From Hand to Mouth Reading Answers

Jan 25, 2023

From Hand to Mouth Reading Answers contains sample answers about food crises in southern Africa. From Hand to Mouth Reading Answers has 13 different questions. IELTS From Hand to Mouth Reading Answers contains 3 types of questions: identify the paragraph, complete the sentences and true/false/not given. Candidates are required to read the IELTS Reading passage and identify which paragraph has the given statements. To complete the sentences, candidates are required to choose no more than three words from the text for each answer. For the last set of questions, candidates are required to answer whether the given statement is true, false or not given in the passage. To gain efficiency and practice on diverse topics, candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

From Hand to Mouth Reading Answers

Once again, southern Africa is facing a severe food crisis. It is a chronic problem and shouldn't be. At the Trinity hospital in Malawi's southern Nsanje district, three-year-old Mboyi is lying listless, his face against the wall. His belly is badly bloated and skin is peeling off his legs. His mother explains that the family has not been able to harvest anything this year, due to poor rains. Mothers in the area are already bringing malnourished children to hospitals in alarming numbers. Yet, it will be another six months before the next harvest.
Aid agencies are sounding the alarm, hoping that help will come before emaciated children's haunting images, such as those recently seen in Niger, appear on western television screens. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) says that close to 12 million people across southern Africa will need food aid before the next harvest. The agency is short of more than $150 million to feed them over the next six months. Malawi and Zimbabwe are by far the hungriest, but Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, and Swaziland are also affected. The drought may be southern Africa's worst in a decade. The crucial rains of January, when newly planted crops need water, did not come on time. Nor, in some places, did seeds and fertiliser. Maize, the staple food, is scarce in some areas prices in markets have shot up beyond the means of the hungriest.
Though the problem is particularly severe this year, it recurs across southern Africa. Food is produced mainly by subsistence farmers on small plots with no irrigation, their fate tied to rain falling in the right amount at the right time. Bad roads and unreliable transport make it expensive to move food and seeds. Without proper marketing channels, small farmers cannot sell whatever surplus they may have outside their neighbourhoods. This leaves southern Mozambicans hungry, even when crops are plentiful up north. Maize is ill-suited to the climate, needing too much water. In Malawi, there are too many people for the land. Partly due to bad farming, yields are low. And the region has the world's highest rate of AIDS.
Many small farmers struggle to make ends meet even in good years, so one bad season can be disastrous. And in Swaziland and Mozambique, they are facing their fourth dry year in a row. Unable to grow enough to feed themselves or borrow their way out of hard times, farmers end up losing the few assets they have. In Malawi, those without anything left often resort to cutting and selling firewood, further eroding the soil and making their plots still less productive, or else fishing already depleted waters. Others venture into crocodile-infested rivers to dig out water-lily tubers for food.
Bad government policy sometimes makes things worse. In Zimbabwe, once the region's breadbasket, land grabs have crippled commercial agriculture and irrigation systems. Hyperinflation and lack of foreign exchange make it hard to buy seeds and fertiliser, while fuel shortages stymie crop transport. A recent operation to "clean up" cities by bulldozing supposedly illegal dwellings has left another 700,000 people destitute, adding to the ranks of the hungry. The government has so far refused to endorse the UN's proposed emergency programme to help those affected. Other governments are less bloody-minded. Malawi, the worst-hit country, with 5 million people (nearly half its population) needing food handouts, wants help. In July, President Bingu wa Mutharika asked his compatriots to give to a "feed the nation" fund: so far, $565,000 has been collected. In August, the UN appealed for $88 million. The World Bank will give $30 million.
Harnessing what the region already has would go a long way to offsetting its chronic hunger. In southern Malawi, rivers regularly flood and are badly managed. By contrast, a big sugar plantation in Nchalo, its sprinklers spitting out arcs of water, is a green oasis. On a smaller but no less hopeful scale, the nearby Chitsukwa irrigation scheme cost only about $20,000 and provided canals and enough low-tech pumps to water 18 hectares (45 acres), which sustain 176 farmers. Along the canal, women with babies on their backs labour on what look like portable stairmasters, pumping water into their fields: the maize is flourishing. Now armed with better knowledge, farmers are aiming at three crops a year, instead of the precarious single one to which they were accustomed. A few kilometres down the road, the land is hopelessly dry and barren.
Uladi Mussa, Malawi's minister for agriculture and food security, insists that expanding small-scale irrigation is a top priority. The potential is there, he explains, but Malawi lacks the know-how and money to do it on its own. Zambia and Mozambique have both welcomed exiled white Zimbabwean farmers, whose skills are already boosting local agriculture. Meanwhile, chronic hunger is threatening southern Africa's future generations. Close to half of Malawi's under-five-year-olds are stunted. Schools unable to feed their pupils report drops in attendance, as children are too weak to walk or are forced to help their parents find food. For them, the damage will remain long after the rains have come.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-4

