Table of Contents
Passage
A. Agricultural tourism is a worldwide trend which offers city dwellers a chance to escape urban concrete and re discover their rural roots. In addition, visiting farmers, agronomists and other agricultural experts can evaluate worldwide developments in agriculture, which have been greatly influenced by modern technology. Agriculture and tourism—two of Wisconsin’s most important industries—are teaming up in southwestern Wisconsin. A pilot project has found that tourists, rural communities, and some farmers could benefit from stronger efforts to promote and market agricultural tourism there. More than one-half of those surveyed responded favourably to a proposed tour, saying they would be interested in participating in some types of agricultural tour in southwestern Wisconsin.
B. In 1990, agricultural tourism project members surveyed 290 visitors to the annual Monroe Cheese Festival and 164 visitors to the Picnic on the Farm, a one-time event held in Platteville in conjunction with the Chicago Bears summer training camp. Survey respondents reported that they would prefer to visit cheese factories, sausage processing plants, dairy farms, and historical farm sites, as well as enjoy an oldfashioned picnic dinner. The study also found strong interest in visiting specialty farms (strawberries, cranberries, poultry, etc.). More than 7 5 percent of the Cheese Day visitors planned ahead for the trip, with 3 7 percent planning at least two months in advance. More than 40 percent of the visitors came to Monroe for two- or three-day visits. Many stopped at other communities on their way to Cheese Days. Visitors at both events indicated that they were there to enjoy themselves and were willing to spend money on food and arts and crafts. They also wanted the opportunity to experience the “country” while there.
C. The study found that planning around existing events should take into account what brought visitors to the area and provide additional attractions that will appeal to them. For example, visitors to Cheese Days said they were on a holiday and appeared to be more open to various tour proposals. Picnic visitors came specifically to see the Chicago Bears practice. They showed less interest in a proposed agricultural tour than Cheese Day visitors, but more interest in a picnic dinner. (The table below results from the 1990 survey of Monroe Cheese Days and Picnic on the Farm visitors and shows how the visitors would rank various activities in the proposed tour.)
Interest in specific activities in proposed tour
Activity Cheese Days (Rank) Picnic (Rank)
Cheese Factory Visit 1 2
Sausage Processing Visit 2 2
Dairy Farm Visit 3 5
Picnic Dinner 3 1
Historical Farm Visit 3 3
Crop Farm Visit 4 6
D. Agricultural tourism can serve to educate urban tourists about the problems and challenges facing farmers, says Andy Lewis, Grant county community development agent. While agriculture is vital to Wisconsin, more and more urban folk are becoming isolated from the industry. In fact, Lewis notes, farmers are just as interested in the educational aspects of agricultural tours as they are in any financial returns. “Farmers feel that urban consumers are out of touch with farming,” Lewis says. “If tourists can be educated on issues that concern farmers, those visits could lead to policies more favourable to agriculture.” Animal rights and the environment are examples of two issues that concern both urban consumers and farmers. Farm tours could help consumers get the farmer’s perspective on these issues, Lewis notes.
E. Several Wisconsin farms already offer some types of learning experience for tourists. However, most agricultural tourism enterprises currently market their businesses independently, leading to a lack of a concerted effort to promote agricultural tourism as an industry. Lewis is conducting the study with Jean Murphy, assistant community development agent. Other participants include UW-Platteville Agricultural Economist Bob Acton, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, UWExtension Recreation Resources Center, the Wisconsin Rural Development Center, and Hidden Valleys, a Southwestern Wisconsin regional tourism organization.
F. This past fall, Murphy organized several workshops with some Green and Grant County farmers, local business leaders, and motor coach tour operators to discuss how best to organize and put on farm tours. Committees were formed to look at the following: tour site evaluations, inventory of the area’s resources, tour marketing, and familiarization of tours. The fourth committee is organizing tours for people such as tour bus guides and local reporters to help better educate them about agricultural tourism. Green County farmers already have experience hosting visitors during the annual Monroe Cheese Days. Green county Tourism Director Larry Lindgren says these farmers are set to go ahead with more formal agricultural tours next year. The tours will combine a farm visit with a visit to a local cheese factory and a picnic lunch.
G. Another farm interested in hosting an organized tour is Sinsinawa, a 200-acre Grant County farm devoted to sustainable agriculture and run by the Dominican Sisters. Education plays a major role at the farm, which has an orchard, dairy and beef cows, and hogs. Farm tours could be combined with other activities in the area such as trips to the Mississippi River and/or visits to historical towns or landmarks, Lewis says. The project will help expose farmers to the tourism industry and farm vacations as a way to possibly supplement incomes, he adds. While farm families probably wouldn’t make a lot of money through farm tours, they would be compensated for their time, says Lewis. Farmers could earn additional income through the sale of farm products, crafts, and recreational activities.
