Trans Fatty Acids- IELTS Reading Answers

In the Academic Reading practice passage, “Trans Fatty Acids”, there are various question types, each of which are asked in the IELTS Reading exam. Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. Let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

Reading Passage

Trans Fatty Acids

Questions 1-7

1 Trans fatty acids are found in all types of meat.

2 Health problems can be caused by the consumption of small amounts of trans fatty acids

3 Experts consider that the trans fatty acids contained in animal products are unlikely to be a serious health risk.

4 In Britain, the intake of trans fatty acids is continuing to decline.

5 The amount of saturated fats in processed meats is being reduced by some major producers.

6 It is proving difficult to find a safe substitute for trans fatty acids

7 Some people are still consuming larger quantities of trans fatty acids than the experts consider safe.

Questions 8-13

8 Scientists at Oxford University propose that information about trans fatty acid should be included on …………………………..

9 In food manufacture, the majority of trans fatty acid is created when …………….. are solidified.

10 The likelihood of a person developing ……………………..is increased by trans fatty acid consumption.

11 In the UK, the …………………………… established a limit for the daily consumption of trans fatty acids.

12 Partially hydrogenated oils are no longer found in most UK manufactured salty …………….

13 Consumption of trans fatty acids in……………………is now higher than in the UK.

Reading Answer

1 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 2

Answer explanation: We can find a definition for trans fatty acid in paragraph 2, which states that trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are a type of unsaturated fatty acid. They occur naturally in small amounts in food produced from ruminant animals* e.g. milk, beef, and ham. These lines indicate that trans fatty acids are naturally found in small amounts in food produced from ruminant animals, eg: milk, beef, and ham. Thus, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.

2 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 3

Answer explanation: Paragraph 3 explains the effect of trans fatty acids, that is they have an adverse effect on certain chemicals, known as lipids, which are found in the blood and have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. They also increase LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and decrease HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). They may also have adverse effects on cardiovascular disease risk that is independent of an effect on blood lipids. These lines illustrate the fact that health problems can occur with the consumption of small amounts of trans fatty acids. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

3 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 5

Answer explanation: In paragraph 5, the writer states that however, in this recent review, it is only trans fatty acids produced during the hardening of vegetable oils that are found to be harmful to health. The public health implications of consuming trans-fatty acids from ruminant products are considered to be relatively limited. These lines indicate that the fatty acids produced during the hardening of vegetable oils are found to be harmful. Whereas the consumption of trans fatty acids from ruminant (animal) products is considered to be relatively limited. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

4 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 1

Answer explanation: Paragraph 1 elucidates a recent editorial in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), written by researchers from the University of Oxford has called for food labels to list trans fats as well as cholesterol and saturated fat. We find a reference for the British in the 1st paragraph which says that a recent editorial in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) from Oxford University called for food labels to list trans fat and saturated fats. Therefore, there’s no reference to statements that the intake of trans fatty acids in Britain is continuing to decline. Thus, the answer is Not Given.

5 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 1

Answer explanation: We find references for saturated acids in Paragraph 1. In the first paragraph, it is mentioned that an editorial was written mentioning the food label to list trans fats as well as cholesterol and saturated fat. However, it’s not mentioned anywhere in the passage that the amount of saturated fats in processed meats is being reduced by some major producers. Thus, the answer is Not Given.

6 Answer: True

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 7

Answer explanation: Paragraph 7 reveals that currently, trans-fatty acids in food are labeled in the USA, but not in the UK and Europe. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is in favor of the revision of the European directive that governs the content and format of food labels so that trans fatty acids are labeled. This should enable consumers to make better food choices concerning their hearts. These lines suggest that trans fatty acids are categorized in the USA, but not in the UK and Europe. Also, the UK FSA is in favor of the revision of the directive that governs the content and format of food labels so that the fatty acids are labeled or categorized. Thus, it is proving difficult to find a safe alternative to trans fatty acids. Thus, the answer is True.

7 Answer: True

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 10

Answer explanation: It is mentioned in the 10th paragraph that intake may have changed in the light of the reformulation of foods that have taken place over the past six years in the UK, as referred to earlier. Furthermore, the average intake of trans fatty acids is lower in the UK than in the USA (where legislation has now been introduced). However, this does not mean there is room for complacency, as the intake in some sectors of the population is known to be higher than recommended. These lines suggest that although the average intake of trans fatty acids is lower in the UK than in the USA, there’s room for complacency as the intake of acids in some sectors is known to be higher than recommended. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

8 Answer: Food labels

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 1

Answer explanation: The first paragraph states that a recent editorial in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), written by researchers from the University of Oxford has called for food labels to list trans fats as well as cholesterol and saturated fat. These lines suggest that researchers at Oxford University propose that information about trans fatty acids should be included on food labels. Thus, the answer is food labels.

9 Answer: vegetable oils

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 2

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph 2 states that most of the trans fatty acids in the diet are produced during the partial hydrogenation (hardening) of vegetable oils into semi-solid fats. These lines indicate that trans fatty acids are produced when vegetable oils are solidified into semi-solid fats. Thus, the answer is vegetable oil.

10 Answer: heart disease/ cardiovascular disease

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 3

Answer explanation: The 3rd paragraph illustrates that trans fatty acids have an adverse effect on certain chemicals, known as lipids, which are found in the blood and have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. They also increase LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and decrease HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). They may also have adverse effects on cardiovascular disease risk that is independent of an effect on blood lipids. We understand from these lines that the negative consequences of trans fatty acids can be found in the blood, which has shown an increase in the risk of heart disease. Therefore, the likelihood of a person developing heart disease/ cardiovascular disease is increased by trans fatty acid consumption. So, the answer is heart disease/ cardiovascular disease.

11 Answer: department of health

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 6

Answer explanation: The introductory lines of the 6th paragraph states that over the last decade, population intakes of trans fatty acids in the UK fell and are now, on average, well below the recommended 2% of total energy set by the Department of Health in 1991, at 1.2% of energy. These lines indicate that the population intake of trans fatty acids in the UK declined and is now on average which is below the percent recommended by the department of health. As a result, the Department of health in the UK has established a limit on the daily consumption of trans fatty acids. Thus, the answer is the department of health.

12 Answer: biscuits and crisps (in either order)

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 9

Answer explanation: In the 9th paragraph, it is stated that consequently, the vast majority of savory biscuits and crisps produced in the UK do not contain partially hydrogenated oils. These lines reveal that partially hydrogenated oils are no longer found in the most UK manufactured salty biscuits and crisps. Thus, the answer is biscuits and crisps.

13 Answer: (the) USA

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph 10

Answer explanation: The 10th paragraph states that the average intake of trans fatty acids is lower in the UK than in the USA (where legislation has now been introduced). We understand that the consumption of trans fatty acids in the USA is now higher than in the UK. Thus, the answer is (the) USA.

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