Allolopathy Reading Answers

Mar 13, 2024

Allolopathy Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Allolopathy Reading Answers have a total of 14 IELTS questions in total. This topic has the first 5 questions in which we have to fill up the black choosing appropriate titles for paragraphs. The next 4 questions are to say whether the statement is TRUE or FALSE. The next 5 questions fill in the blanks.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Allolopathy Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Allolopathy

In forests and fields all over the world, plants are engaged in a deadly chemical war to suppress other plants and create conditions for their own success. But what if we could learn the secrets of these plants and use them for our own purpose? Would it be possible to use their strategies and weapons to help us improve agriculture by preventing weeds from germinating and encouraging growth in crops? This possibility is leading agriculture researchers to explore the effects plants have on other plants with the aim of applying their findings to farming.
The Phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more chemicals that influence the growth, survival and reproduction of other organisms is called allelopathy. These chemicals are a subset of chemicals produced by organisms called secondary metabolites. A plant primary metabolite is associated with growth and development. Allelochemicals, however, are part of plants defense system and have a secondary function in the life of an organism. The allelopathy comes from the Greek : allele and pathy meaning' mutual harm'. The term was first used by Austrian scientist Hans Molisch in 1937, but people have been noting the negative effects that one plant can have on another for a long time. In 300 BC, the Greek philosopher Theophrastus noticed that pigweed had a negative effect on alfalfa plants. In China, around the first century
AD, author of Shennong Ben Cao Jing described 267 plants that have the ability to kill pests.
Allolopathy can be observed in many aspects of plant ecology. It can affect where certain species of plant grow, the fertility of competitor plants, the natural change of plant communities over time, which plant species are able to dominate a particular area, and the diversity of plants in an area. Plants can release allelopathic chemicals in several ways: their roots can release chemicals directly into the soil, and their bark and
leaves can release chemicals into the soil as they rot. Initially, scientists were interested in the negative effects of allelopathic chemicals. Observations of the phenomenon included poor growth of some forest trees, damage to crops, changes in vegetation patterns and, interestingly, the occurrence of weed - free areas. It was also realized that some species could have beneficial effects on agricultural crop plants and the possible application of allelopathy became the subject of research.
Today research is focused on the effects of weeds on crops, the effects of crops on weeds, and how certain crops affect other crops. Agricultural scientists are exploring the use of allelochemicals to regulate growth and to act as natural herbicides, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture by using these natural chemicals as an alternative to man-made chemicals. For example, a small fast-growing tree found in Central America, sometimes called 'miracle tree', contains a poison that slows the growth of other trees but does not affect its own seeds. Chemicals produced by this tree have been shown to improve the production of rice. Similarly, box elder - another tree - stimulates the growth of bluestem grass which is tall prairie grass found in the mid-western United States. Many weeds may use allelopathy to become ecologically successful; a study in China found that 25 out of 33 highly poisonous weeds had significant allelopathic properties.
There may be at least three applications of allelopathy to agriculture. Firstly, the allelopathic properties of wild or cultivated plants may be bred into crop plants through genetic modification or traditional breeding methods to improve the release of desired allelochemicals and thus improve crop yield. Secondly, a plant with strong allelopathic properties could be used to control weeds by planting it in rotation with an agriculture crop and then leaving it to rot and become part of the soil in order to inhibit the growth of weeds. Finally, naturally occurring allelopathic chemicals could be used in combination with man-made chemicals. Boosting the efficiency of man-made herbicides could lead to reduction in the amount of herbicides used in agriculture, which is better for the environment.
Despite the promising uses of allelopathic chemicals, agricultural scientists are still cautious. Firstly, allelopathic chemicals may break down and disappear in the soil more easily than artificial chemicals. Secondly, allelopathic chemicals may be harmful to plants other than weeds Thirdly, allelopathic chemicals could persist in the soil for a long time and may affect crops grown in the same field as the allelopathic plants at a later date. Because the effects of allelopathic chemicals are not yet fully known, agriculture scientists will need to continue to study the biological war between plants.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage 1 has six paragraphs, A-F. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-F from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-ix, next to question 1-5.

List of Headings

What are metabolites?
The negative effects of allelopathy
Biological warfare in the plant world
Why we cannot use allelopathic chemicals at present
What is allelopathy?
The reasons why plants compete with other plants
The effects of allelopathy and realization of its possible uses
How could we use allelopathic chemicals in farming?
Specific examples of allelopathic plants

Paragraph B

Answer: V
Supporting statement: “.......The Phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more chemicals that influence the growth, survival and reproduction of other organisms is called allelopathy. .........”
Keywords: chemicals, reproduction
Keyword Location: para B, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the organisms are generally producing more chemicals during their growth. It is called allelopathy.

