Question

Read the following passage carefully:

Organic food is very popular these days. It can also be very expensive. Some organic food costs twice as much as non-organic food. Parents of young children and even some pet owners, will pay high prices for organic food if they think it is healthier. But many others think organic food is just a waste of money. There is one main difference between organic and non-organic food. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals such as pesticides that stop insects from damaging crops. In many countries, foods that claim to be organic must have special labels that guarantee they're grown organically. Some people think organic also means ‘locally grown’ and originally it was indeed true. But over a period of time organic farming has become a big business, with many organic foods now being grown by large agricultural companies that sell their products far from where they’re grown. Processed food made with organic ingredients has also become more popular. At first, only small companies produced these products. But as demand overtook supply, big food companies that had been selling non-organic products for many years also began selling organic products. Is organic food safer and more nutritious? This is an important part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers believe it is safer and more nutritious. They think agricultural chemicals can cause serious illnesses such as cancer, but there isn’t much evidence proving this is true. However, recent studies have shown that eating organically-grown produce reduces your chances of developing heart diseases. Many doctors think it is more important to stop dangerous bacteria from contaminating foods. These bacteria can contaminate both organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables, and doctors recommend washing produce carefully before eating it. Meat, fish and chicken can also become contaminated so washing your hands before handling these foods is also very important.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below:      [10]

1. People are willing to pay high prices for organic food because ______.
   1. it is not easily available.
   2. it helps in weight loss.
   3. it is produced by small companies.
   4. it does not contain agricultural chemicals.
2. Select the option that displays what the writer projects with reference to the following:
   Is organic food safer and more nutritious? This is an important part of the debate.
   1. denial 
   2. confirmation
   3. caution 
   4. acceptance
3. Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 3.
   

   Opinion	Reason
   Big food companies have started selling organic food products.

4. The writer contrasts organic food to non-organic food.
   State one point of comparison between the two.
5. Based on your reading of the text, list one benefit of eating organic food.
6. What connect does the writer draw between contamination of food and washing hands?
7. The writer says that people believe that it is safer and more nutritious to eat organic food. Select the reason for his sceptical view.
   1. the price decides the popularity
   2. there is no confirmed evidence
   3. it is tastier
   4. it is marketed by big food companies
8. Supply one point to justify the following:
   Some people think organic also means ‘locally grown'.
9. Supply one method of how we can control the contamination of organic and non-organic food.
10. List one factor that certifies food to be organic.

Answer 1

1. People are willing to pay high prices for organic food because it does not contain agricultural chemicals.
2. Caution
3. 
   

   Opinion	Reason
   Big food companies have started selling organic food products.	As demand overtook supply.

4. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, whereas non-organic farms use them to protect crops from insects.
5. Eating organically grown produce reduces the chances of developing heart diseases.
6. The writer states that both organic and non-organic food can get contaminated with dangerous bacteria, so washing produce carefully and maintaining hand hygiene before handling food is very important.
7. There is no confirmed evidence.
8. Originally, organic farming was done on a small scale and was locally grown before it became a large industry.
9. Washing fruits, vegetables, and hands properly before consuming or handling food can help control contamination.
10. Special labels that guarantee the food has been grown organically.