The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the test, assessing your ability to comprehend complex texts and extract relevant information. Today, we’ll focus on a topic that has gained significant attention in recent years: reducing food waste in households. This subject has appeared in various forms in past IELTS exams and, given its current relevance, is likely to resurface in future tests.

Household Food Waste

Practice Reading Passage: Reducing Household Food Waste

Text

Food waste is a global issue with far-reaching environmental, economic, and social implications. In developed countries, a significant portion of food waste occurs at the household level. Understanding the causes of this waste and implementing effective strategies to reduce it can contribute to a more sustainable future.

One of the primary reasons for household food waste is overbuying. Many consumers purchase more food than they can consume before it spoils, often due to poor planning or succumbing to promotional offers. To address this, meal planning and creating shopping lists based on specific recipes can help households buy only what they need.

Another contributor to food waste is improper storage. Many people are unaware of the optimal storage conditions for different types of food, leading to premature spoilage. For instance, some fruits emit ethylene gas, which can cause nearby produce to ripen and spoil faster. Educating consumers about proper food storage techniques, such as keeping ethylene-producing fruits separate from ethylene-sensitive produce, can significantly extend the shelf life of perishables.

Confusion over date labels is another significant factor. Terms like “best before,” “use by,” and “sell by” are often misunderstood, leading consumers to discard perfectly edible food. Clarifying these labels and encouraging people to use their senses to determine food quality can prevent unnecessary waste.

Creative cooking with leftovers and less-than-perfect produce can also play a crucial role in reducing food waste. Many fruits and vegetables that are slightly past their prime are still suitable for smoothies, soups, or baked goods. Encouraging culinary creativity can transform potential waste into delicious meals.

Composting is an excellent way to manage unavoidable food waste. By composting fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds, households can turn waste into nutrient-rich soil for gardening. This not only reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills but also provides a valuable resource for home gardeners.

Technology is also playing a role in the fight against food waste. Smartphone apps that help with meal planning, inventory management, and recipe suggestions based on available ingredients are becoming increasingly popular. These tools can assist households in making the most of their food purchases and reducing waste.

Education and awareness campaigns are crucial in changing consumer behavior. Many people are unaware of the scale of the food waste problem and its environmental impact. Providing information about the resources used to produce food and the consequences of food waste can motivate individuals to take action.

Reducing food waste at the household level requires a multifaceted approach, combining better planning, improved storage practices, creative cooking, and increased awareness. By implementing these strategies, households can contribute to a more sustainable food system, reduce their environmental impact, and save money in the process.

Questions

1-5. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

1. According to the passage, which of the following is a major cause of household food waste?
   A) Lack of cooking skills
   B) Overbuying
   C) Insufficient refrigeration
   D) Poor quality of purchased food

2. The text suggests that meal planning can help reduce food waste by:
   A) Improving cooking skills
   B) Reducing the time spent shopping
   C) Helping consumers buy only what they need
   D) Encouraging the purchase of organic food

3. What does the passage say about ethylene gas?
   A) It is harmful to human health
   B) It is produced by some fruits and can cause nearby produce to spoil faster
   C) It helps preserve food for longer periods
   D) It is used in industrial food production

4. The term “best before” on food labels is described in the text as:
   A) A strict expiration date
   B) A term that is often misunderstood by consumers
   C) A legally required label for all food products
   D) An indicator of when food becomes unsafe to eat

5. According to the passage, composting:
   A) Is only suitable for large-scale agricultural operations
   B) Requires special equipment that most households don’t have
   C) Can turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil for gardening
   D) Is not effective in reducing household food waste

6-10. Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

6. To prevent unnecessary waste, consumers are encouraged to use their ___ to determine food quality.

7. ___ with leftovers can help reduce food waste by turning potential waste into meals.

8. Smartphone apps can assist with meal planning, inventory management, and ___ based on available ingredients.

9. Many people are unaware of the ___ of the food waste problem and its environmental impact.

10. Reducing food waste at the household level requires a ___ approach, combining various strategies.

Answer Key

1. B) Overbuying
   Explanation: The passage states, “One of the primary reasons for household food waste is overbuying.”

