Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 26 to 35.
In an era of increasing global awareness, debates around sustainable practices such as fair trade, organic farming, and recycling are gaining prominence. Farmers in developing countries are among the most vulnerable people, dependent on world commodity markets, middlemen, and unpredictable weather.
(I) Fair trade arrangements aim to support cooperative groups by guaranteeing prices above the world market rate and additional bonuses. (II). However, critics argue that fair trade may not lift a country out of poverty. (III) They claim that most of the money generated from sales goes to wealthy countries that promote these products. (IV) In fact, only about 5% of the sale price of a fair-trade chocolate bar (retailing for £1.73 in the UK) reaches the poor country.
Another significant trend is the rise of organic food, marketed as being free of chemicals, which appeals to consumers concerned about the dangers of chemicals in food. These chemicals are suspected of causing various health problems, including cancer and developmental issues in children. Despite these concerns, British farmers have not converted to organic farming in large enough numbers to meet the demand. As a result, supermarkets often import organic vegetables from distant countries, contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions due to transportation. Environmentalists are now urging consumers to buy locally grown vegetables, even if they are pesticide-treated, suggesting a good wash can minimize the risk.
In recent years, a shift has occurred in how we handle waste. Once content to bury it in landfills or dump it at sea, we are now encouraged to recycle and treat waste as a resource. This shift has led to more widespread kerbside collections for various materials like paper, plastic, and metal. However, recycling has unintended consequences. Most of the UK's recyclables are sent to China or India, which incurs additional environmental costs from transportation. In these countries, workers often sort waste under dangerous conditions. Sometimes, materials that are sorted at home still end up in landfills because the market for them fluctuates.
While efforts to promote sustainability are commendable, they require constant evaluation to ensure they truly benefit people and the environment, rather than creating new inequalities or environmental harm.
Question 26: Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?
"This growing fair-trade market has distributed hundreds of millions of pounds to over 50 million people worldwide."
A. (II)
B. (I)
C. (IV)
D. (III)
Question 27: The phrase "gaining prominence" could be best replaced by:
A. being ignored
B. rising in price
C. becoming less significant
D. gaining popularity
Question 28: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a challenge faced by farmers in developing countries?
A. lack of access to modern technology
B. reliance on middlemen
C. dependence on world commodity markets
D. exposure to unpredictable weather
Question 29: The word "they" in paragraph 2 refers to:
A. greenhouse gas emissions
B. consumers
C. locally grown vegetables
D. environmentalists
Question 30: Which of the following best summarizes paragraph 3?
A. One of the reasons why consumers prefer organic food is because it is perceived as healthier and free from chemicals.
B. Due to environmental issues, British farmers are unable to fully meet the increasing demand for organic vegetables.
C. Environmentalists encourage individuals to buy locally grown vegetables to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
D. The popularity of organic food in Britain exceeds local supply, which leads to imports and environmental issues.
Question 31: What is the opposite of "incurs" as used in the passage?
A. secures
B. exposes
C. experiences
D. avoids
Question 32: According to the passage, what is a primary reason critics are skeptical about the effectiveness of fair trade in eliminating poverty?
A. The guaranteed price for commodities is often lower than the actual world market rate.
B. Fair trade organizations fail to provide additional bonuses to cooperative groups.
C. A significant portion of the profits remains with the wealthy countries that market the products.
D. Only 5% of fair-trade products reach the markets of developing countries like the UK.
Question 33: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence?
A. The process of recycling has become more expensive due to modern technology.
B. Waste management programs have been reduced in the UK because of organic produce.
C. More people are now using kerbside bins for waste collection instead of burying it .
D. There has been an increase in recycling services for materials like paper and plastic.
Question 34: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage above?
A. Sustainable practices can lead to environmental harm if not carefully evaluated.
B. Environmentalists prioritize local food production over global sustainability efforts.
C. Fair trade has no significant impact on the global economy.
D. Local farming is less harmful to the environment than organic farming.
Question 35: Which of the following best summarizes the main point of the passage?
A. Recycling is a futile effort that creates more harm than good because it takes a long time to transport waste,which results in a large amount of carbon footprint.
B. Consumers should focus on buying organic products to protect their health and plastic waste should be treated properly so that it can be turned into helpful products.
C. Sustainability practices, such as fair trade, organic food, and recycling, are essential for the environment, but they require further evaluation to avoid unintended consequences.
D. Fair trade and organic farming have not yet reached their full potential in global markets because they are so expensive for consumers to buy.
