Divided Opinions about letting Farmland return to its Natural state Reading Answers

Oct 25, 2024

Divided Opinions about letting Farmland return to its Natural state Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Divided Opinions about letting Farmland return to its Natural state Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions set, you have to fill in the blanks with the correct answer. In the next section you have to choose the correct option from the given choices.

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the IELTS exam, designed to assess a candidate's ability to comprehend and analyze different types of passages. In this passage, you will engage with a series of IELTS reading practice questions that simulate real test scenarios. These questions are aimed at improving your skills in identifying key ideas, extracting specific information, and making inferences. Whether you are preparing for the Academic or General Training module, practicing these IELTS reading questions will help you become familiar with the format and boost your confidence for the actual test.

Section 1

DIVIDED OPINIONS ABOUT LETTING FARMLAND RETURN TO ITS NATURAL STATE

Close to London's Gatwick Airport is Knepp Castle Estate, owned by Charlie Burrell. It is an intensive 3,500-acre farm that has been 'rewildec that is, allowed to return to its natural, uncultivated state. After barely a decade, nature has come back astonishingly quickly. Neat fields of maize have been replaced with a landscape that resembles the typical grasslands of Africa. The original narrow clipped hedges that edged the farmland are now eight metres wide, and deer race through ragwort, thistles and other weeds in the meadows. The estate boasts more of the unusual purple emperor butterflies than anywhere else in Britain. It's also thought to be the only place where Britain's fastest-declining birds, turtle doves, are multiplying. But as rewilding blossoms, so do controversies.

In Wales, one ecologist says the concept can't even be mentioned to farmers. Even the harmless beaver is the subject of fierce debate: while it was recognised as a native animal in Scotland last year, beavers reintroduced in south-west England roam free only on a government trial' For us it is strange to see the British struggling with the beaver. Come on, we have thousands of them!' Dutch ecologist Leo Linnartz told a rewilding conference. Linnartz says that many Dutch objected to 'nature development 30 years ago but rewilding principles are now mainstream

In Britain, the rewilding movement started by writer and environmental activist George Monbiot is popularly seen to seek the return of large carnivores - bears, wolves and lynx. In practice, it is returning more modest herbivores like ponies and deer to the countryside. For decades ecologists believed the end result of allowing a landscape to run wild would be dense forest and a mass extinction of sun-loving wild flowers and butterflies. But this belief has been demolished by Dutch ecologist Frans Vera. Since the 1980s, Vera has introduced wild cattle, horses mand deer to rewilded marshland, and proved that 'natural grazing creates a more dynamic landscape, a constantly changing pattern of oper glades and wooded groves. In the Scottish Highlands, rewilding is taking a different form as large landowners restore ancient pine forest

But David Balharry, former Scotland director of Rewilding Britain, cautions that rewilding in Scotland will only be championed by policymakers and politicians when it is led by local communities. For Burrell, rewilding has been a pragmatic way to revive the struggling family farm. Ecotourism there makes as much profit as his conventional farm did. Knepp's unproductive soil meant Burrell could not compete with globalized food production. His profits may be steady while conventional dairy and cattle farm incomes fall dramatically, but no farmers have yet followed farmland when the world's population is growing.

Wouter Helmer, director of Rewilding Europe, sees no conflict between food production and rewilding: Europe is heading for a future of food produced more intensively in fewer areas, releasing less productive land for rewilding, he says. 'Farming is being done by fewer and fewer farmers on a larger scale on the best soils. They leave the less profitable lands to become adventure land for an increasingly urban population Helmer says there is no point in seeking to feed the world with traditional organic farming because there is no one to do the labour: when he asks Dutch students who wants to farm, none raise their hands. They have a completely different relationship to nature to their parents or grandparents. They are not fighting with it on a daily basis. On one hand they are disconnected from nature but on the other hand they are becoming more relaxed with nature - it's hunting and gathering but hunting with a camera and gathering experiences. The part of the countryside which is not used for intensive farming starts to serve all these new urban needs.