2. C) Helping consumers buy only what they need
   Explanation: The text mentions, “To address this, meal planning and creating shopping lists based on specific recipes can help households buy only what they need.”

3. B) It is produced by some fruits and can cause nearby produce to spoil faster
   Explanation: The passage states, “For instance, some fruits emit ethylene gas, which can cause nearby produce to ripen and spoil faster.”

4. B) A term that is often misunderstood by consumers
   Explanation: The text says, “Terms like ‘best before,’ ‘use by,’ and ‘sell by’ are often misunderstood, leading consumers to discard perfectly edible food.”

5. C) Can turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil for gardening
   Explanation: The passage mentions, “By composting fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds, households can turn waste into nutrient-rich soil for gardening.”

6. senses
   Explanation: The text states, “encouraging people to use their senses to determine food quality can prevent unnecessary waste.”

7. Creative cooking
   Explanation: The passage mentions, “Creative cooking with leftovers and less-than-perfect produce can also play a crucial role in reducing food waste.”

8. recipe suggestions
   Explanation: The text says, “Smartphone apps that help with meal planning, inventory management, and recipe suggestions based on available ingredients are becoming increasingly popular.”

9. scale
   Explanation: The passage states, “Many people are unaware of the scale of the food waste problem and its environmental impact.”

10. multifaceted
    Explanation: The text concludes, “Reducing food waste at the household level requires a multifaceted approach, combining better planning, improved storage practices, creative cooking, and increased awareness.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Misinterpreting date labels: Don’t automatically discard food based on “best before” dates. Use your judgment and senses to determine if food is still good to eat.

2. Overlooking the importance of proper storage: Pay attention to how different foods should be stored to maximize their shelf life.

3. Ignoring leftovers: Don’t forget about leftovers in the fridge. Plan to use them in future meals to prevent waste.

4. Failing to plan meals: Lack of meal planning can lead to overbuying and subsequent waste.

5. Overlooking imperfect produce: Remember that slightly blemished fruits and vegetables are often still perfectly edible and can be used in various recipes.

Key Vocabulary

1. Perishables (noun) /ˈperɪʃəbəlz/ – food that is likely to decay or go bad quickly
2. Ethylene (noun) /ˈeθəliːn/ – a gaseous plant hormone that promotes ripening
3. Spoilage (noun) /ˈspɔɪlɪdʒ/ – the process of food becoming unfit for consumption
4. Multifaceted (adjective) /ˌmʌltɪˈfæsɪtɪd/ – having many different aspects or features
5. Composting (verb) /ˈkɒmpɒstɪŋ/ – the process of decomposing organic matter to create fertilizer

Grammar Focus

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

“By composting fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds, households can turn waste into nutrient-rich soil for gardening.”

This is an example of a zero conditional sentence, which is used to express general truths or scientific facts. The structure is:

If/When + present simple, present simple

Practice creating similar sentences related to food waste reduction:

• If households plan their meals, they reduce food waste.
• When people understand food labels better, they throw away less food.

Tips for Success in IELTS Reading

1. Practice time management: Allocate your time wisely between reading the passage and answering questions.

2. Skim and scan effectively: Quickly identify key information without reading every word.

3. Pay attention to transition words: These can help you understand the structure and flow of ideas in the passage.

4. Don’t rely solely on prior knowledge: Base your answers on the information provided in the text.

5. Develop your vocabulary: Regularly learn new words, especially those related to common IELTS topics like environment and sustainability.

By focusing on these strategies and practicing regularly with varied texts, you can improve your performance in the IELTS Reading section. Remember, reducing food waste is not only a potential exam topic but also an important real-world issue. Understanding this subject can benefit both your test performance and your daily life.

For more information on related topics, check out our articles on how to reduce household waste through composting and sustainable living practices. These resources can provide additional context and vocabulary to enhance your understanding of environmental issues often featured in IELTS exams.