IELTS Reading Practice: Climate Change’s Impact on Food Security

Welcome to our IELTS Reading practice session focused on the critical topic of “Climate change’s impact on food security.” This subject has been increasingly prevalent in IELTS exams, reflecting its growing importance in global discussions. Based on recent trends and the urgency of climate-related issues, we anticipate this theme to remain highly relevant in future IELTS tests.

The Reading section of IELTS requires you to demonstrate your ability to understand complex texts, identify key information, and analyze the author’s perspective. Today, we’ll tackle a challenging passage on how climate change affects global food security, a topic that combines environmental science, agriculture, and socio-economic factors.

Let’s dive into a practice exercise that mirrors the format and difficulty level you might encounter in the actual IELTS exam.

Practice Exercise

Reading Passage

Climate Change and Global Food Security: A Growing Crisis

Climate change is reshaping the global landscape of food production and distribution, posing unprecedented challenges to food security worldwide. As temperatures rise and weather patterns become increasingly erratic, the intricate balance of our food systems is under threat. This complex issue intertwines environmental, social, and economic factors, demanding urgent attention and innovative solutions.

One of the most direct impacts of climate change on food security is the alteration of crop yields. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns affect plant growth cycles, potentially reducing harvests in many regions. For instance, staple crops like wheat, rice, and maize are particularly vulnerable to heat stress and water scarcity. A study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that for every degree Celsius increase in global mean temperature, grain yields could decrease by 6%.

Moreover, extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, pose significant risks to agriculture. Droughts, floods, and storms can devastate crops and livestock, leading to acute food shortages and price spikes. The 2011 drought in East Africa, for example, resulted in widespread crop failures and famine, affecting millions of people.

Climate change also influences the distribution and intensity of pests and diseases that affect crops and livestock. Warmer temperatures can expand the range of certain pests, introducing them to areas where local species have no natural defenses. This phenomenon not only threatens food production but also biodiversity, as native species struggle to adapt to new competitors and predators.

The ocean, a vital source of food for billions, is not immune to climate change effects. Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification are altering marine ecosystems, affecting fish populations and their distribution. This shift has significant implications for coastal communities reliant on fishing for both food and livelihood.

Water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, presents another critical challenge to food security. Agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater use, and as water resources become strained due to changing precipitation patterns and increased evaporation, conflicts between agricultural, industrial, and domestic water use are likely to intensify.

The impacts of climate change on food security are not distributed evenly across the globe. Developing countries, particularly those in tropical and subtropical regions, are disproportionately affected. These nations often lack the resources and infrastructure to adapt to changing conditions, making their populations more vulnerable to food insecurity.

Addressing the nexus of climate change and food security requires a multifaceted approach. Adaptation strategies, such as developing drought-resistant crop varieties, improving water management techniques, and diversifying food production systems, are crucial. Equally important are mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the pace of climate change.

International cooperation plays a vital role in tackling this global challenge. Initiatives like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for collective action, emphasizing the need to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change.

As we confront the realities of a changing climate, ensuring global food security becomes not just an environmental or agricultural issue, but a fundamental human rights concern. The ability to feed the world’s growing population in a sustainable manner will be one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, requiring innovative solutions, policy changes, and a reimagining of our relationship with food and the planet.

Climate change impact on food security

Questions

True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? 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 in the passage

1. Climate change affects food production and distribution globally.
2. All crops are equally affected by rising temperatures.
3. The frequency of extreme weather events is increasing due to climate change.
4. Ocean acidification has no effect on marine food sources.
5. Developing countries are better equipped to handle climate change impacts on food security.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

6. According to the IPCC study mentioned, for each degree Celsius increase in global mean temperature:
   A) Grain yields decrease by 16%
   B) Grain yields increase by 6%
   C) Grain yields decrease by 6%
   D) There is no change in grain yields

7. The 2011 drought in East Africa resulted in:
   A) Increased crop production
   B) Widespread crop failures and famine
   C) Improved water management techniques
   D) Expansion of agricultural land

8. Climate change affects pests and diseases by:
   A) Reducing their overall numbers
   B) Limiting their geographical range
   C) Potentially expanding their range
   D) Having no significant impact

