‘The risks agriculture faces in developing countries?’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 12
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named ‘The risks agriculture faces in developing countries?’, which is from the Cambridge 12 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘finding information, MCQs’ and finding researchers name. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 1: The risks agriculture faces in developing countries
| Question | Answer |
| 1 | A |
| 2 | B |
| 3 | H |
| 4 | D |
| 5 | B |
| 6 | C |
| 7 | G |
| 8 | B |
| 9 | A |
| 10 | D (IN EITHER ORDER) |
| 11 | E |
| 12 | C (IN EITHER ORDER) |
| 13 | D |
Questions 1-3
Reading Passage 1 has nine paragraphs, A-I.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.
1 a reference to characteristics that only apply to food production
Location and Answer: A
Explanation: The main keyword ‘food production’ helps to locate the answer in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘Two things distinguish food production from all other productive activities: first, every single person needs food each day and has a right to it; and second, it is hugely dependent on nature…’Thus, these are the characteristics.
2 a reference to challenges faced only by farmers in certain parts of the world
Location and Answer: B
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘Farmers everywhere face major risks, including extreme weather, long-term climate change, and price volatility in input and product markets…’Here, ‘risks’ and ‘challenges’ are synonyms. Moreover, extreme weather, climate change… are challenges. Thus, the answer is B.
‘The risks agriculture faces in developing countries?’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 12
3 a reference to difficulties in bringing about co-operation between farmers
Location and Answer: H
Explanation: The main keywords are ‘difficulties’ and ‘co-operation’ and its reference is there in the third line of the paragraph. ‘collective action offers an important way for farmers to strengthen their political and economic bargaining power, and to reduce their business risks…It takes time, effort and money to organise, build trust and to experiment’ Here, these are the difficulties. Thus, the answer is clear.
Questions 4-9
Look at the following statements (Question 4-9) and the list of people below.
Match each statement with the correct person, A-G.
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 4-9 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
4 Financial assistance from the government does not always go to the farmers who most need it.
Location: E section
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘financial assistance’ and its reference is there in the last line of the paragraph. ‘. In fact, studies show that sixty percent of beneficiaries of subsidies are not poor, but rich landowners and non-farmer traders.’ Here, ‘beneficiaries of subsidies’ is a financial assistance. Thus, the writer says, 60% of subsidies are for landowners and non-farmer traders.
Answer: D
5 Farmers can benefit from collaborating as a group.
Location: H section
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘According to Murphy, ‘collective action offers an important way for farmers to strengthen their political and economic bargaining power, and to reduce their business risks.’ Here, ‘collective actions’ and ‘collaborating’ are synonyms. Hence, the answer is B.
‘The risks agriculture faces in developing countries?’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 12
Answer: B
6 Financial assistance from the government can improve the standard of living of farmers.
Location: E section
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘Shenggen Fan…help up social safety nets and public welfare programmes… as valuable ways to address poverty among farming families and reduce their vulnerability to agriculture shocks…’Here, ‘reduce their vulnerability’ and ‘address poverty’ are the ways to improve their standard of living. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: C
7 Farmers may be helped if there is financial input by the same individuals who buy from them.
Location: I section
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘Sonali Bisht, founder and advisor…wrote that community-supported agriculture… consumers invest in local farmers by subscription and guarantee producers a fair price… worth more attention’ Here, ‘consumer invest in local farmers’ means ‘financial input’. In addition, ‘worth more attention’ means ‘farmers may be helped’. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: G
‘The risks agriculture faces in developing countries?’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 12
8 Governments can help to reduce variation in prices.
Location: D section
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘procurement and holding of stocks by governments can also help mitigate wild swings in food prices by alleviating uncertainties about market supply…’Here, ‘mitigate’ and ‘reduce’ are synonyms. Furthermore, ‘wild swings’ and ‘variation’ means the same.
Answer: B
9 Improvements to infrastructure can have a major impact on risk for farmers.
Location: D section
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘governments can significantly reduce risks for farmers by providing basic services like roads to get produce more efficiently to markets, or water…’Here, ‘providing basic services’ is the improvements to infrastructure. Hence, the answer is A.
Answer: A
List of People
A Kanayo F. Nwanze
B Sophia Murphy
C Shenggen Fan
D Rokeya Kabir
E Pat Mooney
F Giel Ton
G Sonali Bisht
Questions 10-11
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 10 and 11 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO problems are mentioned which affect farmers with small farms in developing countries?
A lack of demand for locally produced food
B lack of irrigation programmes
C being unable to get insurance
D the effects of changing weather patterns
E having to sell their goods to intermediary buyers
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘Many essayists mentioned climate change and its consequences for small-scale agriculture…’Here, ‘climate change’ and ‘changing weather patterns’ means the same. Moreover, ‘consequences’ are the effects. Thus, the answer is clear.
Location: I paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘the presence of intermediary purchasers who, taking advantage of farmers’ vulnerability, dictate prices…’Here, ‘buyers’ and ‘purchasers’ are synonyms.
Answer: D and E (in any order)
Questions 12-13
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 12 and 13 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO actions are recommended for improving conditions for farmers?
A reducing the size of food stocks
B attempting to ensure that prices rise at certain times of the year
C organising co-operation between a wide range of interested parties
D encouraging consumers to take a financial stake in farming
E making customers aware of the reasons for changing food prices
Location: H paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘‘collective action offers an important way for farmers to strengthen their political and economic bargaining power, and to reduce their business risks.’ Here, ‘collective action’ means ‘co-operation’
Location: I paragraph
Explanation: The writer states in the second last line of the paragraph. ‘community-supported agriculture, where consumers invest in local farmers by subscription and guarantee producers a fair price, is a risk-sharing model worth more attention…’
Answer: C and D (in any order)
‘The risks agriculture faces in developing countries?’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 12
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