Below are two passages on GM foods which require you to answer multiple choice questions. The questions are given under the passage but there is also a link to the questions at the end of the first paragraph to allow easy access – look for “Q’s”. This is a useful exercise to practise reading and build awareness of vocabulary for this topic.
GM Food
Genetically modified food is produced from plants which have had their genes tweaked in the lab. Scientists “cut and paste” a gene from another organism into a plant’s DNA to give it a new characteristic. This can be to increase yield or to allow the plant to exist in a more hostile environment than normal. Pro-GM scientists say this means cheaper more plentiful food but opponents argue we do not know the consequences of meddling with nature. Qs
1. The genetic makeup of GM foods has been………
a) twisted.
b) altered.
c) cut.
2. By genetically engineering plants, they ……………
a) are likely to increase in size.
b) can produce more.
c) are unable to exist in difficult conditions.
3. One issue with GM plants is the potential to………
a) breakout causing undetermined consequences.
b) infect wild plants with unknown results.
c) cross pollinate.
4. It is thought, by specialists in biotechnology that policies governing GM crops should be…….
a) tightened.
b) relaxed.
c) reviewed.
5. GM foods ought to be ……….
a) reclaimed for the use of multinational companies.
b) used safely.
c) no longer privatised.
Farmers have modified their crops for thousands of years by crossing similar species. However, modern GM is controversial. Critics say the modified crops could “escape” and cross with wild plants, with unknown consequences. They also argue that more chemicals are used on some GM fields which may have a negative impact on wildlife. And while no study has found GM food to be harmful to humans, opponents say it is too soon to be sure.
A group of biotechnology experts say it is time to loosen Europe’s draconian regulations on genetically modified crops. In a report released today they argue that genetically modified crops have been used safely for decades, so no longer need to be automatically treated as unsafe. They also say that genetically modified crops should be reclaimed from multinational companies and treated as a public good.
Questions 1-5
Choose the best answer A-C.
1. The genetic makeup of GM foods has been………
a) twisted.
b) altered.
c) cut.
2. By genetically engineering plants, they are……………
a) likely to increase in size.
b) able to produce more.
c) not able to exist in difficult conditions.
3. One issue with GM plants is the potential to………
a) breakout causing undetermined consequences.
b) infect wild plants with unknown results.
c) cross pollinate.
4. It is thought, by specialists in biotechnology that policies governing GM crops should be…….
a) tightened.
b) relaxed.
c) reviewed.
5. GM foods ought to be ……….
a) reclaimed for the use of multinational companies.
b) used safely.
c) no longer privatised.
Answers- b
- b
- c
- b
- c
All reading exercises on ieltsliz.com have been written by myself to help you prepare for your IELTS test.
Liz
- tweak = adjust, modify, regular (the synonyms relate to the context)
- cross with = reproduce with, cross pollinate
- meddling with = interfering with
- loosened = relaxed
- regulations = rules / policies
- experts = specialists
- released = made public / issued / announced
- draconian = strict / tough / harsh
Passage from: BBC News and New Scientist 14/03/14
It is also possible to get this topic for writing task 2 or speaking part 3 in your IELTS test. Use this article to learn ideas and useful vocabulary.
Hi Liz,
I did not understand how lossen rules means relaxed…are you sure
You mean am I sure that you can say “relax policies” or “relax rules”. Yes, it is 100% fine to say that in English. I’m a native speaker and a qualified language teacher. This is what IELTS is testing you on – do you know the limitations and contexts that words can be used in.
Other meaning of tweak is ‘Twist’, so why can’t the answer of Q1 be ‘a. twisted.’?
You have completely missed the context. This is about modifying genes. Which word can be used to talk about changing the genetic makeup of food? The word “twist” cannot be used in such context. This is called collocations. Collocations are about which verbs can go with what nouns. IELTS will test your understanding of collocations. We do not twist genes, but we can alter them (tweak them) – it’s called genetic modification.
As you can see from the spelling, the words “twist” and “tweak” are different words. Why do we have two words in English if their use and meaning is 100% the same? We have both words because they are subtly different. There is a difference between them. That is what IELTS is testing. Do you know the subtle difference between synonyms? Just because a word has a similar meaning, does not mean it can be used in the same way in all contexts. Also be aware that many words listed as synonyms do not have 100% the same meaning, they often have similar meanings which means they are not 100% the same. The words “twist” and “tweak” do not have 100% the same meaning at all.
Now is the time for you to start paying more attention to these subtle differences in synonyms. Looks at how and when they are used. Learn collocations. Pay attention when you are reading to collocations to learn them. This is what higher band scores are all about.