Matching Headings

Match the following headings to the correct paragraphs in the passage. Write the correct number i-viii next to questions 9-13.

i. The uneven global impact of climate change on food security
ii. Climate change effects on marine food sources
iii. The role of international cooperation in addressing food security
iv. Impact of climate change on crop yields
v. Water scarcity as a threat to food production
vi. Extreme weather events and their consequences
vii. Climate change influence on pests and diseases
viii. Adaptation and mitigation strategies for food security

9. Paragraph 2 ___
10. Paragraph 3 ___
11. Paragraph 4 ___
12. Paragraph 5 ___
13. Paragraph 6 ___

Answer Key

1. TRUE – The first sentence states that climate change is reshaping global food production and distribution.
2. FALSE – The passage mentions that staple crops like wheat, rice, and maize are particularly vulnerable, implying not all crops are equally affected.
3. TRUE – The passage states that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.
4. FALSE – The passage mentions that ocean acidification is altering marine ecosystems, affecting fish populations.
5. FALSE – The passage states that developing countries often lack resources to adapt, making them more vulnerable.
6. C – The passage states that grain yields could decrease by 6% for every degree Celsius increase in global mean temperature.
7. B – The passage mentions that the 2011 drought in East Africa resulted in widespread crop failures and famine.
8. C – The passage states that warmer temperatures can expand the range of certain pests.
9. iv – This paragraph discusses how climate change affects crop yields.
10. vi – This paragraph focuses on extreme weather events and their impact on agriculture.
11. vii – This paragraph discusses how climate change influences the distribution and intensity of pests and diseases.
12. ii – This paragraph talks about climate change effects on oceans and marine food sources.
13. v – This paragraph focuses on water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and its impact on agriculture.

Common Mistakes

When tackling a complex passage like this, students often make the following mistakes:

1. Overlooking precise details: In questions like the IPCC study result, students might misremember the exact percentage or confuse increase with decrease.

2. Generalizing statements: The passage often makes specific claims about particular aspects of climate change and food security. Avoid extending these to all situations unless explicitly stated.

3. Confusing Not Given with False: If the passage doesn’t provide information to support or contradict a statement, it’s Not Given, not False.

4. Misinterpreting cause and effect: Be careful to understand the relationships between climate change and its various impacts on food security as presented in the passage.

5. Failing to match paragraph headings accurately: Ensure you understand the main idea of each paragraph before matching it with a heading.

Vocabulary

Here are some challenging words from the passage, along with their definitions:

1. Erratic (adjective) – /ɪˈrætɪk/ – Unpredictable; inconsistent
2. Intricate (adjective) – /ˈɪntrɪkət/ – Very complicated or detailed
3. Vulnerable (adjective) – /ˈvʌlnərəbəl/ – Susceptible to physical or emotional harm
4. Acute (adjective) – /əˈkjuːt/ – Severe or intense
5. Exacerbate (verb) – /ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt/ – Make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse

Grammar Focus

Pay attention to the use of conditional sentences in the passage. For example:

“For every degree Celsius increase in global mean temperature, grain yields could decrease by 6%.”

This is an example of a first conditional sentence, used to express a real possibility in the future. The structure is:

If/When + present simple, … will/can/could + infinitive

Practice forming similar sentences related to climate change and food security to improve your grammar and topic-specific language skills.

Tips for Success

1. Time management is crucial. Spend about 20 minutes on this passage and its questions in a full IELTS Reading test.

2. Skim the passage quickly first to get a general idea, then read more carefully when answering specific questions.

3. For True/False/Not Given questions, be sure to base your answers solely on the information provided in the passage.

4. In Multiple Choice questions, eliminate obviously incorrect options to increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.

5. For Matching Headings, focus on the main idea of each paragraph rather than specific details.

6. Practice regularly with diverse topics related to climate change and environmental issues, as these are increasingly common in IELTS exams.

Remember, success in IELTS Reading comes from a combination of strong vocabulary, good time management, and regular practice. Keep working on these skills, and you’ll see improvement in your performance.

For more practice on related topics, check out our articles on climate change’s influence on weather extremes and the effects of climate change on global freshwater supplies. These will help broaden your understanding and vocabulary on climate-related issues, which are crucial for success in the IELTS exam.