IELTS Matching headings The History of Clocks

 Passage: The History of Clocks

Paragraph A
Clocks have been essential tools for measuring time for centuries. The earliest timekeeping devices were sundials, which used the position of the sun’s shadow to indicate the time of day. Sundials, however, were limited to daylight hours and clear weather.

Paragraph B
In the 14th century, mechanical clocks began to appear in European towns and churches. These early mechanical clocks used weights and gears to move hands around a dial. They were large, expensive, and primarily installed in public places rather than homes.

Paragraph C
By the 17th century, the invention of the pendulum clock by Christiaan Huygens greatly improved accuracy. Pendulum clocks became a symbol of scientific advancement and were widely adopted in both public and private spaces.

Paragraph D
The 19th century saw the development of smaller, portable timepieces such as pocket watches. Industrialization increased the demand for punctuality, making personal clocks and watches popular among the working and middle classes.

Paragraph E
In the 20th and 21st centuries, clocks evolved from mechanical to electronic and digital designs. Quartz and atomic clocks provide unparalleled accuracy, and modern smartwatches combine timekeeping with communication, health monitoring, and other functions.

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Headings:

i. Modern electronic and digital timekeeping
ii. Limitations of early sundials
iii. Mechanical clocks in European towns
iv. Portable timepieces and industrialization
v. Pendulum clocks and their accuracy

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Questions:

Match the correct heading to each paragraph (A–E).

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Answers:

• Paragraph A → ii Limitations of early sundials
• Paragraph B → iii Mechanical clocks in European towns
• Paragraph C → v Pendulum clocks and their accuracy
• Paragraph D → iv Portable timepieces and industrialization
• Paragraph E → i Modern electronic and digital timekeeping

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Tips for Matching Headings:

1.      Focus on the main idea of each paragraph, not small details.

2.      Chronological or historical passages often indicate the development of technology or ideas.

3.      Read the first and last sentences carefully—they usually contain the key point.

4.      Eliminate headings that are too narrow or irrelevant.