Here are explanations of the Questions of passage ‘Environmental practices of big businesses’ which is from the Cambridge 15 book. The Questions are ‘Summary Blanks’, MCQs’ and ‘Yes/No/Not Given. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
Environmental practices of big businesses- Reading Answers Explanations
| Question | Answer |
| 27 | D |
| 28 | E |
| 29 | F |
| 30 | H |
| 31 | B |
| 32 | C |
| 33 | D |
| 34 | B |
| 35 | YES |
| 36 | NOT GIVEN |
| 37 | NO |
| 38 | YES |
| 39 | NOT GIVEN |
| 40 | D |
Questions 27-31
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-J, below.
Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.
Big businesses
Many big businesses today are prepared to harm people and the environment in order to make money, and they appear to have no 27………………. .
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The main keywords ‘big businesses’ and ‘environment’ are there in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘Business may maximize the amount of money…by damaging the environment and hurting people…’.Here, ‘damaging… hurting’ makes it clear that they have no moral standards.
Answer: D
Lack of 28……………….. by governments and
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. The writer says, ‘likely to be true if government regulation is ineffective…’.Here, regulation and control are synonyms. Moreover, ‘ineffective’ means ‘Lack of…’Thus, this makes an answer very clear.
Answer: E
lack of public 29………………. can lead to environmental problems
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is again in the last line of the paragraph. It has been as ‘and if the public doesn’t care’. ‘doesn’t care’ is paraphrased as ‘lack of public involvement…’Thus, the answer is ‘involvement’.
Answer: F
such as 30……………….. or the destruction of 31……………….
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the third line of the paragraph. The writer says, ‘unmanaged fishery without quotas…short-term leases on tropical rainforest…’.In this statement, Firstly, ‘unmanaged fishery’ and ‘overfishing’ are synonyms. Secondly, ‘rainforest’ give reference to tress. Thus, it is easy to understand the answers.
Answer: (30) H
(31) B
A funding B trees C rare species
D moral standards E control F involvement
G flooding H overfishing I worker support
Environmental practices of big businesses- Reading Answers Explanations
Question 32-34
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 32-34 on your answer sheet.
32 The main idea of the third paragraph is that environmental damage
A requires political action if it is to be stopped.
B is the result of ignorance on the part of the public.
C could be prevented by the action of ordinary people.
D can only be stopped by educating business leaders.
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword of the question is ‘environmental damage’. Its reference is there in the second line of the paragraph. ‘it is the public,…power to make such policies unprofitable and illegal…’Here, ‘public’ means ‘ordinary people’. Moreover, ‘to make such policies…’ are the actions.
Answer: C
33 In the fourth paragraph, the writer describes ways in which the public can
A reduce their own individual impact on the environment.
B learn more about the impact of business of the environment.
C raise awareness of the effects of specific environmental disasters.
D influence the environmental policies of businesses and governments.
Location: 4th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘The public can do that by suing businesses for harming them…’Here, this line means that it has influence on the environmental policies of businesses…Thus, the answer is D
Answer: D
34 What pressure was exerted by big business in the case of the disease BSE?
A Meat packers stopped supplying hamburgers to fast-food chains.
B A fast-food company forced their meat suppliers to follow the law.
C Meat packers persuaded the government to reduce their expenses.
D A fast-food company encouraged the government to introduce legislation.
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘disease BSE’ helps to locate the answer in the second and third line of the 5th paragraph. ‘But for five years the packers refused to follow…When a major fast food company…the meat industry complied within weeks…’Thus, the answer is B
Answer: B
Questions 35-39
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 35-39 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
35 The public should be prepared to fund good environmental practices.
Location: 6thparagraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘environmental practices’ helps to locate the answer in the second line of the paragraph. The writer says, ‘the public must accept the necessity for higher prices for products…environmental practices…’.Here, ‘prepared to fund’ has been written as ‘must accept…higher prices…’Thus, the question statement is same as the passage statement.
Answer: Yes
36 There is a contrast between the moral principles of different businesses.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘moral principles’ is there in the second last line of the paragraph. But there is no information regarding the contrast between the different businesses. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
37 It is important to make a clear distinction between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘My conclusion is not a moralistic one who is right or wrong, admirable or selfish, a good guy or bad guy…’.Here, the question statement contradicts the passage statement. ‘Not a moralistic one…’ is opposite to the ‘clear distinction’. Hence, the answer is No.
Answer: No
38 The public have successfully influenced businesses in the past.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘past’ has been exactly in the third line of the paragraph. ‘In the past, businesses have changed when the public…’Here, ‘businesses are changed…’ means these are influenced by public. Thus, the answer is Yes.
Answer: Yes
39 In the future, businesses will show more concern for the environment.
Location: 7th paragraph (Last line)
Explanation: Though the writer says, ‘in the future…changes in public attitudes will be essential for changes in businesses…’.But there is no information about whether businesses will show more concern for the environment. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
Question 40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in box 40 on your answer sheet.
40 What wouldbe the best subheading for this passage?
A Will the world survive the threat caused by big businesses?
B How can big businesses be encouraged to be less driven by profit?
C What environmental dangers yare caused by the greed of businesses?
D Are big businesses to blame for the damage they cause the environment?
Location: This question can be answered after knowing the overall idea of the passage.
Explanation: The passage describe that both big businesses and public are responsible for damaging the environment. This means we cannot only blame big businesses for damaging the environment. Thus, the best subheading is D.
Answer: D
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