The text has 7 paragraphs (A G). Which paragraph contains each of the following

pieces of information?

The main reasons why there is a lack of food in southern Africa year after year

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Food is produced mainly by subsistence farmers on small plots with no irrigation, their fate tied to rain falling in the right amount at the right time.
Keyword: food, subsistence, small plots, irrigation
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 2
Explanation: Food is mostly grown by subsistence farmers on small, irrigated plots, according to paragraph C. It is claimed that their fate in terms of farming depends on the correct amount and timing of rain. As a result, the answer is paragraph C.

How small development schemes can help to solve the problem

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: Chitsukwa irrigation scheme cost only about $20,000 and provided canals and enough low-tech pumps to water 18 hectares (45 acres), which sustain 176 farmers.
Keyword : irrigation, canals, low tech pumps, 176 farmers, scheme
Keyword Location: paragraph F, line 4
Explanation: According to paragraph F, the Chitsukwa irrigation system only cost roughly $20,000. It provided enough low-tech pumps and canals to irrigate 18 hectares (45 acres). Thus, 176 farmers were supported. Hence, the correct answer is paragraph F.

The things that some desperate farmers do to feed themselves and their families

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Unable to grow enough to feed themselves or borrow their way out of hard times, farmers end up losing the few assets they have.
Keyword : feed, borrow, hard times, farmers, assets
Keyword Location: paragraph D, line 3
Explanation: As per paragraph D, farmers in Swaziland and Mozambique are experiencing their fourth consecutive year of dry weather. Unable to borrow money to get by during difficult times or cultivate enough to feed themselves. Farmers ultimately lose their limited possessions. Therefore, the right answer is paragraph D.

The size and cost of the problem in southern Africa

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: close to 12 million people across southern Africa will need food aid before the next harvest. The agency is short of more than $150 million to feed them over the next six months
Keyword : million, africa, harvest, agency, feed
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 3
Explanation: According to paragraph B, before the next harvest, about 12 million people will require food aid in southern Africa. To feed them over the following six months, the agency will need more than $150 million. Thus, the answer is paragraph B.

Questions 5-8

Complete the following sentences using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each gap.

The January rains are described as 'crucial' because (5)______ need the water. Maize is an unsuitable crop in much of southern Africa because it requires (6)_______ In Zimbabwe, much agricultural produce cannot be moved because of (7)_____ (8)_______ can be used instead of irrigation canals to water crops

Question: 5

Answer: Newly Planted Crops
Supporting Sentence: The crucial rains of January, when newly planted crops need water, did not come on time.
Keyword : rains, january, need water, time
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 7
Explanation: The drought in southern Africa may be the worst in a decade, as per paragraph B. When newly planted crops need water, the important January rains failed to arrive in a timely manner. Seeds and fertiliser didn't work in some areas either. So, the answer is Newly Planted Crops.

Question: 6

Answer: Too much water
Supporting Sentence: Maize is ill-suited to the climate, needing too much water.
Keyword : maize, ill suited, needing
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 6
Explanation: According to paragraph C, maize requires too much water and is unsuited to the climate. There are too many people in Malawi for the available land. Yields are low in part as a result of poor farming. Therefore, the answer is too much water.