Questions
Questions 27 – 30
Reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet.
27 Nearly half of all the surveyed tourists would spend several days in Monroe.
28 Most visitors responded positively to a survey project on farm tours.
29 Cooperation across organisations in research for agriculture tours has been carried out.
30 Agriculture tours help tourists understand more about zoological and ecological issues.
Questions 31-35
Which of the following statements belongs to the visitor categories in the box?
Please choose A, B or C for each statement.
Write the correct letter A, B or C, in boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once
A. Cheese Festival visitors
B. Picnic visitors
C. Both of them
31 have a focused destination.
32 majority prepare well before going beforehand.
33 were comparably less keen on picnic meals.
34 show interest in activities such as visiting factories and fruit farms.
35 are willing to accept a variety of tour recommendations.
Questions 36 – 40
Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage, using the list of words, A-K, below.
Write the correct letter, A-K, in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.
Through farm tours, visitors can better understand significant issues such as 36……………….. and the environment. In autumn, Murphy organized 37………………..and brought other participants together to develop the local tour market. Larry Lindgren said that the farmers already had experience of organising farm tours that also included a visit to the factory and a 38…………………Sinsinawa, a large farm, which is managed and operated by 39……………….., contains an orchard, cows, etc. Lewis said the project would probably bring extra 40………………..for local farmers.
A. urban consumers
B. workshops
C. community development
D. income
E. animal rights
F. picnic
G. Dominican Sisters
H. historical towns
I. Andy Lewis
J. vacations
K. dairy
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Agriculture and Tourism (Passage 3, Questions 27–40).
Questions 27–30: Which paragraph contains the following information? (A–G)
27. Nearly half of all the surveyed tourists would spend several days in Monroe.
Answer: B
Key words: More than 40 percent of the visitors came to Monroe for two- or three-day visits
Synonyms: nearly half spend several days = more than 40 percent came for two- or three-day visits = “More than 40 percent of the visitors came to Monroe for two- or three-day visits”
Explanation: Paragraph B reports that over 40% of visitors stayed in Monroe for two or three days → B.
28. Most visitors responded positively to a survey project on farm tours.
Answer: A
Key words: More than one-half of those surveyed responded favourably to a proposed tour
Synonyms: most responded positively = more than one-half responded favourably = “More than one-half of those surveyed responded favourably to a proposed tour, saying they would be interested in participating”
Explanation: Paragraph A states that over half of those surveyed reacted favourably to the proposed tour → A.
29. Cooperation across organisations in research for agriculture tours has been carried out.
Answer: E
Key words: Lewis is conducting the study with Jean Murphy … Other participants include UW-Platteville … the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems … the Wisconsin Rural Development Center, and Hidden Valleys
Synonyms: cooperation across organisations = the study involves many participating organisations = “Other participants include UW-Platteville Agricultural Economist Bob Acton, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems … the Wisconsin Rural Development Center, and Hidden Valleys”
Explanation: Paragraph E lists the many organisations collaborating on the research → E.
30. Agriculture tours help tourists understand more about zoological and ecological issues.
Answer: D
Key words: Animal rights and the environment are examples of two issues that concern both urban consumers and farmers
Synonyms: zoological and ecological issues = animal rights and the environment = “Farm tours could help consumers get the farmer’s perspective on these issues”
Explanation: Paragraph D explains that farm tours can teach tourists about animal-rights (zoological) and environmental (ecological) issues → D.
Questions 31–35: Which visitor category does each statement describe? (A Cheese Festival visitors, B Picnic visitors, C Both) — you may use any letter more than once
31. Have a focused destination.
Answer: B (Picnic visitors)
Key words: Picnic visitors came specifically to see the Chicago Bears practice
Synonyms: focused destination = came specifically to see the Chicago Bears = “Picnic visitors came specifically to see the Chicago Bears practice”
Explanation: Picnic visitors had one specific purpose (watching the Bears), i.e. a focused destination → B.
32. Majority prepare well before going beforehand.
Answer: A (Cheese Festival visitors)
Key words: More than 75 percent of the Cheese Day visitors planned ahead for the trip, with 37 percent planning at least two months in advance
Synonyms: majority prepare well beforehand = more than 75% of Cheese Day visitors planned ahead = “More than 75 percent of the Cheese Day visitors planned ahead for the trip”
Explanation: Most Cheese Festival visitors planned their trip well in advance → A.
