Matching pictures and public signs with written Italian descriptions is a core reading comprehension task in the Junior Cycle Common Level examination. The exam tests your ability to recognise everyday notices, town facilities, public rules, and spoken captions.
Town Facilities, Transport, and Directions
Look for the main noun to identify the facility:
| Italian Sign | Meaning | Common Visual Clue |
|---|---|---|
| Stazione (ferroviaria) | Railway station | Train on a track or platform |
| Fermata dell'autobus | Bus stop | Roadside sign with a bus icon |
| Biglietteria | Ticket office | Counter with tickets or queue |
| Ufficio postale | Post office | Letters, stamps, or post boxes |
| Polizia | Police | Uniformed officer or police car |
| Supermercato | Supermarket | Shopping trolley or grocery shelves |
| Ospedale | Hospital | Building marked with a red cross |
| Pronto soccorso | First aid / A&E | Emergency department entrance |
| Informazioni turistiche | Tourist information | Letter 'i' symbol or maps desk |
| Area pedonale | Pedestrian zone | Person walking, cars crossed out |
| Parcheggio | Car park | Blue square with white letter 'P' |
Direction signs may also appear on town maps: a destra (to the right), a sinistra (to the left), sempre dritto (straight ahead), vicino a (near), and di fronte a (opposite).
Public Notices, Rules, and Opening Hours
Signs on shop fronts, doors, and public buildings display practical directions or official rules:
- Entrata or Ingresso means entrance, while Uscita means exit.
- Uscita di sicurezza means emergency exit.
- Spingere means push and Tirare means pull on doors.
- Aperto means open, whereas Chiuso means closed.
- Cassa marks the cash desk, till, or checkout counter.
- Bagni or Servizi indicates the toilets.
- Vietato introduces a ban. Vietato fumare means smoking is forbidden, and È vietato l'uso del telefonino prohibits mobile phone use.
- Chiuso il lunedì means closed on Mondays, and Ingresso gratuito means free entry.
Everyday Greetings and Matching Speakers
Questions frequently require you to match a greeting or spoken sentence to a character or event:
| Italian Phrase | English Meaning | Likely Image Clue |
|---|---|---|
| Buon appetito! | Enjoy your meal! | People eating at a dining table |
| Buon viaggio! | Have a good trip! | Suitcase, plane, or train departure |
| Buon compleanno! | Happy birthday! | Birthday cake, candles, presents |
| Buona Pasqua! | Happy Easter! | Easter eggs, bunny, spring flowers |
| Buon anno! | Happy New Year! | Midnight clock, fireworks, party horn |
| Buon lavoro! | Enjoy your work! / Have a good day at work! | People working in an office or shop |
For speaker matching, identify the setting and role. A waiter says Ecco il suo caffè (Here is your coffee), and a station announcer says Il treno parte dal binario 2 (The train leaves from platform 2).
Exam Matching Strategy
Follow a reliable routine to secure full marks on matching questions:
- Identify any completed example. If each option can be used only once, cross off completed pairs, including the example.
- Find the main noun or action word before trying to translate the whole sentence.
- Read the whole sign: uscita means exit, while uscita di sicurezza means emergency exit.
- Write the requested letter or number clearly in the answer box, and never leave a blank.
Key terms
- Vietato
- Prohibited or forbidden by an official rule or public sign.
- Biglietteria
- A ticket office or booking desk at a transport station or venue.
- Uscita di sicurezza
- An emergency exit designated for safe evacuation.
- Area pedonale
- A pedestrianised area reserved for people walking, where motor vehicles are banned.
- Cassa
- A till, checkout, or payment counter in a shop, restaurant, or café.
- Pronto soccorso
- A hospital emergency room, casualty department, or first aid station.
Check yourself
What public facility does the sign 'La biglietteria' indicate?
The ticket office.
Which Italian greeting matches a picture of friends sitting down to a meal?
Buon appetito!
What is the difference between an 'uscita' and an 'uscita di sicurezza'?
'Uscita' is a normal exit, while 'uscita di sicurezza' is an emergency exit.
What does a sign reading 'È vietato l'uso del telefonino' mean in English?
The use of mobile phones is forbidden.