Yet some environmentalists worry how rewilding connects with urban populations. The challenge is how to make rewilding an issue that people in their ordinary lives can take action on, says Elaine Gilligan of Friends of the Earth. She thinks it is great for engaging people in nature but doubts whether it is seen as important in large urban areas like Birmingham. Rewilders argue that reducing flood risks for cities is one practical way rewilding can enhance urban life. Ted Green, founder president of the Ancient Tree Forum, believes that intensive farming can worsen flash flooding, and cause fertile earth to be swept downriver and out to sea. The land may belong to the landowner but the soil must belong to the nation," says Green. 'When you see people cleaning out their houses after floods, you don't see them removing water, you see them removing mud. It's no longer an engineering problem - it's a farming problem.

Some conservationists worry, however, that rewilding could replace the traditional protection of rare species on small nature reserves. rewilding really takes off, there's a risk people will say, "Oh we don't have to do any of that old stuff," says Matt Shardlow, chief executive o Buglife. 'But we still have habitat fragmentation and species in tiny places and we have to take care of them even if you have some are nade bigger for wildlife. Whatever happens, we need more projects like Knepp.

Questions 28-30

Choose ONE WORD ONLY. KNEPP CASTLE ESTATE

About ten years ago, the decision was taken to rewild the farmland at Knepp Castle. Now the (28)....... that used to be grown there has disappeared and the countryside is

Answer: MAIZE

Supporting statement: “........Neat fields of maize have been replaced with a landscape that resembles the typical grasslands of Africa........”

Keywords: maize, replaced

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 4

Explanation: The passage explains that the farmland at Knepp Castle Estate previously grew maize. After rewilding, these fields were abandoned, and nature quickly took over. This shows that maize, as a cultivated crop, disappeared to allow the area to return to a natural state.

more like parts of (29)........... The hedges surrounding the fields have been allowed to

Answer: AFRICA

Supporting statement: “........Neat fields of maize have been replaced with a landscape that resembles the typical grasslands of Africa........”

Keywords: resembles, Africa

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 4

Explanation: The text draws a comparison between the Knepp Castle Estate's rewilded landscape and African grasslands. The wild plants, open spaces, and animal activity have created a natural environment similar to Africa’s grasslands, highlighting the transformation brought by rewilding.

expand and deer can be seen running among the wild flowers. The estate hosts the largest number of (30... of a particular species in the whole country and bird numbers are increasing.All these changes have happened remarkably quickly.

Answer: BUTTERFLIES

Supporting statement: “.......The estate boasts more of the unusual purple emperor butterflies than anywhere else in Britain.........”

Keywords: butterflies, more

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 6

Explanation: After rewilding, the Knepp Estate became home to the largest population of purple emperor butterflies in Britain. This success illustrates how biodiversity flourished following the decision to let the land return to its natural state.

Questions 31-36

Match each statement with the correct person,

A-G. Write the correct letter, A-G.

31. Some people are against rewilding as it reduces the amount of crops that could provide much needed nourishment.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: “........No farmers have yet followed Burrell’s example... when the world’s population is growing........”

Keywords: farmers, population

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 6

Explanation: Burrell’s experience reveals a key criticism of rewilding: some people oppose the idea because turning farmland into natural spaces reduces crop production. As the global population grows, many feel it is essential to maintain farmland to meet food demands.

32. It may not be easy to get city residents to take part in rewilding.

Answer: G

Supporting statement: “.......She doubts whether it is seen as important in large urban areas like Birmingham.........”

Keywords: doubt, large

Keyword Location: para 7, Line 2

Explanation: Gilligan expresses concern that rewilding may not be a priority for city residents. In large urban areas like Birmingham, people may struggle to see how rewilding can directly impact their lives, posing a challenge for engaging them in conservation efforts.

33. Rewilding does not necessarily lead to a landscape thickly covered in trees.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: “.........Natural grazing creates a more dynamic landscape... open glades and wooded groves.......”

Keywords: grazing, dynamic

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 7

Explanation: Frans Vera challenges the traditional belief that leaving land to grow wild will inevitably lead to dense forests. His research shows that grazing animals like cattle and deer can maintain a varied landscape with open areas and patches of woodland, promoting greater biodiversity.

