AGRICULTURES BENEFITS TO MANKIND

A. Agriculture has been a necessary part of human life throughout history and is arguably
the most essential of fields. Albeit there are different agricultural practices all around the
globe, they are all geared toward growing plants. Albeit it was viewed as a thing for the
poor in the past, a lot of governments and other organizations are actively supporting the
agricultural industry to make it stronger and it is not hard to see why. Why is it important
to encourage the development of this industry?

B. First of all, agriculture is our main source of food, which is arguably our biggest
necessity. We need food to gain energy to move, work; we just can not survive without
food. So if the agricultural industry grows, then we have more food which will also make
it more affordable. Some people are of the view that if the agric industry were so big that
everyone had enough food, half of mankind's problems would be solved. That just goes
to show how much we need food, hence the agric industry.

C. The agric industry is also responsible for about 28% of the world's total employment,
possibly more, and considering the number of people on earth, that is no small figure.
The industry is a major source of employment and is a leading source of income for
those living in rural areas. Note that agriculture does not only provide jobs for farmers
but a whole range of people. Fertilizer companies, farming machinery manufactures,
importers and exporters and farm produce shops are all examples of companies that rely
on agriculture and all these companies have a large number of people they employ to
carry out various tasks.

D. The supply of raw material for production is another major benefit agriculture gives. A lot
of industries source their raw materials from farms for the production of a wide range of
items. Think about the timber. Timber is used in construction and is the main material in
some lands. It is also used to create furniture, utensils and many crafted accessories.
The clothing industry also depends largely on this industry for cotton and jute, which are
key fabric materials.

E. Plants also have many medicinal properties and a number of species are cultivated
solely for that. Indigenous medicine was mainly plant-based and was effective.
Notwithstanding the fact that medicine has come a long way, the use of plants for
medicine has never stopped. Many key ingredients of life-saving medicines today are
sourced from plants.

F. Economies as a whole also benefit from the agricultural sector. Because of the food and
employment it provides, it increases the standard of living which is simultaneous with the
reduction in the cost of living. Countries also gain foreign exchange through the export of
agricultural produce.  In some lands, agricultural products account for close to 20% of
their total exports and this is a clear indication of its importance.

G. All of these are reasons why there is so much interest in developing the agric industry
today. Using different approaches, many organizations are garnering public interest in
agriculture. One of the major ways this is being done is through media engagement.
Agriculture is rarely seen as an ideal industry and is usually portrayed as a thing for the
poor. The negative image of agriculture is being erased gradually in order to attract more
 people, particularly the youth. Basic agricultural studies are being included in school
curriculums across the world to accurately inform the youth about agriculture.

H. There is a lot more that can be done to encourage people to venture into agriculture. A
lot of people are hesitant to farm because of the initial cost and difficulties. This can be
effectively countered by introducing financial schemes to help start farming. Making
unburdensome loans available for serious beginners will be a solid way to encourage
farming. Any other reduction in the cost of operations like the subsidizing of farming tools
and items will also go a long way in motivating farmers to continue and encourage more
to join farming. Assisting farmers to boost productivity and sales through workshops and
schemes has been proven to help and should be done more often.

I. The industry should not be taken for granted by any means and all efforts to help it grow
should be supported. After all, we all enjoy the food and other products the industry
supplies us with.  Granted,  not everyone can become a farmer or work in that sector but
we can all support by helping disband the myths surrounding agriculture and start giving
those who work tirelessly in the industry the praise they deserve.

Question 1-8

Reading Passage 1 has nine paragraphs A-I, Which paragraphs contains the following
information?

NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. A lot of people are hesitant to venture into agriculture farm because of initial cost and
difficulties?
2. The uses of cotton and jutes as a raw material for fabric production.
3. Governments and other organizations are enthusiastically supporting the agricultural
industry.
4. Numerous life-saving medicines are made of plants.
5. The inclusion of basic agricultural studies in school curriculums across the world.
6. Export of agricultural products to earn foreign exchange to boost up the national
economy.
7. The agric industry is contributed about 28% of the world's total employment.
8. The dependency on agricultural sector for food security.

Question 9-13

Complete the summary using the list of words A-I, below

The contribution of Agricultural sector on Economic Development

Since agriculture sector (9)_________ many people, it contributes to economic development.

As a result, the national income level, as well as people’s (10)____________, is improved. The
fast rate of development in the agriculture sector offers (11)___________ outlook as well as
increased motivation for (12)_____________. Hence, it aids to create a good (13)_________for
the overall economic development of a country.

A. farmer
B. atmosphere
C. aggressive
D. progressive
E. development
F. employs
G. development
H. standard of living
I. science and technology

IS FAST FOOD EFFICIENT OR DEADLY?

