LORETO COLLEGE SAINT PIERRE

SECOND TERM EXAMINATIONS – 2023

ENGLISH GENERAL PAPER Grade 13

Paper 1 Reading
INSERT 2 hours

INFORMATION
 This insert contains the reading passages.
 You may annotate this insert and use the blank spaces for planning. Do not write your answers
on the insert.
 This document has 4 pages

Page 1 of 4
 SECTION A – Comprehension

The miracle method for sustainable rice — and bigger harvests

1. The fragrant jasmine rice growing on the left side of Kreaougkra Junpeng's five-acre field stands nearly
five feet tall. Each plant has 15 or more tillers, or stalks, and the grains hang heavy from them. The Thai
farmer says this will be his best-ever harvest in 30 years and he will reap it four weeks earlier than usual. It
is very different on the other side of the field. Here, Junpeng planted his rice in closely spaced clumps of 20
or more seedlings in shallow water just as he, his father and millions of other small farmers across south- 5
east Asia have always done. He used the same seeds but the conventionally grown plants are wind-battered
and thin, and clearly have fewer, smaller grains.

2. Junpeng is part of a pilot project to see if it's possible to grow more rice with less water and fewer
greenhouse gases. The dramatic difference between his two crops points a way to help the world's 145
million small rice farmers, and could also greatly reduce global warming emissions from agriculture. 10

3. The project, backed by the German and Thai governments, trained 3,000 other farmers in this corner of
Thailand's "rice basket" near the Cambodian border to grow sustainable rice according to the principles of a
revolutionary agronomical system discovered by accident in Madagascar in the 1980s. Jesuit priest Henri de
Lalanie working in the highlands observed that by planting far fewer seeds than usual, using organic matter
as a fertiliser and keeping the rice plants alternately wet and dry rather than flooded, resulted in yields that 15
were increased by between 20 and 200%, while water use was halved. Giving plants more oxygen,
minimising the competition between them and strictly controlling the water they receive is thought to make
them stronger and more resilient to flood and drought.

4. When it was first employed outside Madagascar in 2000, the system of rice intensification (SRI) was
dismissed by a handful of scientists who questioned the legitimacy of the reported increased yields. But since 20
then, it has evolved and been developed by peasant farmers working in many different climates around the
world. Academic criticism has since all but disappeared and the SRI system of farming has been validated in
hundreds of scientific papers and adopted by up to 20 million farmers in 61 countries, according to the SRI
information centre in Cornell University.

5. "SRI is very positive in west Africa. It uses fewer seed and fertilisers and needs less water. Farmers saved 25
up to 80% of the cost of seed and got increased yields and incomes. They see the advantages and they
change. People are teaching each other now," says Professor Bancy Mati director of the water research
centre at Jomo Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. Many farmers agree that it is easy to learn and the
extra money can be used to invest in the purchase of equipment.

6. But what is now exciting sonic of the world's largest food corporations and governments is that growing 30
rice along SRI principles also greatly reduces emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane, which 0
escapes when rice, or any other crop, lies waterlogged for weeks at a time. Methane is roughly 30 times
more powerful than CO2 as a greenhouse gas, and rice emits as much as 1.5% of the world's total
greenhouse gas emissions. With the human population in south-east Asia expected to grow by around 100m
people in the next 20 years, emissions from rice growing could increase 30% or more. 35

7. The urgency to act for the global good, self-interest in maintaining production and the possibility of
accessing money to reduce farm emissions has now led heavy rice-using food companies like Mars and
Kellogg's, and the agri-business colossus Olam, to set up the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP). This coalition
of companies, NGOs and governments sets the world's first voluntary sustainability standards for rice
growing. It adopts the basic SRI principle of planting seedlings further apart, and keeping them moist rather 40
than flooded, but adds targets and measurements to provide consistency.

7. "Rice is both a victim and a cause of climate change," says Sunny Verghese, CEO of Singapore-based
Olam's, which grows its own rice on 25,000 acres in Nigeria, owns mills and processing plants across south-
east Asia and ships nearly 20% of the world's globally traded rice. South-east Asian rice farmers are among
the world's most vulnerable to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, salinity, temperature rise 45
and droughts. Yields can decrease as much as 10% for each IC temperature increase, threatening food
security for billions of people. According to Sunny Verghese we must re-imagine the whole food supply chain
if the world is to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Page 2 of 4
 SECTION B – Data Response
Background
Jini works as a Digital Marketing Executive for Supernova, a small public relations (PR) and marketing agency
in the town of Xeroo. She wants to widen her knowledge of digital marketing as soon as possible by doing
external courses, as there is no one senior to her in her department to oiler in-house training. Her long-term
goal is to be sponsored through a Master's degree by Supernova. She has found three short-term
possibilities:

Provider A Zandi city council masterclasses

Title Learn how to prepare your company for the digital age
• Analysing the key trends and changes affecting companies and their leadership
• highlighting the importance of being customer-orientated with digital transformation by setting
Course up efficient feedback loops and ensuring that strategies are fully carried through
content • understanding the value of digital experts' use of agile thinking in driving change and
innovation in companies
• offering guidance on digital disruption and what to do to avoid it
Fast and interactive covering both theory and practice, with examples, advice, group exercises
Delivery
and discussions
Oli Pomerini — managing director of a world famous and award-winning digital marketing
consultancy, whose clients include multinational corporations, luxury brand conglomerates
Tutor
and leading charities. He has published several business-themed bestsellers and is regularly
included on the list of most influential people in digital marketing.
Date Monday 1 october
Location The main meeting room, Zandi city council
Times One day course, 09:30-16:30
Cost $300
Capacity 25 participants

