passage Reference: s Symptoms Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, fever and headache for 3-21 days B.

Why this is correct: The answer is Salmonella. The symptoms last 3-21 days, which is exactly up to three weeks.

Common Mistake: Some students choose Vibrio parahaemolyticus because it lasts several days. This is a Extreme language trap because several days is much shorter than three weeks.

Paraphrasing: Passage: '3-21 days' = Statement: 'up to three weeks'

Tips: Always convert days into weeks if the question uses weeks.

Key Vocabulary:

  • symptoms = signs of illness
  • up to = maximum

Question Focus: Specific detail match - pets mentioned directly

Passage Reference: . Campylobactor Origins Raw poultry, raw meats, untreated water, unpasteurised milk; puppies, kittens, wild

Why this is correct: The answer is Campylobactor. The origins include puppies and kittens, which are common household pets.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose Salmonella because animals are mentioned. This is a Context shift trap because it talks about animals as food sources, not pets.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'puppies, kittens' = Statement: 'common household pets'

Tips: Words like puppies and kittens are strong clues. Do not ignore them.

Key Vocabulary:

  • household pets = animals at home
  • origins = source

Question Focus: Reverse meaning - humans only, not animals

Passage Reference: in) Origins Skin, nose, saliva, bowel of h

Why this is correct: The answer is Staphylococcus aureus. The origins list only humans and do not mention animals, so it is not usually found in animals.

Common Mistake: Students may choose Clostridium perfringens because soil is mentioned. This is a Reverse meaning trap because animals are clearly included there.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'of humans' = Statement: 'not usually found in animals'

Tips: If animals are not mentioned at all, that often answers negative statements like this.

Key Vocabulary:

  • usually = in most cases
  • origins = where it lives

Question Focus: Two-part match - soil origin + fast onset

Passage Reference: ringens Origins Soil, bowel, intestine of humans and animals Onset 8-12 hours Symptoms Stomach pains, diarrhoea and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Lasts for about 24 hours D.

Why this is correct: The answer is Clostridium perfringens. It comes from soil, which links to gardens, and the onset is 8-12 hours, which means within a few hours.

Common Mistake: Some students choose Listeria monocytogenes because soil is mentioned. This is a Time/tense trap because Listeria can take up to 3 months to start.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Soil' and '8-12 hours' = Statement: 'garden' and 'within a few hours'

Tips: For two-clue questions, make sure both clues match the same option.

Key Vocabulary:

  • soil = garden dirt
  • onset = when it starts

General Tips:

  • Matching Features can jump around the passage - do not assume the answers follow order.
  • Scan for keywords like animals, soil, time numbers, or pregnancy risks.
  • Convert time units carefully, such as days into weeks or hours into days.
  • Options can be used more than once in matching features - do not cross them off automatically.

The rest of this explanation is for members. Sign in free to read why the other options are wrong, key words and tips.

Sign in to read the full explanation

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.
Be the first! No community answers here yet. Submit yours and help others learn.
Saving...