Informative passage with technical questions thanks Liz 3/5
Answer for Tweaked, according to both Google and Cambridge is TWISTED. Hope Answer to 1 is wrong.
That word has two meanings. Twisted is only one and it is not an appropriate answer for this question. See the other meaning here: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/tweak
1-a
2-b
3-a
4-c
5-a
Liz, Thank you very much. I am preparing for IELTS at the moment, your help is very useful.
4/5. Is this considered as a difficult level, Liz?
5/5
It’s very helpful, thank you
3/5
Thanks liz I score4/5.Thsnks
I feel the answer for 3 should be “a”. Please help me find the difference.
This sentence shows the answer: “Critics say the modified crops could “escape” and cross with wild plants, with unknown consequences. “. The problem is “crossing with wild plants” and this means cross pollinating. Of course it can have consequences, the issue is the cross pollination.
I don’t think this question/solution is right, “cross pollination” is a type of sexual reproduction, it does not mean that is a cross between a wild plant and a GMO plant. So “cross pollination” could just mean a cross between GMO plants and that is not the problem referred in the text…
*I cannot pass up the opportunity to thank you so much Liz for this website!! 🙂
The text is about the problems with GM foods and GM crops. When the text refers to problems of cross pollination it is about the cross between non-GM plants and GM plants. This is the whole issue. It does not need to be written any clearer because all native speakers will understand the context and the meaning.
Hi liz..
I was wondering where can I possibly send u my writing samples for corrections? do i need to register on something? Thanks.. I really need your help
You can find a teacher to help you on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-essay-correction/
hi liz
I got 5/5. 🙂
GT reading test is easy or Academic reading and why ?
5/5.. yeah
🙂
I got 4/5
I got only 1/5.
i got 4/5. i think it is being deveoped. thank you liz
Hi Liz,
I’m still thinking of Q1, in the text “which have had their genetic make-up tweaked in the lab” so shouldn’t the answer be a)”twisted”
No. To tweak an object manually, such as tweaking a cable, could mean twist. But in this context, which related to GM foods, it is about altering or changing, not twisting. We never talk about twisting genes, but we do talk about altering genes.
very clear explaination …..thanks alot
Dear Liz,
I am struggling with question 1. in the GM food passage, could please explain it more.
Question one: plants which have had their genes tweaked. And question three: cross with wild plants. In these cases, the level of your English is an issue. Don’t forget that this is an English language test and reading, particularly, is testing your understanding of vocabulary.
Dear Liz,
In Question 5, is it grammatically right to say ought to be no longer be privatised.
i mean the repitition of the verb (to be)
or it should be ought to be no longer privatised
Thanks
Thanks Sara, well spotted 🙂
Thanks Sara, well spotted 🙂
Dear Liz,
i am trying very hard to overcome on my weaknesses. my test is on 1st april. but my readings skills are not improving. my average score level is 5 out of ten 🙁
say الحمدلله I can get more than 4 ao 4.5
pls, liz i wounder if you could illustrate to me whether this passages for academic or general, i noticed most of the passage are scientific
https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-liz-news/
Hi Liz.
Please explain the answer to question 5. Where in the passage does it show that the answer is C. Means which words in the passage matches with answer C. Am confused.
Thankyou
https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/
Q5: Says “GM Foods ought/Duty to be”
Passages says “reclaimed from company and treated as a public good”
not reclaimed for the use of company it’s reclaimed from the company.
it’s means regain/recover from private company and move to public good.
So it’s means no longer be privatized
Answer should be C
https://ieltsliz.com/liz-notice-2015-2016/
The 5th Q/A sounds so wrong it just can’t be correct:
“GM foods ought to be no longer be privatised.”
I understand why this is OK when discussing content of the text, but there’s one too many “be”-s so for me the only correct option seemed to be “b” not “c”.
It was a typo. Thanks for spotting it.
Liz
Hello Liz,
Thank you for your great work.
For question 2, By genetically engineering plants, they are _____. Answer B is right one (because there is a statement that says “increase yeild”). But, “they are produce more” doesnt sound gramatically correct. In such cases, should we still go with option B or the one that sounds gramatically correct (they are likely to increase in size)?
Thank you.
Well spotted. It was a typo. I’ve changed it now.
Thanks
Liz
Most of my questions always get wrong because I did not know about the meaning of those difficult words, and in this test also, only 4/5. My third question was wrong because I did not know the meaning of ” pollinating “.