Tomato Ripening- IELTS Reading Answers
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Contents
Reading Passage
The Academic passage ‘Tomato Ripening’ is a reading passage with various question types, each of which are asked in the IELTS Reading exam. Try to find the answers to get an idea of the difficulty level of the passages in the actual reading test. If you want more passages to solve, try taking one of our IELTS reading practice tests.
Tomato Ripening
Questions 1– 3:
Complete the table in the box below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Requirements for successful use of the Ethylene Gas System for Tomato Ripening:
1 Tomatoes should be picked when they are _____________.
2 Room temperature must be ______________ °C.
3 Optimal ripening temperature for fruit must be achieved ___________.
Questions 4– 7:
Complete the flowchart below using information from the text. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 4– 7on your Answer Sheet.
Tomatoes are harvested => Placed in the ripening room to regulate ripening and 4_________ Colouring process => Room air circulation limits temperature 5 ______________variation => Air conditioning controls temperature & humidity => Ideal temperature is reached => Ventilation system controls the amount of 6 _____________Ethylene & 7 _________________Carbon Dioxide => Ethylene gas supplied in pressurised form => Tomatoes are ripened & removed => Tomatoes are marketed.
Questions 8— 14:
Below is a list of assumptions. Using the information given in the passage, choose:
TRUE if it is a reasonable assumption
FALSE if it is NOT a reasonable assumption
NOT GIVEN if it is not possible to assume the information in the text.
Write your answers in boxes 8– 14on your Answer Sheet.
Example: Ethylene gas systems improve the grower’s chance of selling the tomatoes.
Answer TRUE
8 Carbon dioxide is not beneficial to the ripening process.
9 The outside air temperature determines the amount of extra heating needed in the ripening room.
10 Increased temperature can speed up the maturing process.
11 For successful tomato ripening, humidity levels need to be carefully monitored.
12 The solenoid valve has to be checked at regular intervals.
13 A build-up of ethylene gas may result in an explosion.
14 Setting up ethylene gas ripening rooms is not always safe.
1 Answer: (mature) green
Question type: Table Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 3
Answer explanation: The introductory line of paragraph 3 states that all fruit must be mature green at harvest for controlled ripening to be successfully carried out. These lines indicate that all the fruits including tomatoes should be mature green at harvest for ripening to be carried out successfully. As a result, tomatoes should be picked when they’re mature green. Thus, the answer is (mature) green.
2 Answer: under/ below/ up to/ less than 24
Question type: Table Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 4
Answer explanation: The 4th line of the 3rd paragraph states that ripening time will depend on the ripening temperature range, however, ripening temperatures above 24°C. These lines suggest that the room temperature during the ripening time should be under/ below/ up to/ less than 24 C. Thus, the answer is under/ below/ up to/ less than 24.
3 Answer: within 24 hours
Question type: Table Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 3, last line
Answer explanation: The last line of the 3rd paragraph states that heating and cooling capacity should be such that the tomatoes can be brought to the recommended ripening temperature within 24 hours. These lines indicate that the optimal ripening temperature for the fruit must be achieved within 24 hours. Thus, the answer is within 24 hours.
4 Answer: color/ colouring (process)
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 1
Answer explanation: In the last line of the first paragraph, it is mentioned that this treatment initiates and controls the speed of the natural ripening and coloring process in the tomatoes. We can deduce from these lines that tomatoes are harvested, and placed in the ripening room to regulate ripening, which enhances the colors/coloring process.
5 Answer: variation
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 6
Answer explanation: The 6th line of paragraph 6 illustrates that the high air circulation rates are necessary to limit variations in temperature in different parts of the room to acceptable levels and to achieve an adequate rate of heating or cooling of the tomatoes. We can understand from these lines that the high air circulation rates are essential to limit variations in temperature in different parts of the room. Thus, the answer is variation.
6 Answer: carbon dioxide/ ethylene gas
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 9
Answer explanation: The 9th line of the 6th paragraph states that the ventilation system circulates the room air continuously, introducing a small proportion of fresh air and exhausting a similar amount of air at the same time. This prevents a build-up of ethylene gas in the room and also removes carbon dioxide produced by the fruit during respiration. We can deduce from these lines that the ventilation circulates the room air introducing a small amount of fresh air at the same time, which prevents building up the ethylene gas in the room and removing carbon dioxide produced by the fruit during respiration. Thus, the answer is carbon dioxide.
7 Answer: ethylene gas/ carbon dioxide
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 9
Answer explanation: The 9th line of the 6th paragraph illustrates that the ventilation system circulates the room air continuously, introducing a small proportion of fresh air and exhausting a similar amount of air at the same time. This prevents a build-up of ethylene gas in the room and also removes carbon dioxide produced by the fruit during respiration. These lines indicate that the ventilation system controls the amount of ethylene gas and carbon dioxide. Hence, the answer is ethylene gas.
8 Answer: False
Question type: True/False/ Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 9
Answer explanation: The 9th line of the 6th paragraph reveals that the ventilation system circulates the room air continuously, introducing a small proportion of fresh air and exhausting a similar amount of air at the same time. This prevents a build-up of ethylene gas in the room and also removes carbon dioxide produced by the fruit during respiration. We can understand from the lines that the ventilation system controls the amount of ethylene and carbon dioxide during respiration. Thus, it is clear that carbon dioxide is not beneficial to the ripening process. As a result, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.
9 Answer: False
Question type: True/False/ Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 4
Answer explanation: In the 4th line of the 6th paragraph, it is stated that at the recommended heating or cooling capacity of 0.6 to 1.2 kW per tonne of tomatoes, this gives an air temperature differential of 3.5 to 7°C across the heating or cooling system. We can deduce from these lines that the air temperature differentiates from 3.5 to 7 across the heating or cooling system when it’s at the suggested heating/ cooling capacity of 0.6 to 1.2 kW per tonne of tomato. Hence, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.
10 Answer: True
Question type: True/False/ Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph 7, line 5
Answer explanation: The 5th line of paragraph 7 states that the time required for ripening can be reduced to some extent by increasing the temperature. Reverse cycle air-conditioners are successfully used for both heating and cooling in tomato-ripening rooms where humidity control does not appear to be of great importance. These lines indicate that increased temperature can speed up the maturation process. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.
11 Answer: False
Question type: True/False/ Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph 7, last line
Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph 7 states that reverse cycle air-conditioners are successfully used for both heating and cooling in tomato-ripening rooms where humidity control does not appear to be of great importance. We can understand from these lines that the reverse cycle air conditioners are used for both heating and cooling in the tomato ripening rooms where humidity controls don’t appear to be of higher importance. Thus, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.
12 Answer: Not Given
Question type: True/False/ Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph 9, line 6
Answer explanation: We find a reference for Solenoid in the 6th line of paragraph 9, which states that a normally closed solenoid valve in the ethylene gas supply line ensures that gas is not discharged into the room unless the fans and ventilation system in the ripening room is operating. However, there’s no reference to the fact that the solenoid valve has to be checked at regular intervals. Thus, the answer is Not Given.
13 Answer: True
Question type: True/False/ Not Given
Answer location: Paragraph 8, line 11
Answer explanation: The 11th line of the 8th paragraph states, “Provided that the ethylene gas supply and control systems are correctly arranged, the ethylene gas concentration in the room will not exceed the low level which is sufficient for ripening but is far below the explosion hazard level.” We can understand from these lines that ethylene has supply and control systems are correctly arranged, the ethylene gas concentration in the room will not exceed the low level which is sufficient for ripening but is far below the explosion hazard level. Thus, it is evident that a build-up of ethylene gas may result in an explosion. Hence, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.
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