An Introduction to British Agriculture - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 02 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–31 One Choice
Circle the correct letter A - D.
Questions 32–33 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer.
Three factors contributing to the efficiency of the agricultural sector are...
- 50 - 60 years of intelligent state support
- the quality of 32 among those employed
- the farmers' investment in 33
Questions 34–39 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Region | Land | Climate | Farm type | Produce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | hilly with thin soil | 34 | small, family-run | 35 |
| East | flat with
36 |
mixed | commercial | cereals and
37 |
| West | rich soil | 38 | average size
39 hectares |
milk, cheese and meat |
Questions 40–40 One Choice
Circle the correct letter A - C.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | A | By the middle of the next century, in 1850 that is, it had fallen sharply to 10%, and then to 3% by the middle of the twentieth century | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that by the middle of the twentieth century (the mid-1900s), the percentage of workers in agriculture had fallen to 3%. Answer Explanation: The answer is 3%. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 3% because the lecturer explains how the percentage of farm workers in the UK has changed over time. The speaker specifically mentions that by the middle of the twentieth century (which means the mid-1900s), the number of people working in agriculture had dropped to 3%. The other numbers like 10% or 50% refer to different years in history. |
| Q32 | training | Then the two other factors I should mention, both very important, are the high level of training amongst the agricultural workforce | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that one of the very important reasons for the farming industry's success is that the workers have a high level of training. Answer Explanation: The answer 'training' refers to the process of learning the specific skills and knowledge needed for a job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'training' because the lecturer identifies three key factors that make British agriculture efficient. After mentioning state support, he explicitly points to the 'high level of training' found in the workforce (the people employed in the sector) as a major reason why their work is so productive despite there being few workers. He also mentions the use of technology as a third factor. |
| Q33 | technology | And secondly, the recognition by farmers of the value of investing in technology | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that farmers understand that spending money on modern equipment and methods is very valuable for their business. Answer Explanation: The answer "technology" refers to the modern machines, tools, and advanced methods used to make farming more productive. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the lecturer's explanation of how the UK's agricultural sector achieves such high efficiency. He identifies three main factors: state support for planning, high-quality training for workers, and the importance of farmers investing in new technology. This matches the third point in the notes regarding what farmers invest in. |
| Q34 | cool and wet / cool wet / cool,wet | The climate up here, and you've already had evidence of this, is generally cool and wet | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the typical weather conditions in the northern part of the country are mostly cool (not hot) and wet (having lots of rain). Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the weather in the North region as being slightly cold and rainy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'cool (and) wet' because the lecturer specifically describes the climate of the North region using these two words. In the transcript, after mentioning that the land is hilly and the soil is thin, the lecturer explains that the weather (climate) in that area is 'cool and wet'. |
| Q35 | wool and timber / wool timber / wool,timber | As you will see next week, the typical farm here in the North is a small, family-run concern, producing mainly wool and timber for the market | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that a normal farm in the North area is small, managed by one family, and its primary products are wool and wood (timber) for selling. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies wool and timber as the two main products created by farmers in the North of the country. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section of the lecture discussing the North region. The lecturer describes the North's geography and then explains that the typical small, family farms there produce mainly wool and timber for sale in the market. Keywords to notice are 'producing' and 'for the market'. |
| Q36 | fertile soils / fertile soil | If we contrast that with the Eastern region, over here (indicating on map), the east is flatter and more low-lying, with fertile soils and a mixed climate | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript describes the East as a flat area with very good ground for farming and various kinds of weather. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the land in the Eastern region is very good for growing plants and farming. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the lecturer's description of the East. When talking about the land in that region, he mentions that it is flat and has 'fertile soils', which means the earth is full of nutrients for crops. |
| Q37 | high quality vegetables / vegetables | However, increasingly significant areas are now also given over to high quality vegetables for supply direct to the supermarkets | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that many large areas of land in the East are now used for growing high-quality vegetables to be sold in stores. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies high-quality vegetables as one of the main items grown or produced in the Eastern region of the UK. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section of the lecture describing the East region. The lecturer states that while cereals are the primary crop, there is a growing trend of using land to produce high-quality vegetables for supermarkets. Keywords to notice include 'crops', 'cereal-producing', and 'vegetables'. |