33. Were comparably less keen on picnic meals.
Answer: A (Cheese Festival visitors)
Key words: Picnic visitors … showed less interest in a proposed agricultural tour than Cheese Day visitors, but more interest in a picnic dinner
Synonyms: less keen on picnic meals = Cheese Day visitors were less interested in a picnic dinner than Picnic visitors = “[Picnic visitors showed] more interest in a picnic dinner”
Explanation: Since Picnic visitors were more interested in a picnic dinner, the Cheese Festival visitors were comparatively less keen on it → A.
34. Show interest in activities such as visiting factories and fruit farms.
Answer: C (Both)
Key words: they would prefer to visit cheese factories, sausage processing plants, dairy farms … strong interest in visiting specialty farms (strawberries, cranberries, poultry, etc.)
Synonyms: visiting factories and fruit farms = cheese factories / processing plants and specialty (fruit) farms = “Survey respondents reported that they would prefer to visit cheese factories … as well as … specialty farms (strawberries, cranberries …)”
Explanation: The survey (covering both visitor groups) found interest in factory visits and specialty/fruit farms → C.
35. Are willing to accept a variety of tour recommendations.
Answer: A (Cheese Festival visitors)
Key words: visitors to Cheese Days said they were on a holiday and appeared to be more open to various tour proposals
Synonyms: willing to accept a variety of tour recommendations = more open to various tour proposals = “visitors to Cheese Days said they were on a holiday and appeared to be more open to various tour proposals”
Explanation: Cheese Day visitors were on holiday and open to various tour suggestions → A.
Questions 36–40: Summary Completion (choose a letter A–K)
A urban consumers · B workshops · C community development · D income · E animal rights · F picnic · G Dominican Sisters · H historical towns · I Andy Lewis · J vacations · K dairy
36. Through farm tours, visitors can better understand significant issues such as ______ and the environment.
Answer: E (animal rights)
Key words: Animal rights and the environment are examples of two issues
Synonyms: significant issues such as ___ and the environment = animal rights and the environment = “Animal rights and the environment are examples of two issues that concern both urban consumers and farmers”
Explanation: The two issues named are animal rights and the environment → E.
37. In autumn, Murphy organized ______ and brought other participants together to develop the local tour market.
Answer: B (workshops)
Key words: This past fall, Murphy organized several workshops with some Green and Grant County farmers
Synonyms: in autumn Murphy organized ___ = this past fall Murphy organized several workshops = “This past fall, Murphy organized several workshops with some … farmers, local business leaders, and motor coach tour operators”
Explanation: Murphy organised workshops in the autumn (fall) → B.
38. The farmers already had experience of organising farm tours that also included a visit to the factory and a ______.
Answer: F (picnic)
Key words: The tours will combine a farm visit with a visit to a local cheese factory and a picnic lunch
Synonyms: a visit to the factory and a ___ = a visit to a cheese factory and a picnic lunch = “The tours will combine a farm visit with a visit to a local cheese factory and a picnic lunch”
Explanation: The tours included a factory visit and a picnic lunch → F.
39. Sinsinawa, a large farm, which is managed and operated by ______, contains an orchard, cows, etc.
Answer: G (Dominican Sisters)
Key words: Sinsinawa, a 200-acre Grant County farm devoted to sustainable agriculture and run by the Dominican Sisters
Synonyms: managed and operated by ___ = run by the Dominican Sisters = “Another farm interested in hosting an organized tour is Sinsinawa … run by the Dominican Sisters”
Explanation: Sinsinawa farm is run by the Dominican Sisters → G.
40. Lewis said the project would probably bring extra ______ for local farmers.
Answer: D (income)
Key words: farm vacations as a way to possibly supplement incomes … Farmers could earn additional income
Synonyms: bring extra ___ for local farmers = a way to supplement incomes / earn additional income = “The project will help expose farmers to the tourism industry and farm vacations as a way to possibly supplement incomes”
Explanation: Lewis says the project could supplement farmers’ incomes → D.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | B | 34 | C |
| 28 | A | 35 | A |
| 29 | E | 36 | E (animal rights) |
| 30 | D | 37 | B (workshops) |
| 31 | B | 38 | F (picnic) |
| 32 | A | 39 | G (Dominican Sisters) |
| 33 | A | 40 | D (income) |
