Feeding Africa: Reading Comprehension and English Exam Solutions

Feeding Africa: Reading Comprehension and Activities

Exercise 1: True or False with Justification

• A) True: "...other African countries have been developing their own genetically modified foods."
• B) False: "...African agriculture is suffering, and scientists in Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt are trying to compensate by creating more durable crops which are resistant to insects and disease and tolerate soil that is dry and lacking in nutrients."
• C) False: "...Dr. Wambugu, one of the continent's leading supporters of the modifications, imagines a day when Africa will be fully stocked with genetically altered produce, just as tasty and nutritious as those provided by Mother Nature, but more durable."
• D) False: "...They worry that altered genes may disrupt the world's biological diversity, producing, for instance, troublesome weeds resistant to herbicides."

Exercise 2: Comprehension Questions

• A) Africa is a difficult place to farm because the ground is poor, so it is less nutritious. In addition, it rains very little.
• B) On the one hand, there are some countries, such as Egypt or South Africa, that are developing genetically modified food. On the other hand, countries such as Zambia and Zimbabwe are receiving transgenic food.

Exercise 3: Vocabulary and Synonyms

• A) Banned
• B) Leading
• C) Troublesome

Exercise 4: Sentence Rephrasing and Grammar

• A) Scientists in Zambia said that they couldn't accept the modified corn because it would affect the environment.
• B) Although biotechnology is not a remedy, it can address some problems.
• C) Troublesome weeds resistant to herbicides may be produced by altered genes.

Exercise 5: Opinion Essay

In my opinion, today's society is capable of solving the problem of world hunger because, working all together, we can put an end to this problem. On the one hand, we can solve it because we have much more money than they do. In addition, if we were in a bad situation, we would want to be helped; therefore, we must help. On the other hand, many people have almost nothing due to the great economic problems of their countries. In fact, there are also people living in poverty in Spain, so some argue that we should help the people of Spain first. In conclusion, people who are living well must help those who are struggling, because tomorrow the situation could be the reverse.