Universidad Nacional de Moreno


Departamento Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología INGLÉS I (2114 y 2261)

Licenciatura en Gestión Ambiental y Licenciatura en Biotecnología.

Assignment 9 (2c2018)
Part 1
 Warm up: Read the summary for the Ted Talk you are going to watch

March 2015- Pamela Ronald studies the genes that make plants more resistant to disease and stress.
In an eye-opening talk, she describes her decade-long quest to isolate a gene that allows rice to
survive prolonged flooding. She shows how the genetic improvement of seeds saved the Hawaiian
papaya crop in the 1990s — and makes the case that modern genetics is sometimes the most effective
method to advance sustainable agriculture and enhance food security for our planet’s growing
population.

 Here´s the link to the video:

https://www.ted.com/talks/pamela_ronald_the_case_for_engineering_our_food/up-next
 Watch up to [06:17] and answer the following questions:
a. What does Pamela do for a living?
b. Which two examples does she mention to show that genetic modification is not new?
c. Why do farmers plant rice varieties that carry a gen for resistance?

Part 2. Skim the text and write your reading hypothesis

Can Genetically Modified Food Feed the World?

What You Need To Know About
Genetically Modified Crops
One of the main benefits that advocates of genetically
modified (GM) food have promoted is its ability to help
alleviate world hunger.

In 2011, 160 million hectares of biotech crops were

grown—that's 10% of earth's arable land and it was an 8%
increase than the previous year. The growth of biotech
crops is the fastest growth segment in agriculture. While

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 Universidad Nacional de Moreno


Departamento Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología INGLÉS I (2114 y 2261)

Licenciatura en Gestión Ambiental y Licenciatura en Biotecnología.

much of these crops are used for animal feed and biofuel, much of it also makes its way directly into a
majority of processed foods sold in America and Asia.

What's Driving the GM Food Revolution?

The first GM food, the Flavr-Savr Tomato, reduced the cost to produce canned tomato products about
20% and numerous studies have shown an economic benefit for farmers planting GM crops. Even
livestock can be raised less expensively, using feed made from GM crops as evidenced by the recent
change in EU policy to help struggling farmers. Also, faster growth rates resulting in cheaper fish
production is the main benefit touted for the AquaBounty salmon that may become the first GM animal
approved to be sold as food.

Are GM Crops Feeding More People?

Since they are cheaper to grow, increase yields, and extend the time food remains edible, it seems
reasonable that GM plants should provide more food to a hungry world. However, it is not clear this is
panning out as may have been naively anticipated several years ago. The countries that could benefit
most from genetic engineering have actually benefited the least.

Can Genetic Engineering Help Solve World Hunger?

OK, so let's just say it, the main driver pushing the development of GM crops is profits. Big agricultural
companies, farmers, and food producers all want to make more money. These entities have benefited
most from GM crops and this incentive has certainly been helping move forward the development of the
technology. Some might even say it the way it is supposed to work—capitalism driving innovation.
That's a different debate, though, and profit-driven efforts certainly don't negate the possibility that the
technology can also be applied to benefit society at large by reducing world hunger. However, it also
doesn't mean it will.

In fact, though, genetic engineering is a powerful tool for improving food production. There is no faster
way to produce animals and plants with specific beneficial traits and, as we learn more about the
genetics, many more modifications will become possible. While this may scare many, the potential is
also enormous and could clearly play a role to improve the situation for the poorest in the world.

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 Universidad Nacional de Moreno


Departamento Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología INGLÉS I (2114 y 2261)

Licenciatura en Gestión Ambiental y Licenciatura en Biotecnología.

Frankly, at this point, there is no question whether to apply genetic engineering toward improving crops
for food consumption. Genetic modification is already part of the crop improvement tool box. The real
question is if, in addition to helping make many wealthier in the industrialized world, this advanced
technology provides part of the solution to help improve a lot of the poorest regions of the world.
Applying this technology to safely and effectively solve the problems of third world hunger, though,
would require reasonable engagement and coordination from a variety political and social groups, and
that may be too much to hope for.

Source: https://www.thebalance.com/can-genetically-modified-food-feed-the-world-375634

Language activities:

1 -Find in the text examples of:

 A sentence in the simple present.

 A sentence in the simple past.

 A sentence in the present perfect

 A sentence in the simple future

 A superlative adjective

 A comparative adjective

 A modal verb expressing ability.

 A modal verb expressing possibility.

 A connector of contrast.

 A connector of reason.

2- Identify whether the following sentences are in the active or in the passive voice:
 Even livestock can be raised less expensively.

 Much of these crops are used for animal feed and biofuel.

 The first GM food, the Flavr-Savr Tomato, reduced the cost to produce canned tomato product.

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 Universidad Nacional de Moreno


Departamento Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología INGLÉS I (2114 y 2261)

Licenciatura en Gestión Ambiental y Licenciatura en Biotecnología.

3- Identify the head noun of the phrases in bold type and provide a translation:

 The growth of biotech crops:

 Canned tomato products:

 Faster growth rates:

 Profit-driven efforts:

Reading comprehension:

4- Find , in the text, the reference of the following words:

 They (3rd paragraph)

 That (4TH paragraph)

 This (5TH paragraph)

5- Answer whether the following statements are true or false. Justify your choice.

a. In 2011, biotech grown crops represented about 80% of Earth’s arable land.

b. The first GM food reduced the costs of producing canned tomato.

c. Poor countries have benefited the most from genetic engineering.

d. Big agricultural companies are focused on solving world hunger.

6- Answer the following questions:

a) What is the primary use of GM crops nowadays?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

b) What are the benefits from growing GM crops or raising GM animals?

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