Question: 7

Answer: Fuel Shortages
Supporting Sentence: Hyperinflation and lack of foreign exchange make it hard to buy seeds and fertiliser, while fuel shortages stymie crop transport.
Keyword : hyperinflation, foreign exchange, buy seeds, fertiliser
Keyword Location: paragraph E, line 3
Explanation: Land seizures have ruined commercial agriculture and irrigation infrastructure in Zimbabwe, which was once the region's breadbasket, as per paragraph E. Purchasing seeds and fertiliser is challenging due to hyperinflation and a scarcity of foreign currency. While fuel shortages hinder the shipping of crops. Thus, fuel shortages is the answer.

Question:8

Answer: Sprinklers
Supporting Sentence: a big sugar plantation in Nchalo, its sprinklers spitting out arcs of water, is a green oasis.
Keyword : sugar plantation, spitting, arcs, water, green oasis
Keyword Location: paragraph F, line 3
Explanation: According to paragraph F, rivers in southern Malawi frequently flood and are poorly managed. Near contrast, a sizable sugar plantation in Nchalo is a lush haven with sprinklers that shoot forth water in arcs. So, we know the answer is sprinklers.

Questions 9-13

Do the statements on the next page agree with the information given in Reading

Passage 1? In boxes 9 -13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this

Some farmers didn't get seeds to plant this season.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Hyperinflation and lack of foreign exchange make it hard to buy seeds and fertiliser, while fuel shortages stymie crop transport.
Keyword : hyperinflation, exchange, fertiliser, fuel shortage
Keyword Location: paragraph E, line 3
Explanation: According to paragraph E, purchasing seeds and fertiliser is difficult due to hyperinflation and a lack of foreign currency. While agricultural transport is hampered by fuel shortages. Another 700,000 individuals are now homeless as a result of a recent effort to "clean up" cities by demolishing ostensibly unlawful homes. Therefore, the above statement is true.

Poor infrastructure means that parts of Mozambique are without food while other parts have plenty.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Malawi and Zimbabwe are by far the hungriest, but Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, and Swaziland are also affected
Keyword : malawi, hungriest, affected
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 5
Explanation: The most hungry countries, as per paragraph B, are by far Malawi and Zimbabwe, but Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, and Swaziland are all impacted. The current drought could be the worst in southern Africa in ten years. When newly planted crops needed water during the vital January rains, they did not arrive on time. Hence, the given assertion is true.

Southern Africa does not have many of the resources it needs to help solve its food Problem.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Though the problem is particularly severe this year, it recurs across southern Africa.
Keyword : problem, severe, recurs, southern Africa
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 1
Explanation: The first line of paragraph C implies that in southern Africa, the issue recurs despite being particularly bad this year. Food is primarily grown by subsistence farmers on small pieces of land without irrigation, with their fate dependent on the timing and amount of rain. Thus, the above statement can be regarded as a FALSE one.

Zimbabwe's government policies have actually helped neighbouring countries in one Way.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Zambia and Mozambique have both welcomed exiled white Zimbabwean farmers, whose skills are already boosting local agriculture
Keyword : Zambia, welcomed, farmers, skills
Keyword Location: paragraph G, line 3
Explanation: As per paragraph G, Uladi Mussa, Malawi's minister of agriculture and food security, says that boosting small-scale irrigation is a primary priority. He explains that although there is potential, Malawi lacks the resources and expertise to realise it on its own. Exiled white Zimbabwean farmers have been welcomed in both Zambia and Mozambique, and their abilities are already improving regional agriculture. Thus, the statement is true.

About half of Malawi's children aged under 5 are malnourished.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Meanwhile, chronic hunger is threatening southern Africa's future generations. Close to half of Malawi's under-five-year-olds are stunted
Keyword : hunger, southern Africa, generations, stunted
Keyword Location: paragraph G, line 5
Explanation: Future generations in southern Africa are threatened by chronic starvation, as per paragraph G. In Malawi, about half of children under five have stunted growth. Schools that cannot feed their students report attendance declines. Children who are too frail to walk or who are made to assist their parents in finding food. Therefore, the abovementioned assertion is true.

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