Hunger Reading Answers

Jan 27, 2023

Hunger Reading Answers is a academic topic in the IELTS Reading section. This has been taken from the book: Cambridge IELTS 3. The IELTS reading section helps candidates increase their reading skills with the help of passages. Candidates need to read the passage and then answer the questions. There are 13 questions in this topic: Hunger Reading Answers. The IELTS reading questions are divided into two sections: choose the appropriate option, and yes/no/not given. There are more topics like In search of the Hunger Reading Answers available online. Candidates can practice from IELTS Reading practice papers to help them excel in the IELTS exam.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Hunger Reading Answers

There is enough annual food production worldwide to ensure food supply for each and every human being. And yet, millions of people across the globe struggle every day with provisions for their families. Globally, approximately 795 million people go to bed hungry every night. And one in three people suffers from malnutrition in some form or the other.

One of the greatest challenges we face today is the eradication of hunger and malnutrition. The consequences of not getting enough to eat or eating food which is unhealthy for human consumption are not only poor health but also a general slowdown in areas of development and employment. Poverty remains the principal cause. Unequal distribution of wealth, lack of resources and strife are the main causes of poverty, which in turn leads to hunger. According to statistical estimates from the World Bank, 896 million people in developing countries live on less than $1.90 a day; sometimes it is even Worse.

It is surprising that some of the most agriculturally plentiful nations in the world are also the ones that encounter hunger as a burning issue. A case in point is India. According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, India, the country exports an astronomical 30 million metric tons of food annually. This is worth around 23 billion U.S. dollars.

Paradoxically, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 255 million people face food insecurity in India every day. That makes it about 36% of the hungry population of the world. We have to question why such a situation is allowed to exist. The answer lies in economics. A higher priority is placed on earning revenue for agri-businesses and by exports than feeding the hungry. Statistics from Forbes say that more than 100 billionaires exist in India. This is while a large mass of population starves on the streets in the shadow of luxurious skyscrapers!

The economic perspective is much the same in countries like the USA. Creation of wealth for the rich is prioritised over the nutritional needs of the poor. While the situation in the USA cannot be compared to that in a country like India, the state of affairs in America is worse than the other industrialized western countries. An astounding 49 million Americans are unable to afford adequate food supply. And yet, America exports food worth billions of dollars every year.

It is not difficult to identify the causes of world hunger. War-torn countries and the hotspots for conflict are mostly plagued by food crises. Stable food systems are not possible to support when the infrastructure is crumbling and citizens are fleeing. A drop in income and almost no access to arable land intensifies these conflicts further. Natural disasters are also a major cause. The impact of a catastrophe on arable land is significant after natural disasters such as tropical storms and floods which ravage the land. The long-term consequences of these unpredictable disasters are unimaginable.

Increased deforestation, soil erosion, and drought are also causes of poverty and hunger. Furthermore, arable land is destroyed by poor agricultural practices. And, funds are not enough to purchase farming equipment or seeds. Such conditions disturb farm output in terms of quantity and quality.

With the rise in population, demand for food increases. Developing countries have been particularly affected by uncontrolled population growth in more than one way. A family that is trying to keep its nose above the water is forced to stretch its limited income. As food takes priority, health care, education and savings take a back seat. Finding a balance between food production rate and population growth rate is becoming increasingly challenging for the government.

In 2015, 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development to improve the lives of people by the year 2030 were set by the global community. Of the 17 goals, goal is Zero Hunger, a pledge to eradicate hunger, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Taking into account that there are 216 million fewer people who go hungry today than there were in 1990-92 is a progress of sorts.

And this is in spite of the fact that the population has increased in this period. It is not possible for a single organization to achieve the Zero hunger target. A collaboration of governments, private citizens, civil society organizations and the private sectors can work together to invest in the creation of solutions that are lasting.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
Questions 28-35:

Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage
Choose FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or
Choose NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

It is impossible to produce food for the entire global population

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Finding a balance between food production rate and population growth rate is becoming increasingly challenging for the government.
Keywords: balance, rate, population
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, lines 5-6
Explanation: It is becoming more and more challenging for the government to strike a balance between the rate of food production and the rate of population expansion.

At least a third of the global population is deprived of healthy food.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Globally, approximately 795 million people go to bed hungry every night. And one in three people suffers from malnutrition in some form or the other.
Keywords: 795 million, bed, hungry
Keyword Location: paragraph 1, lines 3-4
Explanation: Around 795 million people worldwide go to bed hungry each night. And one in three people experience malnutrition in some kind.

