Population Growth and Food Supply

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IELTS Practice Reading: Note/Summary Completion ID: #56853 Easy Population Growth and Food Supply

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Mention the answers.

Population Growth and Food Supply

1. About two thirds of the world’s population live in what are loosely called “developing countries”. Of course, strictly speaking, all countries are developing, but the term is used to describe those which are undeniably poor. Although the rich countries have only about 34% of the world’s population, they earn about 90% of the world’s income. They also possess about 90% of the world’s financial resources, and more than 80% of the world’s scientists and technicians. They produce 80% of the world’s protein — including 70% of its meat — and they eat it.

2. Thanks to an impressive succession of agricultural revolutions, man’s food-growing capacity is now hundreds of times larger than it was at the turn of the century, and we are now feeding more people than at any time in history. Nonetheless, the number of hungry and malnourished people is also larger than at any time in history. Admittedly, total food production has increased since 1961 in most parts of the world. Yet, per capita food production is little changed from the inadequate levels of the early 1960s. In short, world and regional production have barely kept up with population growth, as Fig. 1 shows.

3. There appear to be five food problems. First, there is the problem of quantity — of every human being getting enough calories to provide him with the energy to work and progress. Second, there is that of quality — of everyone getting enough protein, vitamins, and necessary minerals. Next, there is the matter of distribution: we have to find satisfactory ways of transporting, storing and issuing food. Then there is the problem of poverty: many people in developing countries do not have money to buy food in sufficient quantity and of sufficient quality. And last, we must find ways of avoiding ecological side-effects. In other words, we must be able to grow enough food without further degrading our land, water and air.

4. A number of proposals have been made to improve food quantity and quality. An obvious and very necessary one is to limit population growth. Another is to increase the amount of land under cultivation by clearing forests and by irrigating arid land. Furthermore, the ocean (comprising 70% of the Earth’s surface) is a potential source of more food, and there have been developments recently in the use of nonconventional proteins and synthetic foods. And last, various attempts are being made to increase the yield per hectare by developing or selecting new genetic hybrids of plants (the “Green Revolution”), by increasing the use of fertilizers, water, pesticides and herbicides, and by using modem agricultural and management techniques in poorer countries.

5. But the basic facts remain, which are that the world’s population is increasing at a rate of about 3% p.a.. If food production can also be increased by 3% p.a., this will provide for human needs only at the present inadequate level. Something better is needed. Yet many countries are already failing to increase their rate of food production by 3% annually. The situation is particularly disturbing because population increase and inadequate food production are both worse in the very countries that are already short of food.

6. Are we. then, doomed to massive famines in coming decades? There is no easy answer to this controversial question. The introduction of new high-yield wheat and rice in parts of Asia and Africa since 1967 created a wave of optimism. But by 1973. bad weather plus a realization of the limitations of this increase in yield caused a return to pessimism. Some experts point out that we are already experiencing the greatest famine in the history of mankind, with somewhere between 5 and 20 million human beings dying from starvation, malnutrition and malnutrition used diseases each year. Half are children under five.

11 blanks 2 words max

When was the per capita food production the highest?

Name food problems. , , , ,

Name attempts made to increase the yield per hectare. , , , , .

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A.I. Explanation:

Question Focus: Time reference - identifying the year when per capita food production was at its highest
Correct Answer: 1972
Passage Reference: m. But by 1973. bad weather plus a realization of the limitations of this increase in yield caused a return to pessimism.
Why this is correct: The passage explains that optimism ended by 1973, which means the peak must have been before this year. From the context, the highest point was 1972, just before conditions worsened.
Common Mistake: Students often write early 1960s because the passage mentions that period. That is a Context shift trap because the text says per capita production was already inadequate then, not at its highest.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'by 1973 ... return to pessimism' = Question: 'When was the per capita food production the highest?'
Tips: For date questions, look for before/after clues like 'by' or 'since' to infer the correct year.
Key Vocabulary:
pessimism = loss of hope
optimism = feeling hopeful
Question Focus: Listing food problems - first problem mentioned
Correct Answer: quantity
Passage Reference: . There appear to be five food problems. First, there is the problem of quantity - of every human being getting enough calories to provide him with the energy to work and progress.
Why this is correct: The passage clearly says, 'First, there is the problem of quantity', which matches the first food problem.
Common Mistake: Writing quality here is a Wrong order trap because quality is mentioned second, not first.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'problem of quantity' = Question: 'Name food problems'
Tips: When a question asks for a list, follow the exact order in the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
quantity = amount
calories = energy from food
Question Focus: Second food problem
Correct Answer: quality
Passage Reference: . Second, there is that of quality - of everyone getting enough protein, vitamins, and necessary minerals.
Why this is correct: The passage says, 'Second, there is that of quality', so quality is the correct answer.
Common Mistake: Some students write nutrition, but that word is not used in the passage. This is a Synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'problem of quality' = Question: 'Name food problems'
Tips: Always copy the exact word from the passage, not a synonym.
Key Vocabulary:
quality = how good something is
minerals = essential nutrients
Question Focus: Identifying another listed food problem
Correct Answer: poverty
Passage Reference: . Then there is the problem of poverty: many people in developing countries do not have money to buy food in sufficient quantity and of sufficient quality.
Why this is correct: The passage states, 'Then there is the problem of poverty', so the correct answer is poverty.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes write money, but the passage talks about poverty as the problem. This is a Partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'problem of poverty' = Question: 'Name food problems'
Tips: Look for phrases like 'there is the problem of...' to spot answers quickly.
Key Vocabulary:
poverty = being very poor
sufficient = enough
Question Focus: Food problem related to transport and storage
Correct Answer: distribution
Passage Reference: . Next, there is the matter of distribution: we have to find satisfactory ways of transporting, storing and issuing food.
Why this is correct: The passage mentions 'the matter of distribution', which matches this gap.
Common Mistake: Writing transport is tempting, but transport is only part of distribution. This is a Partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'matter of distribution' = Question: 'Name food problems'
Tips: If several examples are given, the answer is usually the category word, not one example.
Key Vocabulary:
distribution = sharing and delivering
issuing = giving out
Question Focus: Environmental food problem
Correct Answer: ecological side-effects
Passage Reference: . And last, we must find ways of avoiding ecological side-effects. In other words, we must be able to grow enough food without further degrading our land, water and air.
Why this is correct: The final food problem is clearly named as 'ecological side-effects' in the passage.
Common Mistake: Students may write pollution, but that word is not used. This is a Synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'ecological side-effects' = Question: 'Name food problems'
Tips: Hyphenated words count as one word in IELTS.
Key Vocabulary:
ecological = related to the environment
side-effects = unintended results
Question Focus: Method to increase yield per hectare
Correct Answer: developing new hybrids
Passage Reference: re by developing or selecting new genetic hybrids of plants (the 'Green Revolution'), by increasing the use of fertilizers, water, pesticides and herbicides, and by using modem agricultural and manage
Why this is correct: The passage explains yield increases come from developing or selecting new genetic hybrids, shortened here to developing new hybrids.
Common Mistake: Writing Green Revolution is a Context shift trap because it names the movement, not the method.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'developing or selecting new genetic hybrids' = Question: 'attempts made to increase the yield per hectare'
Tips: You can shorten phrases, but only using words that appear in the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
hybrids = mixed plant types
yield = amount produced
Question Focus: Agricultural input to raise yield
Correct Answer: increasing the use of fertilizers
Passage Reference: ), by increasing the use of fertilizers, water, pesticides and herbicid
Why this is correct: The passage lists 'increasing the use of fertilizers' as one method to raise yield per hectare.
Common Mistake: Writing only fertilizers misses the action. This is a Grammar fit trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'increasing the use of fertilizers' = Question: 'attempts made to increase the yield per hectare'
Tips: Check the grammar pattern of the list and match it.
Key Vocabulary:
fertilizers = plant nutrients
increase = make more
Question Focus: Another yield-increasing input
Correct Answer: water
Passage Reference: ), by increasing the use of fertilizers, water, pesticides and herbicid
Why this is correct: The passage includes water as part of the inputs used to increase yield.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes skip this because it seems too simple. That is an Overthinking trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'fertilizers, water, pesticides' = Question: 'attempts made to increase the yield per hectare'
Tips: Do not ignore single common words if they are clearly listed.
Key Vocabulary:
irrigation = supplying water
input = something added
Question Focus: Chemical methods to improve yield
Correct Answer: pesticides and herbicides
Passage Reference: ), by increasing the use of fertilizers, water, pesticides and herbicid
Why this is correct: The passage explicitly lists pesticides and herbicides as methods to raise yield.
Common Mistake: Writing only pesticides is incomplete. This is a Partial truth trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'pesticides and herbicides' = Question: 'attempts made to increase the yield per hectare'
Tips: If two items are joined by and in the passage, include both.
Key Vocabulary:
pesticides = chemicals against pests
herbicides = chemicals against weeds
Question Focus: Management methods to increase yield
Correct Answer: using modem techniques
Passage Reference: s, and by using modem agricultural and management techniques in poorer countries.
Why this is correct: The passage ends the list with 'using modem agricultural and management techniques', shortened here to using modem techniques.
Common Mistake: Students may write technology, which is not the exact wording. This is a Synonym trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'using modem agricultural and management techniques' = Question: 'attempts made to increase the yield per hectare'
Tips: You can omit extra adjectives if the core words stay the same as the passage.
Key Vocabulary:
modem = modern
techniques = methods
General Tips:
Summary and note completion questions follow passage order. Use the previous answer to find the next.
Always copy words from the passage. Do not invent synonyms.
Check the word limit carefully. Extra words make the answer wrong.
Look at grammar clues like lists, -ing forms, or plural nouns.

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