Reading Passage 1 HW Week 1

What is the main idea of paragraph A?

By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the Earth's population will live in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about three billion people by then. An estimated 10/9 hectares of new land (about 20% larger than Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming methods continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use. Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to ensure enough food for the world's population to live on?

• Global population growth and food security challenges

• Vertical farming as a solution for future food production

• Environmental degradation and climate vulnerability in traditional farming

What is the main idea of paragraph B?

The concept of Indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another three billion people. Many believe an entirely new approach to indoor farming is required, employing cutting-edge technologies. One such proposal is for the 'Vertical Farm'. The comet is of multi-storey buildings in which food crops are grown in environmentally controlled conditions. Situated in the heart of urban centers, they would drastically reduce the amount of transportation required to bring food to consumers. Vertical farms would need to be efficient, cheap to construct and safe to operate. If successfully implemented, proponents claim, vertical farms offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (through year-round production of all crops). and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal farming.

• Advantages of vertical farming for sustainable agriculture

• Environmental degradation and climate vulnerability in traditional farming

• Vertical farming as a solution for future food production

What is the main idea of paragraph C?

It took humans 10,000 years to learn how to grow most of the crops we now take for granted. Along the way, we despoiled most of the land we worked, often turning verdant, natural ecozones into semi-arid deserts. Within that same time frame, we evolved into an urban species, in which 60% of the human population now lives vertically in cities. This means that, for the majority, we humans have shelter from the elements, yet we subject our food-bearing plants to the rigors of the great outdoors and can do no more than hope for a good weather year. However, more often than not now, due to a rapidly changing climate, that is not what happens. Massive floods, long droughts, hurricanes and severe monsoons take their toll each year, destroying millions of tons of valuable crops.

• Environmental degradation and climate vulnerability in traditional farming

• Exploration of alternative methods for sunlight optimization

• Considerations for the future of vertical farming and environmental sustainability

What is the main idea of paragraph D?

The supporters of vertical farming claim many potential advantages for the system. For instance, crops would be produced all year round, as they would be kept in artificially controlled, optimum growing conditions. There would be no weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods or pests. All the food could be grown organically, eliminating the need for herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. The system would greatly reduce the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface. Although the system would consume energy, it would return energy to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants. It would also dramatically reduce fossil fuel use. by cutting out the need for tractors, plows and shipping.

• Advantages of vertical farming for sustainable agriculture

• Challenges of artificial lighting in vertical farming

• Exploration of alternative methods for sunlight optimization

What is the main idea of paragraph E?

A major drawback of vertical farming, however, is that the plants would require artificial light. Without it, those plants nearest the windows would be exposed to more sunlight and grow more quickly, reducing the efficiency of the system. Single-storey greenhouses have the benefit of natural overhead light: even so, many still need artificial lighting. A multi-storey facility with no natural overhead light would require far more. Generating enough light could be prohibitively expensive, unless cheap, renewable energy is available, and this appears to be rather a future aspiration than a likelihood for the near future.

• Vertical farming as a solution for future food production

• Exploration of alternative methods for sunlight optimization

• Challenges of artificial lighting in vertical farming

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Some food plants, including ………………, are already grown indoors.

The concept of Indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another three billion people. Many believe an entirely new approach to indoor farming is required, employing cutting-edge technologies. One such proposal is for the 'Vertical Farm'.

(a)  

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Vertical farms would be located in ……………… meaning that there would be less need to take them long distances to customers.

The comet is of multi-storey buildings in which food crops are grown in environmentally controlled conditions. Situated in the heart of urban centers, they would drastically reduce the amount of transportation required to bring food to consumers. Vertical farms would need to be efficient, cheap to construct and safe to operate. If successfully implemented, proponents claim, vertical farms offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (through year-round production of all crops). and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal farming.

(a)  

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Vertical farms could use methane from plants and animals to produce ………………

The supporters of vertical farming claim many potential advantages for the system. For instance, crops would be produced all year round, as they would be kept in artificially controlled, optimum growing conditions. There would be no weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods or pests. All the food could be grown organically, eliminating the need for herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. The system would greatly reduce the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface. Although the system would consume energy, it would return energy to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants. It would also dramatically reduce fossil fuel use. by cutting out the need for tractors, plows and shipping.

(a)  

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

The consumption of ……………… would be cut because agricultural vehicles would be unnecessary.

The supporters of vertical farming claim many potential advantages for the system. For instance, crops would be produced all year round, as they would be kept in artificially controlled, optimum growing conditions. There would be no weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods or pests. All the food could be grown organically, eliminating the need for herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. The system would greatly reduce the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface. Although the system would consume energy, it would return energy to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants. It would also dramatically reduce fossil fuel use. by cutting out the need for tractors, plows and shipping.

(a)  

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

The fact that vertical farms would need ……………… light is a disadvantage.

A major drawback of vertical farming, however, is that the plants would require artificial light. Without it, those plants nearest the windows would be exposed to more sunlight and grow more quickly, reducing the efficiency of the system. Single-storey greenhouses have the benefit of natural overhead light: even so, many still need artificial lighting. A multi-storey facility with no natural overhead light would require far more.

(a)