Provider B Carla Patel, communication consultant

Title How to grab a journalist's attention: a guide for PR and marketing executives.
• the impact of digital technology on media and marketing, and how to use it to your clients'
advantage
Course • how to keep up-to-date with and take advantage of emerging platforms
content • the importance of strong storytelling on behalf of clients in order to gain press coverage
• what journalists and editors look for in press releases, blogs, posts, etc.
• how to build good relationships with journalists and editors
Delivery informal and interactive with lots of opportunities to ask for advice and pose questions
Carla is a successful local journalist, working part-time for the Xeroo Times amongst many
Tutor other publications. She is also a content strategist, advising numerous leading brands in the
region on their PR and marketing strategies.
Dates Wednesday 5 and Wednesday 12 September
Location the offices of Xeroo Times newspaper
Times evening course, 18:30-21:00
Cost $50
Capacity 10 participants

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 Provider C University of Zandi
Title Diploma in Digital Marketing (attracting university academic credits).
5 modules must be completed from the following to gain the qualification:
Course marketing fundamentals, marketing planning, essentials in digital marketing, digital analyticals,
content social media marketing, digital marketing planning, online customer experience, search engine
marketing
online distance learning — including recorded classes, webinars, podcasts, course notes,
Delivery
regular progress tests and analysis of exemplar examination questions
A personal tutor will be allocated to each student with teaching delivered by lecturers and
Tutor
postgraduate students from the Faculty of Business Studies.
Dates 5 modules over a period of up to 2 years
Location not applicable (online distance learning)
Times evening webinars, with all other materials on demand
Cost full course — $2000, single modules — $500 (a two-week free trial is available)
Capacity 50 participants, but study is self-directed at home

Additional information

1. It is problematic for Jini to have time off work as Supernova is only a small agency.
2. The town of Xeroo is situated 75km from Zandi.
3. Jini's parents would have preferred her to follow them into the family law firm.
4. Jini helps her mother to care for a disabled relative on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
5. Jini studied English at university so had to learn about marketing on the job.
6. Xeroo is in a rural area so does not enjoy good public transport links.
7. Carla Patel gave a careers talk to Jini's class at high school which Jini found very interesting.
8. Jini follows Oli Pomerini's posts as he is one of her business heroes.
9. Jini has handled tricky clients very well up to now, but feels that a deeper understanding of digital
analyticals would help her deal even more effectively with such situations.
10. Her preferred learning style tends to be collaborative and as a member of a small community of
learners.
11. Jini spends her weekends riding her horse as it gets no exercise during the working week.
12. Jini is learning to drive.
13. Supernova's clients tend to be small to medium-sized local companies.
14. As Jini is now on a salary that means she is having to pay back her student loan; money is an issue
so the course must be good value for money.

Page 4 of 4
 SECTION A – Comprehension

Answer the following questions:

1. From the material identify the phrase that means the following:
(i) major variation [paragraph 2]
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(ii) stringently monitoring [paragraph 3]
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(iii) international benefits [paragraph 7]
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2. Explain the meaning of the two following phrases as they are used in the material. You may write
the answer in one word or a short phrase.
(i) increased yields [line 20]
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(ii) provide consistency [line 41]

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(iii) Use these phrases in two separate sentences to illustrate their meanings as used in the material.
Your sentences should use subject matter that is different from the material.
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Page 2 of 5
3. Explain in your own words as far as possible:
i. the differences between normal rice cultivation and sustainable rice cultivation, as stated in
paragraphs 2 and 3.
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ii. how SRI is advantageous to farmers and helps in the protection of the environment. Refer to
paragraphs 5 and 6.
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iii. why food production should be controlled in order to become "carbon neutral by 2050" (line 48), as
stated in the last paragraph.
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______________________________________________________________________________[3]
4. What do you think is meant by "Rice is both a victim and a cause of climate change" (line 42)?
Answer in about 30 words.
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5. Give three ways, apart from those mentioned in the passage, in which global warming could be
reduced. Answer in your own words as far as possible.
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______________________________________________________________________________[3]
[Total: 25]
Page 3 of 5
 SECTION B – Data Response

Answer the following questions:

1(a) Considering the advantages and at least one disadvantage, explain why Jini might choose the
University of Zandi course. Answer in continuous prose, using your own words as far as possible.

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(b) Explain two disadvantages of the Zandi City Council Masterclasses with Oli Pomerini.

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(c) Explain two disadvantages of the Carla Patel course.

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Page 4 of 5
 (d) Which one piece of the additional information provided might Jini have regarded as the least
relevant in deciding which course to take? Justify your choice.

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______________________________________________________________________________[2]

(e) The term 'social media influencers' describes key individuals in, for example, entertainment or
fashion, whose online blogs or photographs have become increasingly important for marketing
departments. In your opinion, state why these key individuals are so influential.
________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________[2]

(f) The term 'early adopter' refers to a person who starts using technology or products as soon as they
become available. Give three reasons which you think might motivate someone to be an early adopter.
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______________________________________________________________________________[3]

[Total: 25]

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