Unveiling the True Cost of Food: IELTS Reading Passage With Questions & Answers

Introduction:

The cost of food goes far beyond the price we pay at the checkout. This IELTS reading passage explores the hidden costs associated with producing, distributing, and consuming food. It encourages learners to consider environmental, social, and health factors that contribute to the true cost of food, offering a complex topic for reading comprehension practice.

Passage:

The price tag on food items rarely reflects their actual cost to society. This price is merely the monetary value that consumers pay for the product, which often obscures the environmental, health, and social costs associated with its production. The true cost of food involves understanding these concealed expenses that are not accounted for in the market price.

For instance, consider the environmental cost of conventional farming, which relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. These substances contaminate water supplies, degrade soil health, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Although consumers might benefit from lower prices due to the intensive production methods, the environmental degradation will have long-term costs that future generations will have to bear.

Similarly, the social costs of food production are seldom considered. Labor exploitation, particularly in developing countries, is a grim reality. Workers are often underpaid and work in hazardous conditions to keep food prices competitive. This exploitation is a hidden cost that is not reflected in the final price of food products.

The health costs of food are also significant. Processed foods, high in sugar and fat, are cheaper to produce and purchase, yet they contribute to global health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The financial burden of these diseases on healthcare systems is immense, yet this is rarely factored into the food's market price.

Understanding the true cost of food is crucial for making informed choices that can lead to a more sustainable and equitable food system.

Questions & Answers:

Q1. What does the true cost of food encompass beyond the market price?

A) Only the environmental cost

B) Only the health cost

C) Only the social cost

D) Environmental, health, and social costs

A1. D) Environmental, health, and social costs

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that the true cost of food includes not just the monetary value, but also the environmental, health, and social costs that are not accounted for in the market price.

Q2. Which of the following is a consequence of using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in farming?

A) Improved soil health

B) Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

C) Contamination of water supplies

D) Lower healthcare costs

A2. C) Contamination of water supplies

Explanation: The passage mentions that conventional farming with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides leads to environmental damage, including the contamination of water supplies.

Q3. Fill in the blank: Workers in developing countries often face __________ to maintain competitive food prices.

A) Fair wages

B) Labor exploitation

C) Health benefits

D) Short working hours

A3. B) Labor exploitation

Explanation: The passage discusses the hidden social costs of food production, highlighting that labor exploitation is a serious issue that contributes to the true cost of food.

Q4. True or False: Processed foods contribute to reduced healthcare costs.

Answer: False

A4. False

Explanation: The passage indicates that processed foods are linked to health issues, such as obesity and diabetes, which increase the financial burden on healthcare systems.

Q5. The use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in farming is justified because it:

A) Ensures the well-being of future generations

B) Provides immediate economic benefits to consumers

C) Guarantees the preservation of environmental resources

D) Promotes social welfare and equitable labor practices

A5. B) Provides immediate economic benefits to consumers

Explanation: The passage states that consumers might benefit from lower prices due to intensive production methods, which implies immediate economic benefits, despite the long-term environmental costs.

Q6. The final price of food products often fails to include:

A) The cost of packaging

B) The cost of transportation

C) The cost of marketing

D) The cost of environmental and social repercussions

A6. D) The cost of environmental and social repercussions

Explanation: As discussed in the passage, the market price of food items usually does not account for the hidden environmental and social repercussions of food production.

Q7. True or False: The true cost of food is solely a financial consideration.

Answer: False

A7. False

Explanation: The passage defines the true cost of food as including not only financial but also environmental, social, and health considerations.

Q8. According to the passage, a more sustainable and equitable food system requires:

A) Ignorance of the true costs of food production

B) Focus solely on the economic growth of agribusiness

C) Making informed choices that consider hidden costs

D) Prioritizing the production of processed foods

A8. C) Making informed choices that consider hidden costs

Explanation: The passage concludes that making informed choices that account for the true costs can lead to a more sustainable and equitable food system.

Q9. Fill in the blank: The production of _______ is cheaper but contributes to global health issues.

A) Organic vegetables

B) Processed foods

C) Sustainable seafood

D) Artisanal breads

A9. B) Processed foods

Explanation: The passage specifically identifies processed foods as being cheaper to produce and purchase, yet they contribute to health issues like obesity and diabetes.

Q10. The long-term costs of environmental degradation due to farming will have to be borne by:

A) Current consumers

B) Food manufacturers

C) Future generations

D) Government agencies

A10. C) Future generations

Explanation: The passage implies that while current consumers benefit from lower prices, the resultant environmental degradation imposes costs that will have to be faced by future generations.

Tips for Cracking the IELTS Reading Exam:

Tip 1: Skim the passage first to get a general understanding of the topic before diving into the questions.

Tip 2: Look for keywords in the questions and scan the passage to find where they are discussed to locate the answers.

Tip 3: Don't spend too much time on one question. If you're unsure, move on and come back to it later if you have time.

Tip 4: Be aware of paraphrasing. The answers may use different words or phrases but have the same meaning as the information in the passage.

Tip 5: Practice reading a variety of texts on topics like the environment, economics, and social issues to become familiar with the type of language used in IELTS passages.