| Q38 | warm and wet / warm wet / warm,wet | The climate is warmer than in the north and much wetter than in the east | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that compared to other areas, the West has a climate that is higher in temperature and has much more water falling from the sky (rain). Answer Explanation: The answer means the weather in the West region of the country is not very cold and has a lot of rain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the lecturer describes the climate in the West by comparing it to other regions, specifically noting that it has higher temperatures (warmer) and more rainfall (wetter) than the North and East. These words summarize the typical weather conditions found there. |
| Q39 | 800 / eight hundred | The resulting rich soils in the west provide excellent pasture, and the farms there are quite large, typically around 800 hectares | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that in the west part of the country, the land is good for grass, and the farms are big, usually measuring about 800 hectares. Answer Explanation: The answer is the number 800 (or the words 'eight hundred'). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 800 because the lecturer specifically mentions this number when describing the size of farms in the West region. He explains that the west has rich soil and large farms, and then he gives the typical size in hectares. In this context, 'typically around 800 hectares' indicates the average size requested in the table. |
| Q40 | B | And a third factor making for solidarity is the national structure of the Farmers' Union, of which virtually all farmers are members | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the shared organization called the Farmers' Union is a key reason why farmers feel like they are one group, especially because nearly every farmer is a member of it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that farmers feel united because they belong to a large national organization called a Union. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the lecturer lists three main reasons why farmers in the UK feel a sense of 'solidarity,' which means unity or being part of a team. One of these major reasons is the 'national structure of the Farmers' Union.' The lecturer points out that 'virtually all' (meaning almost every single) farmer belongs to this union, which keeps them connected across different regions. |
Transcript
LECTURER:
I hope that this first session, which I've called An Introduction to British Agriculture, will provide a helpful background to the farm visits you'll be doing next week.
I think I should start by emphasising that agriculture still accounts for a very important part of this country's economy. We are used to hearing the UK's society and economy described as being 'industrial' or even 'post-industrial', but we mustn't let this blind us to the fact that agriculture and its supporting industries still account for around 20% of our Gross National Product.
This figure is especially impressive, I think, when you bear in mind how very small a percentage of the UK workforce is employed in agriculture. This is not a recent development—you would have to go back to 1750 or so to find a majority of the workforce in this country working in agriculture. By the middle of the next century, in 1850 that is, it had fallen sharply to 10%, and then to 3% by the middle of the twentieth century.
And now just 2% of the workforce contribute 20% of GNP. How is this efficiency achieved? Well, my own view is that it owes a great deal to a history, over the last 50 or 60 years, of intelligent support by the state, mainly taking the form of helping farmers to plan ahead. Then the two other factors I should mention, both very important, are the high level of training amongst the agricultural workforce. And secondly, the recognition by farmers of the value of investing in technology.
Now, although the UK is a fairly small country, the geology and climate vary a good deal from region to region. For our purposes today we can divide the country broadly into three—I've marked them on the map here (indicates map).
The region you'll get to know best, of course, is the north, where we are at present. The land here is generally hilly, and the soils thin. The climate up here, and you've already had evidence of this, is generally cool and wet. As you will see next week, the typical farm here in the North is a small, family-run concern, producing mainly wool and timber for the market.
If we contrast that with the Eastern region, over here (indicating on map), the east is flatter and more low-lying, with fertile soils and a mixed climate. Average farm-size is much bigger in the east, and farms are likely to be managed strictly on commercial lines. As for crops, well, the east is the UK's great cereal-producing region. However, increasingly significant areas are now also given over to high quality vegetables for supply direct to the supermarkets.
The third broad region is the west, where it's a different story again. The climate is warmer than in the north and much wetter than in the east. The resulting rich soils in the west provide excellent pasture, and the farms there are quite large, typically around 800 hectares. The main products are milk, cheese and meat.
So, clearly, there are marked differences between regions, But this does not prevent quite a strong sense of solidarity amongst the farming community as a whole, right across the country. This solidarity comes in part from the need to present a united front in dealing with other powerful interest-groups, such as government or the media. It also owes something to the close co-operation between all the agricultural training colleges, through which the great majority of farmers pass at the beginning of their careers. And a third factor making for solidarity is the national structure of the Farmers' Union, of which virtually all farmers are members.
Finally in this short talk, I would like to say a little about the challenges facing farmers in the next...