No other global concern is as challenging as hunger and malnourishment.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: One of the greatest challenges we face today is the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.
Keywords: challenges, hunger, malnutrition
Keyword Location: paragraph 2, lines 1-2
Explanation: The elimination of hunger and malnutrition is one of the most difficult tasks we have at hand right now.

Impacts of inadequate nutrition do not extend to the national level.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Globally, approximately 795 million people go to bed hungry every night. And one in three people suffers from malnutrition in some form or the other.
Keywords: 795 million, bed, hungry
Keyword Location: paragraph 1, lines 3-4
Explanation: Around 795 million people worldwide go to bed hungry each night. And one in three people experience malnutrition in some kind.

Hungry people are the sole victims of slow development and joblessness in the Country.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No relevant information has been provided in the reading passage associated with the given question.

Malnutrition and hunger are mainly due to less, or no income.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: According to statistical estimates from the World Bank, 896 million people in developing countries live on less than $1.90 a day; sometimes it is even Worse.
Keywords: statistical, World Bank, 896 million, $1.90
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 6-8
Explanation: The World Bank has calculated that 896 million people in developing nations live on less than $1.90 a day, and in some cases it is even worse.

The World Bank has accurate figures for the daily income of the poor in non industrialised nations.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: According to statistical estimates from the World Bank, 896 million people in developing countries live on less than $1.90 a day; sometimes it is even Worse.
Keywords: statistical, World Bank, 896 million, $1.90
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 6-8
Explanation: The World Bank has calculated that 896 million people in developing nations live on less than $1.90 a day, and in some cases it is even worse.

Starvation despite having enough food is due to the wrong preferences of governments.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, India, the country exports an astronomical 30 million metric tons of food annually. This is worth around 23 billion U.S. dollars.
Keywords: Agricultural, Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 30 million
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 2-5
Explanation: India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority estimates that 30 million metric tonnes of food are exported from the nation each year. This is estimated to be worth 23 billion dollars.

Questions 36 to 40:
Choose the correct answer.

Why does the author mention India?

to compare food production and supply in the country
to compare the conditions in India and the US
to point out an existing irony in the country
to appreciate the volume of exports

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, India, the country exports an astronomical 30 million metric tons of food annually. This is worth around 23 billion U.S. dollars.
Keywords: Agricultural, Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, 30 million
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 2-5
Explanation: India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority released estimates. It highlighted that 30 million metric tonnes of food are exported from the nation each year. This is estimated to be worth 23 billion dollars.

In countries like the US,

malnourishment is not a major issue at al.
revenue generation from agriculture is not a priority.
authorities do not discriminate between needs and luxuries.
annual food exports are phenomenal in spite of its people going hungry.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: An astounding 49 million Americans are unable to afford adequate food supply. And yet, America exports food worth billions of dollars every year.
Keywords: 49 million, Americans, exports
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, lines 5-6
Explanation: Unbelievably, 49 million Americans lack access to sufficient food supplies. Yet, every year, America exports food worth billions of dollars.

Some countries are vulnerable to food crisis due to

frequent natural disasters.
social inequality and disorder
encroachment of arable land.
inadequate infrastructure and support.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Stable food systems are not possible to support when the infrastructure is crumbling and citizens are fleeing. A drop in income and almost no access to arable land intensifies these conflicts further.
Keywords: infrastructure, income
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, lines 2-4
Explanation: It is impossible to maintain stable food systems when the infrastructure is failing and the populace is emigrating. These disputes become more intense as a result of declining income and limited access to fertile land.

Apart from funds, other factors that impact farming are

natural disasters.
soil erosion and land reduction.
improper farming techniques.
all of the above

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Natural disasters are also a major cause. The impact of a catastrophe on arable land is significant after natural disasters such as tropical storms and floods which ravage the land. The long-term consequences of these unpredictable disasters are unimaginable.
Keywords: Natural disasters, catastrophe, unpredictable
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, lines 4-7
Explanation: It is impossible to maintain stable food systems when the infrastructure is failing and the populace is emigrating. These disputes become more intense as a result of declining income and limited access to fertile land.

Towards the turn of the last century

the number of people going to bed hungry has increased
216 million people were malnourished.
the world population continued to increase.
2 out of the 17 set goals to combat hunger and malnourishment were achieved.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: With the rise in population, demand for food increases. Developing countries have been particularly affected by uncontrolled population growth in more than one way.
Keywords: population, demand, uncontrolled population growth
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, lines 1-2
Explanation: The need for food grows as the population rises. Unchecked population expansion has had a particularly negative impact on developing nations in a number of ways.

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