Fast food has an obvious name derivative which is food being served quickly after ordering.
Yes, fast food chains are all around and you'll find at least one every square mile and
sometimes more in busy locations. People rushing to and from destinations prefer to order a
meal and get it in a short wait rather than sit at a restaurant or cook at home. In fact, one of the
leading fast-food chains claims to sell over 4,000 burgers per minute with minimal error rates.
But how is there so much speed and efficiency there?
We can partly attribute it to the use of technology. Point of sales monitors and drive-through
microphones have made it possible for kitchen staff to receive orders in real-time and get to it
right away. However, most of the speed comes from the fact that the ingredients used are pre-
prepared. A food that might take 15 mins or more to prepare could take under two minutes
using pre-prepared ingredients. Foods, such as french fries, that need to be served fresh are
done on the go in large batches to serve straight from the fire and restaurants project daily sales
to know how much food to be cooking on the go. 

Nonetheless,  the sheer appeal of the foods sold at these chains is the main customer magnet.
They take their time to figure out what customers love and serve them in bundles usually known
as value meals. Even though fast food is generally cheaper than meals at a restaurant, do not
be conned into thinking they make scanty money. Fast food chains currently make over
500billion dollars annually in sales. Despite the time-saving tricks and the tasty food that fast-
food chains give us, there are still some concerns out there about the food and the business
itself.

Most of the negative reviews have to do with how unhealthy fast food is. Fast food usually
contains a lot of carbs, trans-fat, and sugars which makes it unhealthy when taken regularly
which people do, unfortunately. A trusted research centre, in one of its publishings, the increase
in obesity in young adults can be linked directly to the current fast food trends. Instead of taking
in diets that are balanced, youths are replacing them with fast food in unwholesome quantities.
Obesity serves as a stage for all sorts of other cardiovascular and respiratory problems to
plague a person. Fast food vendors are including “healthy” options into their menus to help kill
those negative reviews they get and now, you are more likely to spot green salads and lean
meats on menus than before. 
Others also lament that eating from fast-food chains is destroying family bonds. According to
them, families used to spend much more time together preparing food, eating together, and
cleaning after but fast food has taken a chunk of that family time away. The dad orders some
pizza, the mom gets some drinks, the kids take what they want and just leave to their rooms.
Some even claim that kids are growing up hating traditional foods because fast-food chains
spend a lot on advertising to make kids crave their merchandise. 

The industry itself has also come under attack a lot for many reasons. As most of the packaging
comes in rubber or some other non-degradable material,  the industry has been tagged as not
being eco-friendly. The unfair treatment of workers has also been a nail that has been hit on by
human rights activists severally along with the accusations leveled by animal rights activists
about cruelty to animals.

Despite the fact that some of these concerns hold water, there is no denying that the rise of fast-
food chains has its good sides. In today’s world where one has very little time for themselves,   it
is somehow comforting to know that you can grab a meal quickly when hungry, no matter how
busy you are. We can also spend the time we might use grocery shopping and cooking on
something else. Families who earn little and cannot afford to go grocery shopping all the time
are also saved by the cheap meal options that these fast food places offer. 

Not to be overlooked is the amount of employment that the fast-food industry offers. One of the
world's largest fast-food companies has more than 25,000 stores globally. Just think of the
number of people employed by this company alone; from the chefs to the cashiers and
cleaners.
Fast food may not be an all-round great thing but it does improve life in some ways. As to
whether you love fast food or not is a choice that cant be made for you. however, if you do love
fast food, check what you eat and how much of it you eat, and definitely do not replace regular
food with it.

Question 14-21

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-9 in your answer sheet, write:

YES If the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

NO If the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN If it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.

14.  Fast food chair has generated a significant number of employment.

15. Eating from fast-food chains strengthens family relationship as people are interested to
spend much more time together in the fast-food restaurant with their family.
16. Value meals is generally cheaper than meals at a restaurant.
17. Most of the fast food has excessive amounts of salt making it notoriously high in
sodium.
18. Fast food industry are not being considered as eco-friendly as most of the packaging
comes in non-degradable material.
19. People also often drink soda when they eat fast food which adds “empty” calories to the
meal.
20. Through the use of technology, fast food chain stores are able to provide quick and
efficient service to their customers.
21. The rise of fast-food chains has its good sides also.

Questions 22-24

In the passage 2, the author mentions several disadvantages of fast food. Write your
answers in Boxes 22-25 on your answer sheet.

A. This concerns to obesity
B. Exorbitant price
C. Not tasty
D. Develop cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
E. Severely affect the family relationship.
F. Unavailability in convenient location.

Question 25-27

Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text, answer the following
questions:
25. According to the author, how fast-food industry can contribute to the economy?

26. What the initiative Fast food vendors have taken to kill the negative reviews.

27. Apart from using technology, what was the other factor contributed to provide
efficient and speedy service to the fast food customers?
THE AGE OF E-COMMERCE

The last decade has seen an exponential boom for electronic commerce popularly called
ecommerce. There are hardly any goods or services that are not available electronically thanks
to much more reliable and affordable internet. A strong online presence is now a requisite for
any business seeking to grow or keep its strength and this has led even traditional companies to
build web platforms and whatnots. Experts project that over 40% of commercial activities may
be done electronically in the next few decades. To what, though does e-commerce owe its
success? And is it truly beneficial?

