Rice Cultivation and Production in Asia - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert On Cambridge IELTS 07 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–24 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 25–30 Matching
Which country do the following statements apply to?
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
A. Japan
B. China
C. Thailand
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | B | For instance, one will survive floods, while another will grow in relatively dry conditions | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that while one type of rice can stay alive in deep water or floods, another type can grow when there is much less water around. Answer Explanation: The answer means that certain varieties of rice can grow with less water compared to other varieties. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Daisy mentions that different varieties of rice have different qualities. To give an example, she explains that one variety can live through floods (lots of water), while another can grow in "relatively dry conditions" (meaning it requires less water). In contrast, option A is incorrect because rice was originally a wild plant rather than currently grown as wild rice everywhere, and option C is incorrect because only a specific variety has a lovely aroma ("smell"), not all of them. |
| Q22 | C | And as most rice-growing countries suffer from unpredictable weather, including drought - water management really is the key | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that rice-growing countries face unpredictable weather like droughts, making the proper management of water the most critical factor. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the most important task for rice farmers is controlling and using their water supply well. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Erik explicitly highlights that handling water is the most essential thing for rice farmers. In the conversation, he explains that weather is unpredictable and droughts happen, so "water management really is the key." The phrase "is the key" matches the idea of "a priority" in the question, and "water management" means being able to "manage water resources." |
| Q23 | A | and they're all co-ordinated by a group in the Philippines called the International Rice Research Institute | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states directly that the International Rice Research Institute is based in the Philippines. Answer Explanation: The answer 'A' means that the International Rice Research Institute is located in the Philippines. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Daisy clearly explains that while many Asian countries have their own national research institutes, these are all coordinated by an organization in the Philippines called the International Rice Research Institute. |
| Q24 | B | Bangladesh, for instance, has been successfully using different rice varieties and fertilizers for 30 years. But because it's such a flat, delta country, it's very difficult for the water to drain away after the monsoon season, so they need to find special rice crops that can survive the floods | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that water stays on the land for a long time after heavy rains in Bangladesh, so people there must look for rice plants that can stay alive during floods. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means that researchers in Bangladesh are trying to discover a type of rice that does not die in deep water or floods. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Daisy explains the challenges in Bangladesh. She mentions that Bangladesh is a flat delta country where flood water cannot easily drain away after the monsoon season. Because of this, "they need to find special rice crops that can survive the floods." In this context, "special rice crops that can survive the floods" directly matches "a strain of rice resistant to flooding." |
| Q25 | B | China is the world's biggest rice producing country | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states directly that China produces more rice than any other country in the world. Answer Explanation: The answer B refers to China. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Erik clearly states that China is the world's biggest rice-producing nation. In this context, the phrase 'biggest rice producing country' directly corresponds to the statement that they 'grow the most rice in the world'. |
| Q26 | C | You know, even though Thailand only has about 64 million people, it is the world's number one exporter of rice | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Thailand is ranked number one in the whole world for sending and selling rice to other nations. Answer Explanation: The answer C means Thailand is the country that sells the largest amount of rice to other countries. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Daisy explains that Thailand is the "world's number one exporter of rice". In English, "world's number one exporter" has the same meaning as exporting the most rice in the world. Although China produces the most rice, Thailand exports the most. |
| Q27 | B | Going back to China for a minute, we should mention that at the rice research institute in Hangzhou they are working on ways of improving rice yields, using less water. Tutor: By yields you mean the amount they can grow? Erik: Yes. They're trying to find ways to get more rice from less land, improve the taste, but also have other things in it besides carbohydrates so that it's healthier - better for you |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that scientists in China are working to grow more rice, make it taste better, and add healthy elements to it so that it is better for human health. Answer Explanation: The answer B means China. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Erik explains that researchers in China (specifically at an institute in Hangzhou) are working to add other nutrients beyond carbohydrates so that the rice becomes "healthier - better for you." Making food healthier by adding beneficial nutrients directly means aiming to "increase the nutritional value." |
| Q28 | A | Erik: And then you've got Japan, which is totally self-sufficient when it comes to rice. This is basically because they have a high tariff on imported rice, so everyone buys the home-grown product. And they don't export much. Daisy: Yes, but you know, even though rice is a kind of sacred crop there, consumption is only half what it was in the 1960s | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Erik talking about Japan, and Daisy explaining that people in Japan now eat only half as much rice as people did back in the 1960s. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Japan (letter A) is the country where people eat less rice today than they used to in the past. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Daisy states that in Japan, rice "consumption is only half what it was in the 1960s." Here, the keyword "consumption" means eating, and "the 1960s" refers to the past. Since the amount eaten has dropped by half, less rice is eaten now. Daisy also explicitly notes that this drop is not seen in Thailand or China. |
| Q29 | C | Tutor: Interesting that you mentioned how rice is almost sacred in Japan. Because I believe in Thailand it also plays an important cultural role. Daisy: Absolutely! They have the 'royal ploughing ceremony' every year, which the King always attends and he actually scatters a new stock of seed to the farmers, who pour into Bangkok for the event | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Thailand holds a special rice-related ceremony called the 'royal ploughing ceremony' every year, attended by the King and farmers. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that Thailand is the country where a rice festival happens once every year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speakers discuss how rice plays a cultural role in Thailand. Daisy explains that Thailand holds the 'royal ploughing ceremony every year', where the King scatters seeds to farmers. The words 'every year' mean 'annual', and 'royal ploughing ceremony' matches the 'rice festival'. Therefore, this statement refers to Thailand. |
| Q30 | A | And the Japanese are getting quite a taste for it, apparently. There's an experimental farm near the city of Akita in the Japanese rice belt - famous for its Sake, by the way - which has pioneered organic rice production, and now it's sold all across the country | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that people in Japan enjoy organic rice, and this special rice is produced and sold everywhere in their own country. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means Japan is the country where a new kind of rice is liked and eaten by people inside that country. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Erik explains that people in Japan are starting to like organically grown rice ("getting quite a taste for it"). An experimental farm developed this organic rice, and now it is sold throughout the entire nation ("all across the country"). In contrast, the popular jasmine rice from Thailand is mainly sold to other countries ("for the export market"). Therefore, Japan is the country where this new type of rice is popular locally. |
Transcript
Tutor: Good morning, everyone. So... following on from our tutorial on European agriculture last week, Daisy and Erik are going to talk about the most commonly grown crop in Asia, which is, of course, rice. Erik, can you tell us what you've been working on?
