Cambridge IELTS 14 · General Training · Test 3 · Section 3
Research On Improving Agricultural Yields In Africa — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Research On Improving Agricultural Yields In Africa, Cambridge IELTS 14 General Training Reading Test 3 Section 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Research On Improving Agricultural Yields In Africa answer key at a glance
Questions 28–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with One Choice (Q28–32), Matching Features (Q33–36), Summary Completion (Q37–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 28–32: One Choice
Strategy: Read the question stem and predict the answer before looking at the options. Wrong options often repeat passage words while the correct one paraphrases them.
What is the main problem faced by cattle farmers in Ethiopia, according to Professor Wood?
- ATB is being transmitted from people to cattle.
- BNew breeds of cattle have led to an increase in TB.correct
- CThe traditional breeds of cattle are being affected by TB.
- DTB has spread into places where it was previously unknown.
“new breeds that are being introduced are more vulnerable to bovine TB (tuberculosis) than the zebu cattle which were previously reared there”
B: 'new breeds that are being introduced are more vulnerable to bovine TB' than the traditional zebu cattle.
When discussing the cultivation of cabbages in Ghana, the writer says that this crop
- Awas introduced from outside Africa.correct
- Bis not eaten much by local people.
- Cis not grown correctly by many farmers.
- Drequires the use of fertiliser and special equipment.
“Cabbages are not indigenous to Africa but have become a major cash crop for Ghanaian farmers”
A: 'Cabbages are not indigenous to Africa', so the crop was introduced from outside the continent.
Fening believed that the new disease destroying cabbages was
- Acaused by overuse of pesticides.
- Balso affecting other locally grown vegetables.
- Clinked to insect attacks on these vegetables.correct
- Dconnected with the development of new insect breeds.
“It seemed to be associated with massive infestations of pink and green aphids”
C: the disease 'seemed to be associated with massive infestations of pink and green aphids', insect attacks.
Fening first suspected that the cabbage disease was caused by a virus because
- Aevidence of viral disease could be seen on the cabbage leaves.
- Bpink and green aphids did not commonly attack cabbages.
- Cviral diseases affecting vegetables had occurred elsewhere in Africa.
- Daphids would not have caused so much damage to the crops.correct
“But farmers were typically seeing the total loss of their crops, and he realised that the devastation couldn't just be caused by sap-sucking insects”
D: farmers saw 'the total loss of their crops', so Fening 'realised that the devastation couldn't just be caused by sap-sucking insects'.
When doing further research in Cambridge, Fening and Carr discovered that
- Athe virus was unfamiliar to them.correct
- Btwo different viruses were present.
- Cthe aphids’ DNA was more complex than expected.
- Done aphid was more harmful than the other.
“The virus was not what they expected, and work is now ongoing to identify the culprit”
A: 'The virus was not what they expected', so the virus they found was unfamiliar.
Questions 33–36: Matching Features
Strategy: Match the statement to the named person or thing. Names can repeat, so check each option against what that person actually says.
A particular crop may make an important contribution to the local economy in one African country.
“A good crop can bring in money to buy fertilisers and farm equipment, and also help to pay for healthcare and education for the family”
B: a good harvest 'can bring in money to buy fertilisers and farm equipment' and pay for healthcare and education.
Tests will be carried out by local people in the country where the research is focused.
“I now have a fully functional lab and can do DNA extraction and analysis in Ghana - I don't have to bring samples to Cambridge. We are teaching students from five Ghanaian institutions the diagnostic methods”
D: Fening can 'do DNA extraction and analysis in Ghana' and is 'teaching students from five Ghanaian institutions'.
Different specialists must work together to ensure the success of a programme.
“We need this mix because we are not only asking how effective strategies will be, but also whether farmers will accept them, and what the consequences are for prosperity and wellbeing”
A: 'this mix' of specialists is needed to test effectiveness, farmer acceptance and effects on prosperity and wellbeing.
One type of insect attacking plants in Ghana was previously unknown there.
“It turned out this was the first record of the green aphid species ever being seen in Ghana”
B: 'this was the first record of the green aphid species ever being seen in Ghana', so it was previously unknown there.
Questions 37–40: Summary Completion
Strategy: Read the summary as a paragraph first to establish the logic, then locate the missing idea in the passage. With a lettered list, confirm the grammar fits.
“The parasite that causes the disease is carried by the tsetse fly, which colonises vast swathes of sub-Saharan Africa”
The disease parasite 'is carried by the tsetse fly', so tsetse fly is the answer.
“the way it evades the immune system of the animal acting as its host by altering the proteins in its coat so as to remain 'invisible'”
The parasite evades 'the immune system of the animal acting as its host', so immune system fits.
“the way it evades the immune system of the animal acting as its host by altering the proteins in its coat so as to remain 'invisible'”
It alters 'the proteins in its coat' to stay invisible, so proteins is the noun.
“So Manful and Carrington set about testing cattle in Ghana. They discovered that nearly all were infected most of the time”
Manful and Carrington 'set about testing cattle in Ghana', so cattle is the answer.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Research On Improving Agricultural Yields In Africa passage come from?
It is Section 3 of Cambridge IELTS 14 General Training Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 28–40.
What question types appear in Research On Improving Agricultural Yields In Africa?
The section is tested with One Choice, Matching Features, Summary 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.