The Future: Grammar with Listening

Listen and answer this question:

According to Jonas Thorsby, approximately how many seed banks exist worldwide?

• About 1,000 seed banks

• About 1,500 seed banks

• About 2,000 seed banks

Answer explanation

Jonas explicitly states "There are about a thousand seed banks all over the world" when describing the global seed bank network.

Listen and answer this question:

What makes the Svalbard seed bank's location particularly advantageous for preservation?

• It's located in a tropical climate that prevents seed decay

• It's underground in a major city for easy access

• It's the furthest north accessible by regular passenger flight

Answer explanation

Jonas mentions that "Svalbard is the furthest north you can travel on a regular passenger flight" and explains this remote northern location means "its seed bank is likely to remain intact, even if there was a catastrophe elsewhere."

Listen and answer this question:

What can be inferred about the relationship between the Svalbard seed bank and other global seed banks?

• Svalbard competes with other seed banks for the same seeds

• Svalbard serves as a backup repository for other seed banks worldwide

• Svalbard only stores seeds from Norwegian crops

Answer explanation

Jonas describes Svalbard as "especially significant in that it's the one backup for all those seed banks" and mentions it's available "for any government that wishes to store spare copies of its own crop seeds."

Listen and answer this question:

Which is the most accurate summary of the conversation?

• Two scientists discuss how seed banks store millions of seeds to protect food crops. They explain that modern farming uses fewer plant varieties than in the past, which creates risks. The Svalbard seed bank in Norway is very important because it keeps backup seeds for the whole world, even though it had some problems with flooding.

• The scientists talk about how seed banks make money by selling rare seeds to farmers around the world. They explain that only rich countries can afford to build seed banks. The main problem discussed is that seeds become too expensive for poor farmers to buy.

Answer explanation

Jonas describes Svalbard as "especially significant in that it's the one backup for all those seed banks" and mentions it's available "for any government that wishes to store spare copies of its own crop seeds."

The government hopes that pollution levels ​​​ (a)   by 20% by the end of the year.

• will have declined
• will be declining

In the future, more people ​ (a)   from home than in offices.

• will be working
• will have been working

By the year 2050, companies ​ (a)   tourist flights into space.

• will be offering
• will have been offering

On 25th March, ​ (a)   here for five years.

• I’ll have been working
• I'll be working

The best time to call me is at 10 pm because ​ (a)   my homework at that point.

• I’ll have finished
• I'll finish

I’ve sent you a link to a great blog I’ve been reading. I’m sure​ (a)   it interesting.

• you’ll find
• you'll be finding