Reading - People Matching
B1
Cambridge English B1 Exam
For each question, choose the correct answer by matching the people below with the following texts.
Choosing a Weekend Workshop
The people below all want to join a weekend workshop to learn something new. Below are descriptions of eight workshops. Decide which workshop would be the most suitable for each person. For questions 1-5, choose the correct answer.
Omar
Omar is moving into a small flat and wants to cook quick, healthy meals. He is vegetarian and would like ideas he can use after work. He can only attend on Saturday evening. He also wants to meet other people, not study alone at home.
Lucas
Lucas loves fixing things and wants to learn simple home repairs, like changing a tap or putting up shelves. He doesn’t have many tools, so he needs a course that provides equipment. He is free on both days, but he wants a practical workshop, not long talks.
Sara
Sara is planning a long train journey next month and wants to improve her English listening. She would like a short course that focuses on understanding real conversations. She can only attend online on Sunday evening. She doesn’t want grammar homework.
Mei
Mei often feels nervous when she has to speak in meetings. She wants to practise speaking clearly and confidently in front of others. She would like a friendly group, with useful feedback, and she can only come on Saturday afternoon. She is not interested in acting.
Hannah
Hannah has just bought her first camera and wants to learn the basics. She prefers learning outdoors, not in a classroom. She is only free on Sunday mornings and would like to take photos of nature, not people. She doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.
Texts
Portrait Photography in the Studio
This workshop is for people who want to take better photos of friends and family. It takes place in our studio on Saturday morning and focuses on lighting, posing and working with a model. You will learn how to make people feel comfortable and how to choose the best background. The teacher explains camera settings in detail and gives time for practice. Because we use studio lights and special equipment, the price is higher than our outdoor classes. You need to bring your own camera and a memory card. This course is not suitable if you only want to photograph nature or if you can’t attend on Saturdays.
Real-Life English Listening Online
This online session on Sunday evening helps you understand everyday English in real situations. You will listen to short recordings of people ordering food, asking for directions, and talking on the phone. The teacher shows you how to catch key words, even when people speak fast. You will practise with headphones and repeat the listening several times, but there is no grammar homework. The class lasts 90 minutes and finishes with a short question time. You will receive the audio files to practise again on your own if you want. A stable internet connection is needed, and you should be in a quiet room.
Speak with Confidence Workshop
Do you want to feel calmer when you speak in front of a group? In this Saturday afternoon workshop, you will practise short presentations and learn how to use your voice and body language. The group is friendly and supportive, and the trainer gives clear feedback to help you improve step by step. You will also learn simple ways to organise your ideas, so you don’t forget what to say. The workshop runs from 2.00 to 5.00 p.m. and includes a short break with tea. This is not an acting class, and you do not need to perform a role or learn lines.
Grammar Booster Weekend Course
If you want to improve your English accuracy, this course is for you. Over two mornings, you will review key grammar points such as past tenses, conditionals and articles. The teacher uses short tests and written exercises, and you will get homework to complete after each session. There is also a short speaking activity, but the main focus is correct grammar in writing. The course is online and runs on Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 to 11.30 a.m. It is best for students who enjoy studying rules and want clear explanations. It is not designed for listening practice or real-life conversations.
Sunday Nature Photo Walk
Join our relaxed photo walk in the city park and nearby woods. This workshop is for beginners who have a camera or a good phone and want to understand light, focus and simple settings. We meet on Sunday at 9.00 a.m. and spend two hours outside, taking pictures of trees, birds and small details in nature. The teacher gives tips while you practise, so there is no long classroom lesson. The price is low because the group is small and we do not use a studio. Bring comfortable shoes and a bottle of water. If it rains lightly, we still go, so you can learn in real conditions.
Vegetarian Speed Cooking Night
This Saturday evening class is for people who want to cook healthy meals fast. You will learn five vegetarian dishes that take under 20 minutes, using simple ingredients you can find in any supermarket. The class starts at 6.30 p.m. and includes a shared meal at the end, so it is easy to meet new people and chat. The teacher shows how to prepare food for the week, so you can save time after work. You do not need to bring anything, and you can take home the recipes on one page. Please note: this is an in-person class, not online.
Improvisation for Fun
Come and enjoy a lively Saturday afternoon workshop where you learn improvisation games in a small group. You will practise quick thinking, teamwork and speaking loudly, and you will act out short scenes with other students. The trainer keeps the atmosphere relaxed, and nobody needs acting experience. The session runs from 3.00 to 6.00 p.m. and finishes with a short performance for the group. Many people join to feel more confident, but the main aim is to have fun and try acting. If you don’t like performing or you want a serious public-speaking course with feedback, this may not be the best choice.
Fix-It Basics: Home Repairs
This practical weekend workshop is for people who want to repair small things at home. You will learn how to put up shelves, fix a loose door handle, and change a tap washer to stop a drip. The teacher demonstrates each task and then you try it yourself in pairs. All tools and safety equipment are provided, so you don’t need to own anything. There are short explanations, but most of the time is hands-on practice. You can attend on Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon, and you can choose one day or both. You will leave with a simple checklist to use at home.
About Reading People Matching — Cambridge English B1
In this Cambridge English B1 Reading People Matching exercise you read descriptions of several people and a set of short texts, then match the most suitable text to each person.
It tests scanning and matching — locating specific information across several texts and checking it against each person's needs and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reading People Matching?
You match each person to the text (for example a product, place or option) that best suits their described requirements.
What does it test?
Fast, selective reading — scanning for specific details and matching requirements to information spread across texts.
Any tips for People Matching?
Underline the key requirements in each description, then scan the texts for all of them — the right answer matches every requirement, not just one.
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What to do
This task is a long one, so don’t worry, it cannot be done quickly!
Your task is to match eight texts with five people. There are three texts which you will not need.
It’s important to find out what the different people want before you look at the eight texts.
Don’t choose an answer just because it contains the same words as the question. Read the texts carefully to check the meaning is correct.
This part of the test cannot be done quickly because you need to read the details in each text carefully, and you may have to go back to a text and re-read it several times.
When you are sure you have found an answer, you may want to cross out that particular text as you will not need to read it again.
Strategy
- Read the five descriptions of people and underline the key words.
- Now read one description and try to find the matching text. The correct text must have all the points that the person requires. For example, if a person wants a romantic book that is short, you must find a text which matches the two requirements: romantic and short.
- Usually, the correct answer will not contain exactly the same words as the person’s description. You may have to recognize different ways of saying the same thing, for example, ‘love story’ instead of ‘romantic’, and ‘a book | can read quickly’ instead of ‘a short book’.
- If you think that there are two texts that seem to match the same person, read the description and the two texts again carefully. Only ONE text will match ALL of a person’s requirements.
- Check that the option you have chosen ts correct by trying to find out why the other options are incorrect.