Ecommerce has seen success primarily because of the sheer convenience it offers. Consumers
no longer need to take long trips just to scour through items hoping that they would find what
they want. The power to just browse through items right at home whenever look at the
specifications and further read reviews from other buyers is amazing. You can compare items
from different shops quickly and if you decide to make a purchase online, you need not be
anxious about long queues. Since most shops have been adapted to be mobile-friendly, you
can shop while on the go and this has made most of the populace embrace e-commerce. While
e-commerce may be seen now as a regular thing, its impacts should never be overlooked.

Dialogue between the seller and buyer has also never been more streamlined. You can always
make enquiries or complaints through chat rooms or support centres and that translates as the
buyer gets real-time help and the seller gets real-time feedback. You can also subscribe to
newsletters or other notifications so that you are in the know about deals and offers. For
instance, you may request an alert when there is a price drop on a particular item. For those
who are after the latest trends, you get to see what new releases look like instantly.

A big part of the e-commerce world is being able to show shoppers what they want to see.
Using complex software and algorithms, most e-commercelevelled sites show you items related
to what you have recently viewed or shown interest in. This usually works to the advantage of
both parties as it means the shopper does not have to sift through a lot of items and the store is
also more likely to have a successful transaction.

Consumers also have a wider range of products or services to choose from. A physical shop is
often limited by display space in contrast to ecommerce sites that can have so many items listed
with most stored in a warehouse. Providers are also not scared to provide niche specific goods
as they know that they have a wider audience and this benefits customers as well. They find
uncommon goods with less effort and time. The buying process itself is also sped up as items
can be added to carts and paid for with a few taps or clicks and this saves time for both the
seller and buyer.
Ecommerce is very beneficial and more people are doing business this way every day.
However, it is key to note that you are not guaranteed to enjoy doing business electronically. If
you are the type of person who values human contact when trading then you are likely to find e-
commerce a less appealing option. Consumers are also persuaded into buying items they do
not necessarily need by way of persistent display of items. Worse, they may even be conned by
product pictures or videos that are in variance to the actual item with regards to looks, size and
so forth.
Regardless, caution should be taken when patronizing e-commerce sites. You cannot afford to
be gullible or impulsive as that may not go well. 
All said and done,  e-commerce is a great way to grow a business since the potential market
reach is limitless. It is amazing how quickly you can make sales and increase your client base.
For consumers, buying electronically is relatively hassle-free and simple. Shopping can be done
anywhere and at any time and this is quite good considering that the working class spend most
of their “free time” on long commutes. Customer service “handled right” in e-commerce is
arguably also the best option.

Question 28-31
Reading passage 3 describes a number of implications have properly aligned if certain
conditions are met. Match each condition (28-31) in List A with its implication (A-G) in List B.

List A : Conditions List B: Implications

28. If strong online presence A
29. If the business has mobile friendly e-
commerce website, D
30. If the complex software and algorithms
have introduced in the system to show
shoppers what they want to see or have
recently viewed.
G E. People can make enquiries or
31. If business provides online chat rooms
and customer service E
A. The business will grow faster.
B. The business can be severely
affected.
C. The business revenue may drop.
D. The people can compare items from
different shops and make a purchase
online without visiting the store.
complaints instantly and get real time
assistance from the customer service
department.
F. The business information will be
scattered.
G. The shopper does not have to sift
through a lot of items and the store is
also more likely to have a successful
transaction.

Questions 32-35

Choose the most appropriate letters A-D and write them in Boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet.

32. What’s the major advantage of online purchase?

A) Relatively cheap.
B) Can physically review the products.
C) Always authentic
D) Shopping can be done anywhere and at any time without visiting the store.
33. Who find e-commerce a less appealing option?
A) A person who values human contact when trading.
B) Students
C) Doctors
D) Lawyers

34. Why the last decade has seen an exponential boom for e-commerce?

A) Increased population

B) Reliable and affordable internet

C) Cheap and authentic product

D) Demographic change.

Questions 35-40

Complete the text below. Choose your answers from the Word List and write then in Boxes 35-
40 on your answer sheets

E-commerce is the activity of (35)_________ buying or selling of products on online services or

over the (36)_______. E-commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, supply
chain management, Internet marketing, (37)_______ processing, electronic data interchange
(EDI), inventory management systems, and automated (38)_________ systems. E-commerce is
in turn driven by the (39)_________ of the semiconductor industry, and is the largest
(40)______ of the electronics industry.

Word List

data synchronize popular

technological advances electronically sector
electronic funds transfer online transaction world business
Internet 36 future advancement
flexible development flexible