Element pl-matching: Match statements with options

This question illustrates different use cases for the pl-matching element.

Example 1: Match each nation with its capital city. In this example, the options are implicitly created by each statement's match attribute. Only distractor options need to be added manually. All statements and options are displayed by default.

Mexico
Canada
United States
France
  1. Tijuana
  2. Washington, D.C.
  3. New York City
  4. Ottawa
  5. Toronto
  6. Mexico City
  7. Paris

Example 2: Setting counter-type="full-text" will hide the column of options. The dropdown list next to each statement will contain the inner text of each option, rather than a counter.

headshot of Mariana
headshot of Matt

Example 3: blank="false" removes the blank first entry in the dropdown list, setting the default selection to the first option.

Mexico
France
Canada
United States
  1. Tijuana
  2. Washington, D.C.
  3. Mexico City
  4. Toronto
  5. Paris
  6. Ottawa
  7. New York City

Example 4: number-statements and number-options determine how many statements and options are shown. Statements are sampled at random. The options will always include each correct match for the sampled statements, plus random distractors.

France
Canada
United States
  1. Washington, D.C.
  2. Ottawa
  3. Mexico City
  4. Paris
  5. Toronto

Example 5: if number-options is smaller than the amount of options required to match the sampled statements, None of the Above will be added.

France
Canada
Mexico
  1. Paris
  2. Ottawa
  3. None of the above

Example 6: the counter-type attribute indicates how options are identified. It can be set to lower-alpha (a, b, c, ...), upper-alpha (A, B, C, ...), or decimal (1, 2, 3).

Mexico
United States
France
  1. Mexico City
  2. Paris
  3. Washington, D.C.

Example 7: options can be added manually if they require more than simple text (e.g., images, equations or formatting). In that case, the name attribute of each pl-option must match the corresponding match attribute of the appropriate pl-statement.

$\phi$
$i$
$e$
  1. $\sqrt{-1}$
  2. $\cfrac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}$
  3. $ \displaystyle \lim_{n \to \infty} \left(1 + \frac{1}{n}\right)^{n}$

Example 8: HTML formatting and other PrairieLearn elements can be used inside statements and options. If used in options, an explicit pl-option must be defined with a name attribute matching the corresponding match attribute of the appropriate pl-statement. 

1
list(map(lambda item: item * 2, lst))

1
list(itertools.product(lst1, lst2))

1
list(filter(lambda item: item > 0, lst))

  1. 1
    [(a, b) for a in lst1 for b in lst2]

  2. 1
    [item * 2 for item in lst]

  3. 1
    [item for item in lst if item > 0]

Example 9: This example uses the options-placement="bottom" argument. This is useful for questions with long statements and options, which may wrap over multiple lines or cause formatting issues in the default "right" placement.

What is a branch of physics that challenges classical intuition and underpins technologies like quantum computing?
What field of computer science encompasses machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision?
Which theory revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and gravity?
What biotechnology technique offers potential in treating genetic disorders and enhancing crop yields?
  1. The theory of relativity
  2. Quantum mechanics
  3. OPERA faster-than-light neutrino anomaly
  4. Genetic engineering
  5. Traditional computing
  6. Artificial intelligence
  7. String theory
  8. Data science

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Title:
Element pl-matching: Match statements with options

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Started at:
2026-09-19 08:00:49 (CDT)
Duration:
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