34. It is acceptable to turn fields which do not yield many crops into natural spaces for people to enjoy.

Answer: F

Supporting statement: “........They leave the less profitable lands to become adventure land for an increasingly urban population........”

Keywords: lands, adventure

Keyword Location: para 6, Line 6

Explanation: Helmer explains that land which is not suitable for farming can be repurposed for recreation. As fewer people are interested in farming, unproductive fields are becoming places for urban populations to connect with nature, fostering a new relationship with the countryside.

35. The support of people living in the area is needed to make the authorities take

rewilding seriously.

Answer: E

Supporting statement: “.......Rewilding in Scotland will only be championed... when it is led by local communities..........”

Keywords: local, communities

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 2

Explanation: Balharry emphasizes the importance of local communities leading rewilding efforts. Without community involvement, policymakers and politicians are less likely to support these initiatives, showing that public engagement is crucial for the success of rewilding projects.

36. There is evidence that people get us the idea of rewilding with time.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “........Many Dutch objected to 'nature development' 30 years ago, but rewilding principles are now mainstream........”

Keywords: objected, now

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 6

Explanation: Linnartz explains that attitudes toward rewilding evolve with time. In the Netherlands, rewilding faced resistance at first, but it is now widely accepted and practiced, showing how public perception can change as people see the benefits of natural landscapes.

LIST OF PEOPLE

D. Frans Vera

A. Charlie Burrell

E. David Balharry

B. Leo Linnartz

F. Wouter Helmer

C. George Monbiot

G. Elaine Gilligan

Questions 37-40

Choose the correct letter.

37. In the fifth paragraph, the writer points out that Burrell

A. had clear financial reasons for rewilding his farm

B. is worried that his land now looks extremely untidy.

C. has considerably increased the money he makes from his farm.

D. was initially guided by other people who had let their land go wild.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: “........Ecotourism there makes as much profit as his conventional farm did... His profits may be steady while conventional farm incomes fall.........”

Keywords: profit, steady

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 4

Explanation: Burrell’s decision to rebuild his farm was financially motivated. His land was not productive enough for conventional farming, but by switching to ecotourism, he was able to maintain steady profits, unlike many other farmers whose incomes are declining.

38. What does Helmer say about young people and the land?

A. They want to leave it and find work in the city

B. Many want to take over running their families' farms.

C. They have developed new ways of interacting with it.

D. Many are interested in building businesses on farmland.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “.........They are not fighting with it daily... It’s hunting with a camera and gathering experiences.......”

Keywords: ways, interacting

Keyword Location: para 6, Line 8

Explanation: Helmer notes that young people today interact with nature differently than their parents or grandparents did. Rather than working the land, they engage with it through recreational activities, such as photography and outdoor experiences, reflecting a new relationship with nature.

39. Ted Green is particularly concerned that

A. there are increasing problems with water pollution in cities.

B. money needs to be invested to create more dams across rivers.

C. modern agricultural methods mean rain E washes away productive soil.

D. more barriers are needed to prevent rivers flooding domestic homes.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “.......Intensive farming can worsen flash flooding, and cause fertile earth to be swept downriver..........”

Keywords: farming, washed

Keyword Location: para 7, Line 5

Explanation: Green warns that modern farming practices contribute to soil erosion, causing fertile soil to be washed away by rain and leading to increased flooding. This highlights the negative environmental impact of intensive agriculture.

40. In the final paragraph, what point is made about rewilding?

A. It will be very difficult to organise efficiently in large expanses of countryside.

B. It may attract so much public interest that smaller projects get forgotten.

C. It-has caused problems for certain types of animals and insects in Britain.

D. It may be a trend that will lose its popularity quite quickly.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “........If rewilding really takes off, there’s a risk people will say, 'Oh we don’t have to do any of that old stuff.........”

Keywords: risk, forget

Keyword Location: para 8, Line 2

Explanation: The text raises the concern that the popularity of rewilding could cause people to neglect traditional conservation efforts. Even with larger rewilding projects in progress, smaller conservation projects still need attention to protect rare species and fragmented habitats.

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