Comprehension - Intermediate [ 11 ]

[ 11 ] Comprehension 

[ 11  ] Intermediate

Read the following , then answer the questions below :

                   Every year , more people face poverty and hunger and more of the earth’s resources are ruined . The problems are enormous , but many experts believe that the situation is not hopeless . The solution will require big changes in how we think about agriculture , food and our planet .

                 First of all , farmers everywhere need to develop methods that are less destructive to the environment . The change from single crop farming to mixed crop system would be one important step . The planting of various crops improves the soil and helps prevent erosion . Erosion could further be prevented by planting trees to protect the fields from the wind . Another way , farmers could improve their soil is to stop deep plowing . In fact , only a light plowing is necessary , or sometimes no plowing at all .

                 If the soil were treated better , farmers wouldn’t need to use chemical fertilizers . They could use natural animal and vegetable products instead . With mixed crops , farmers would also not need as much or any chemical insecticides . They could use other biological methods of controlling insects and diseases .

                Farmers could also help save some of the earth’s precious supplies of water and petroleum . To save water , they could plant less “ thirsty” crops , instead of the standard types of wheat or corn . They could also use watering systems that are much less wasteful . To save petroleum , farmers could make use of bio-gas generators for energy to reduce the need for fire wood and so help save forests as well .

                In less-developed countries , the small farmers need help . They need to learn more about crops that are better suited to the local conditions . They need to learn how to limit erosion and make the best of their resources .

A- ] Answer the following questions :

1-] What are the destructive methods to the environment ?

……………………………………………………………………………………….

2-] How can farmers use less chemical fertilizers ?

……………………………………………………………………………………….

3-] What help do small farmers need ?

……………………………………………………………………………………….

4-] Why using bio-gas generators is useful ?

……………………………………………………………………………………....

 B-] Choose the correct answer :

1-] Deep plowing of the soil

A-] prevents erosion . B-] improves the soil . C-] causes erosion . D-] helps the plants grow .

2-] We can infer from this passage that farmers at present

A-] use very little water on average . B-] are now very careful about their water use. C-] always use too much water . D-] often waste a lot of water .

3-] This passage is about

A-] biological methods of farming . B-] how we can change the way food is produced world wide . C-] how millions of people are facing hunger and poverty . D-] farming around the world .