Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Agriculture, Farming & Food Security

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de discutir temas complejos relacionados con la producción de alimentos, la sostenibilidad agrícola y los desafíos de la seguridad alimentaria global. Deberás manejar un léxico especializado y estructuras gramaticales avanzadas para expresar procesos, responsabilidades y cambios de estado de manera sofisticada.

Asimismo, habrás consolidado el uso de la voz pasiva avanzada y las estructuras causativas, permitiéndote centrar la atención en las acciones y los resultados en lugar de en los sujetos, una habilidad esencial para el registro académico y profesional del nivel C1.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.

1. They are renovating the old farmhouse this month. BEING The old farmhouse ________ this month.

2. A local farmer grows these organic vegetables. GROWN These organic vegetables ________ by a local farmer.

3. Someone has stolen my tractor from the barn. HAD I ________ from the barn.

4. The government is going to implement new farming regulations next year. IMPLEMENTED New farming regulations ________ next year.

5. The manager made the workers clear the fields before lunch. GOT The manager ________ the fields before lunch.

6. It is believed that the drought caused the crop failure. THOUGHT The crop failure ________ by the drought.

7. We need to have the irrigation system repaired immediately. HAVING We need ________ immediately.

8. They are going to demolish the old silo tomorrow. DEMOLISHED The old silo ________ tomorrow.

9. The chef persuaded her assistant to prepare the harvest report. GOT The chef ________ the harvest report.

10. People say that the soil is becoming increasingly depleted. SAID The soil ________ increasingly depleted.

Vocabulary activation

A. Collocations: Complete the sentences with the correct word (e.g., yield, shortage, scarcity, sustainable, intensive).

1. To prevent a global food ____, we must improve distribution networks.
2. The farmer decided to switch to ____ farming methods to protect the land.
3. Despite the heavy rain, the crop ____ was higher than expected this year.
4. Intensive ____ farming can lead to soil degradation over time.
5. Water ____ is a major concern in arid agricultural regions.

B. Word Formation: Complete the sentences using the correct form of the word in brackets.

6. The ____ of the new irrigation technique was immediate. (INTRODUCE)
7. Many small-scale farmers face severe ____ due to climate change. (VULNERABLE)
8. The government provided ____ to farmers affected by the blight. (SUBSIDY)

C. Register Choice: Choose the most appropriate C1-level term to replace the underlined word.

9. The sudden rise in food prices caused widespread unrest. (Use: surge / uptick / jump)
10. The bad quality of the soil prevented successful planting. (Use: poor / inferior / defective)
11. We must ensure the enough supply of grain for the winter. (Use: sufficient / ample / plenty)
12. The use of pesticides is strictly regulated in this region. (Use: application / employment / utilization)

Integrated skills task

Reading Text

The global food system is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. As the world population continues to climb, the pressure on arable land has reached a breaking point. Traditional farming methods, while historically reliable, are often unable to meet the sheer scale of modern demand without causing significant environmental damage. This has led to a growing debate between intensive industrial agriculture and regenerative farming.

While industrial farming offers high yields and efficiency, it often results in soil depletion and loss of biodiversity. Conversely, regenerative practices aim to restore soil health and capture carbon, but they often require more land and labour. The challenge lies in achieving food security for billions without compromising the ability of future generations to feed themselves. To solve this, we must look towards technological innovation, such as precision agriculture, alongside a fundamental shift in how we value natural resources.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de entre 180 y 220 palabras. Debes evaluar si la innovación tecnológica es suficiente para resolver la crisis alimentaria o si es necesario un cambio radical en nuestros hábitos de consumo y métodos de producción. Utiliza el vocabulario de la unidad y estructuras de voz pasiva para mantener un tono formal.

Speaking checkpoint

1. Compare: Compare the advantages and disadvantages of industrial farming versus small-scale organic farming.
2. Speculate: How might the global food supply change in the next fifty years if current climate trends continue?
3. Evaluate: To what extent should governments subsidise sustainable farming practices?
4. Justify: Some argue that food security is a human right. Justify why this might be difficult to achieve in practice.
5. Speculate: If lab-grown meat becomes widely available, how might this affect traditional agricultural communities?
6. Evaluate: Evaluate the impact of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) on global food security. Are the benefits worth the risks?

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. is being renovated 2. are grown 3. had my tractor stolen 4. will be implemented / are going to be implemented 5. got the workers to clear 6. is thought to have been caused 7. having the irrigation system repaired 8. is going to be demolished 9. got her assistant to prepare 10. is said to be becoming

Vocabulary activation 1. shortage 2. sustainable 3. yield 4. intensive 5. scarcity 6. introduction 7. vulnerability 8. subsidies 9. surge 10. poor 11. sufficient (or ample) 12. application