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Cambridge 17 Academic Reading Test Three Passage Two
Palm Oil
Which section contains the following information?
14. examples of a range of potential environmental advantages of oil palm tree cultivation
The answer is F.
In paragraph seven, even the deforestation argument isn’t as straightforward as it seems at least four and potentially up to ten times more oil per hectare than soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, or other competing oils. That immensely high yield, which is predominantly what makes it so profitable, is potentially also an ecological benefit.
15. description of an organization which controls the environmental impact of palm oil production
The answer is G.
In paragraph nine, the industry is now regulated by s group called the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), consisting of palm growers, retailers, product manufacturers, and other interested parties.
16. examples of the widespread global use of palm oil
The answer is A.
In paragraph one, palm oil is an edible derived from the fruit of the American palm tree, and is currently the most consumed vegetable oil in the world. It’s almost certainly in the soap we wash with in the morning, the sandwich we have for lunch, and the biscuits we snack on during the day.
17. reference to a particular species which could benefit the ecosystem of oil palm plantations
The answer is H.
In paragraph ten, Ellwood believes that reintroducing the bird’s nest fern into oil palm plantations could potentially allow these areas to recover their biodiversity, providing a home for all manner of species, from fungi and bacteria, to invertebrates such as insects, amphibians, reptiles and even mammals.
18. figures illustrating the rapid expansion of the palm oil industry
The answer is B.
In paragraph two, many farmers seized the opportunity to maximize the planting of oil palm trees. Between 1990 and 2012, the global land area devoted to growing oil palm trees grew from 6 to 17 million hectares, now accounting for around ten percent of total cropland in the entire world.
19. an economic justification for not opposing the palm industry
The answer is E.
In paragraph six, one response to the boycott movement has been the argument for the vital role palm oil plays in lifting many millions of people in the developing world out of poverty.
20. examples of creatures badly affected by the establishment of oil plantations
The answer is C.
In paragraph three, endangered species, most famously the Sumatran orangutan, but also rhinos, elephants, tigers, and numerous other fauna, have suffered from the unstoppable spread of oil palm plantations.
Choose two letters, A–E
Which TWO statements are made about the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
In either order
B > It demands that certified producers be open and honest about their practices.
In paragraph G, the RSPO insists upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency, and regular assessment of carbon stocks, among other criteria.
C > It took several years to establish its set of criteria for sustainable palm oil certification.
In paragraph C, over the past decade or so, an agreement has gradually been reached regarding standards that producers of palm oil have to meet in order for their product to be regarded as officially ‘sustainable’.
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
23. One advantage of palm oil for manufacturers is that it says … even when not refrigerated.
The answer is SOLID.
In paragraph one, primarily because unique properties, such as remaining solid at room temperature, make it an ideal ingredient for long-term preservation, allowing many packaged goods on supermarket shelves to have ‘ best before’ dates of months, even years, into the future.
24. The ….. is the best known of the animals suffering habitat loss as a result of the spread of oil palm plantations.
The answer is (SUMATRAN) ORANGUTAN/ORANG-TAN.
In paragraph three, endangered species, most famously the Sumatran orangutan, but also rhinos, elephants, tigers, and numerous other fauna, have suffered from the unstoppable spread of oil palm plantations.
25. As one of its criteria for the certification of sustainable palm oil, the RSPO insists that growers check ….. on a routine basis.
The answer is CARBON STOCKS.
In paragraph nine, the RSPO insists upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency, and regular assessment of carbon stocks, among other criteria.
26. Ellwood and his researchers are looking into whether the bird’s nest fern could restore ….. in areas where oil palm trees are grown.
The answer is BIODIVERSITY.
In paragraph ten, Ellwood believes that reintroducing the bird’s nest fern into oil palm plantations could potentially allow these areas to recover their biodiversity, providing a home for all manner of species, from fungi and bacteria, to invertebrates such as insects, amphibians, reptiles and even mammals.