Erik: Yes, sure... We've been looking at the role of rice in a number of countries, how it's grown, ways of increasing production. As I'm sure you know, rice is the staple diet throughout Asia and, in fact, 90 per cent of the world's rice is grown and eaten there. Daisy's got some background on that.
Daisy: Um ... well, rice was originally a wild plant which started out in the tropical regions of Asia, but there are literally hundreds of varieties today and each with different qualities. For instance, one will survive floods, while another will grow in relatively dry conditions. A third has a really lovely smell. But wherever it grows, rice needs a lot of water.
Tutor: What do you mean by 'a lot'?
Erik: Well, it takes about 5,000 litres to get a kilogram of rice. This can be supplied either naturally or by irrigation. And as most rice-growing countries suffer from unpredictable weather, including drought - water management really is the key.
Daisy: Research has become so important now that each rice-growing country in Asia has its own research institute, whether we're talking about Japan, China or Bangladesh... and they're all co-ordinated by a group in the Philippines called the International Rice Research Institute.
Tutor: Interesting.
Daisy: Bangladesh, for instance, has been successfully using different rice varieties and fertilizers for 30 years. But because it's such a flat, delta country, it's very difficult for the water to drain away after the monsoon season, so they need to find special rice crops that can survive the floods. And with global warming, the situation is more urgent than ever.
Erik: Now I'd like to move on to our comparative study. As you can imagine, China is the world's biggest rice producing country. Collectively the Chinese people probably eat more than three billion bowls of rice every day!
Tutor: Quite a statistic!
Erik: And of course, rice plays an important cultural role too.
Daisy: We then compared China to Thailand. You know, even though Thailand only has about 64 million people, it is the world's number one exporter of rice. Not China as you might imagine.
Tutor: Is that so?
Erik: Yes. They send their rice everywhere... in particular to Europe, as well as Africa and the Middle East. Apparently the fact that 'jasmine rice' is growing in popularity is one reason why Thailand's rice export industry is doing so well. People want something a bit different.
Daisy: And, of course, Thailand is well suited to rice growing - good climatic conditions, and lots of fresh water.
Erik: Going back to China for a minute, we should mention that at the rice research institute in Hangzhou they are working on ways of improving rice yields, using less water.
Tutor: By yields you mean... the amount they can grow?
Erik: Yes. They're trying to find ways to get more rice from less land, improve the taste, but also have other things in it besides carbohydrates so that it's healthier - better for you.
Tutor: Good idea, considering it's the staple food.
Erik: And then you've got Japan, which is totally self-sufficient when it comes to rice. This is basically because they have a high tariff on imported rice, so everyone buys the home-grown product. And they don't export much.
Daisy: Yes, but you know, even though rice is a kind of sacred crop there, consumption is only half what it was in the 1960s. This trend isn't evident in Thailand or China.
Tutor: Interesting that you mentioned how rice is almost sacred in Japan. Because I believe in Thailand it also plays an important cultural role.
Daisy: Absolutely! They have the 'royal ploughing ceremony' every year, which the King always attends and he actually scatters a new stock of seed to the farmers, who pour into Bangkok for the event.
Tutor: What about the global interest in organic farming? Is there such a thing as organically grown rice?
Erik: Yes, indeed. And the Japanese are getting quite a taste for it, apparently. There's an experimental farm near the city of Akita in the Japanese rice belt - famous for its Sake, by the way - which has pioneered organic rice production, and now it's sold all across the country. It's a bit like the recent popularity of jasmine rice in Thailand, but that's for the export market, of course.
Tutor: Interesting how attitudes change, isn't it?