Cambridge IELTS 17 · Academic · Test 3 · Passage 2
Palm Oil — IELTS Reading Answers
All 12 answers for Palm Oil, Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 2, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Palm Oil answer key at a glance
Questions 14–26. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Matching Information (Q14–20), Two Choices (Q21–22), Sentence Completion (Q23–26). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 14–20: Matching Information
Strategy: Scan for the idea, not the exact words. The answer is a paragraph letter, and one paragraph may be used more than once unless the instructions say otherwise.
examples of a range of potential environmental advantages of oil palm tree cultivation
“Oil palm plantations produce at least four and potentially up to ten times more oil per hectare than soybean, rapeseed, sunflower or other competing oils. That immensely high yield – which is predominantly what makes it so profitable – is potentially also an ecological benefit.”
Paragraph F notes that palm yields 'at least four and potentially up to ten times more oil per hectare' than rival oils, a potential ecological benefit.
description of an organisation which controls the environmental impact of palm oil production
“The RSPO insists upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency and regular assessment of carbon stocks, among other criteria. Only once these requirements are fully satisfied is the oil allowed to be sold as certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO).”
Paragraph G describes the RSPO, which 'insists upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency and regular assessment of carbon stocks' among its criteria.
examples of the widespread global use of palm oil
“Palm oil is an edible oil derived from the fruit of the African oil palm tree, and is currently the most consumed vegetable oil in the world.”
Paragraph A calls palm oil 'currently the most consumed vegetable oil in the world', which is evidence of its widespread global use.
reference to a particular species which could benefit the ecosystem of oil palm plantations
“Ellwood believes that reintroducing the bird’s nest fern into oil palm plantations could potentially allow these areas to recover their biodiversity, providing a home for all manner of species, from fungi and bacteria, to invertebrates such as insects, amphibians, reptiles and even mammals.”
Paragraph H discusses reintroducing 'the bird's nest fern' to help plantations 'recover their biodiversity', a species benefiting the ecosystem.
figures illustrating the rapid expansion of the palm oil industry
“Between 1990 and 2012, the global land area devoted to growing oil palm trees grew from 6 to 17 million hectares, now accounting for around ten percent of total cropland in the entire world”
Paragraph B gives figures: the land grew 'from 6 to 17 million hectares' between 1990 and 2012, about ten percent of world cropland.
an economic justification for not opposing the palm oil industry
“One response to the boycott movement has been the argument for the vital role palm oil plays in lifting many millions of people in the developing world out of poverty”
Paragraph E cites the argument that palm oil plays a 'vital role ... in lifting many millions of people ... out of poverty', an economic justification.
examples of creatures badly affected by the establishment of oil palm plantations
“Endangered species – most famously the Sumatran orangutan, but also rhinos, elephants, tigers, and numerous other fauna – have suffered from the unstoppable spread of oil palm plantations.”
Paragraph C lists 'the Sumatran orangutan, but also rhinos, elephants, tigers' as species suffering from the plantations' unstoppable spread.
Questions 21–22: Two Choices
Strategy: Both answers must be supported by the passage. Check each option independently; order does not usually matter.
“Over the past decade or so The RSPO insists upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency”
The RSPO criteria include 'no virgin forest clearing' (B) and 'transparency' (C), the two requirements named in the evidence.
Questions 23–26: Sentence Completion
Strategy: Find the stem's keyword in the passage, then complete the sentence with the exact words the grammar requires, within the word limit.
“Why is palm oil so attractive for manufacturers? Primarily because its unique properties – such as remaining solid at room temperature – make it an ideal ingredient for long-term preservation”
The gap needs palm oil's property at room temperature; 'remaining solid at room temperature' supplies 'solid'.
“Endangered species – most famously the Sumatran orangutan, but also rhinos, elephants, tigers, and numerous other fauna – have suffered from the unstoppable spread of oil palm plantations.”
The gap needs the species most famously affected; 'most famously the Sumatran orangutan' gives 'orangutan'.
“The RSPO insists upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency and regular assessment of carbon stocks, among other criteria.”
The gap needs what the RSPO assesses regularly; 'regular assessment of carbon stocks' supplies the phrase 'carbon stocks'.
“Ellwood believes that reintroducing the bird’s nest fern into oil palm plantations could potentially allow these areas to recover their biodiversity”
The gap needs what plantations could recover; reintroducing the fern could 'recover their biodiversity', so 'biodiversity'.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Palm Oil passage come from?
It is Passage 2 of Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 14–26.
What question types appear in Palm Oil?
The passage is tested with Matching Information, Two Choices, Sentence Completion. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.