Paragraph C

Answer: VII
Supporting statement: “........ Allolopathy can be observed in many aspects of plant ecology. It can affect where certain species of plant grow, the fertility of competitor plants, the natural change of plant communities over time........”
Keywords: ecology, change
Keyword Location: para C, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the allolopathy can cause various things in the plant system. It is mentioned in para C.

Paragraph D

Answer: IX
Supporting statement: “........Today research is focused on the effects of weeds on crops, the effects of crops on weeds, and how certain crops affect other crops.........”
Keywords: crops, weeds
Keyword Location: para D, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the research that is done today is found in the effects of weeds on crops and vice versa.

Paragraph E

Answer: VIII
Supporting statement: “........There may be at least three applications of allelopathy to agriculture. Firstly, the allelopathic properties of wild or cultivated plants may be bred into crop plants through genetic
modification........”
Keywords: crops, modification
Keyword Location: para E, line 2
Explanation: It is given that there are many applications of allelopathy in agriculture.

Paragraph F

Answer: IV
Supporting statement: “.......Despite the promising uses of allelopathic chemicals, agricultural scientists are still cautious. Firstly, allelopathic chemicals may break down and disappear in the soil more easily than artificial
chemicals. .........”
Keywords: agricultural, soil
Keyword Location: para F, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the promising uses of allelopathic chemicals have been proved but still they may break down and disappear in soil easily.

Questions 6-7 Choose the correct letter.

What does the term 'Allelopathy' refer to?

the growth and development of a plant
the relationship between plants and grown inthe same area
the effects of chemicals produced by a plant onanother plant
a plant's primary metabolic processes

Answer: C
Supporting statement: “........The Phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more chemicals that influence the growth, survival and reproduction of other organisms is called allelopathy. ........”
Keywords: chemicals, allelopathy
Keyword Location: para B, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the phenomena on which one chemical affects the growth of other plants or organisms are called allelopathy.

Which of the following does allelopathy NOT affect?

how certain species of plants change the nature of the soil where they grow
the diversity of plants in an area
the nutrients present in the soil.
the negative effects of weeds.

Answer: D
Supporting statement: “........ It can affect where certain species of plant grow, the fertility of competitor plants, the natural change of plant communities over time, which plant species are able to dominate a particular area, and the diversity of plants in an area........”
Keywords: plant, area
Keyword Location: para C, line 2
Explanation: It is given that the allelopathy cannot stop the negative effect of weeds.

Questions 8-9 Choose the correct letter.

Scientists are mainly interested in

being able to exploit allelopathy in sustainable farming
the beneficial effects of weeds on crops.
the effect of allelopathy on forests
the negative effects of weeds

Answer: A
Supporting statement: “....... This possibility is leading agriculture researchers to explore the effects plants have on other plants with the aim of applying their findings to farming..........”
Keywords: explore, plants
Keyword Location: para 1, line 5
Explanation: It is given that the possibility of allelopathy encourages the researchers to apply their findings to farming.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?

a tree which is highly poisonous to weeds
a tree which makes a type of grass grow better
a tree which makes rice more productive
a tree which produces a chemical that affects the growth of other trees

Answer: C
Explanation: A tree that can make rice more productive has not been mentioned in the passage.

Questions 10-14

Complete the summary of paragraphs E and F below. , Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each.

Scientists can see three potential uses of allelopathic chemicals in farming. Firstly, the ability to produce allelopathic chemicals could be 10)..... Into agriculture crops;

Answer: GENETIC MODIFICATION
Supporting statement: “.......allelopathic properties of wild or cultivated plants may be bred into crop plants through genetic modification or traditional breeding methods to improve the release of desired allelochemicals and thus improve crop yield.........”
Keywords: improved, crop
Keyword Location: para E, line 2
Explanation: It is given that the genetic modification can be used to produce allelopathic chemicals.

secondly, allelopathic plants could be planted in rotation with the [11].... ;finally, naturally

Answer: AGRICULTURAL CROP
Supporting statement: “........ Despite the promising uses of allelopathic chemicals, agricultural scientists are still cautious. ........”
Keywords: agricultural, cautious
Keyword Location: para F, line 1
Explanation: It is given that the agricultural crops could be painted with allelopathic plants.

produced chemicals could be combined with (12)...... herbicides. However,

Answer: MAN MADE
Supporting statement: “.......thereby promoting sustainable agriculture by using these natural chemicals as an alternative to man-made chemicals..........”
Keywords: natural, chemicals
Keyword Location: para D, line 3
Explanation: It is given that the allelopathic chemicals could be combined with man made chemicals.

agriculturalists are still [13]...... are allelopathic plants may have negative effects on plants which are not the intended

Answer: CAUTIOUS
Supporting statement: “......Despite the promising uses of allelopathic chemicals, agricultural scientists are still cautious..........”
Keywords: agricultural, cautious
Keyword Location: para F, line 2
Explanation: It is given that the agriculturalists are cautious about the allelopathic plants due to their negative effects.

IELTS Reading Related Articles