IELTS Practice Reading Test (Academic) – The Future of Food

Welcome to this IELTS Academic Reading practice test focused on the future of food.

This test simulates the format and difficulty of the actual IELTS Academic Reading test.

You’ll have one longer, complex passage to read, followed by 7 True/False/Not Given questions.

We recommend allowing yourself 20 minutes to complete this practice test.

The Cultured Meat

A. In recent years, the food industry has been abuzz with talk of a potential revolution: cultured meat. Also known as lab-grown meat, in vitro meat, or cell-based meat, this innovative product promises to deliver the taste and nutritional benefits of conventional meat without the ethical and environmental concerns associated with traditional animal agriculture. As global demand for meat continues to rise, alongside growing awareness of the environmental impact of livestock farming, cultured meat is increasingly seen as a viable solution to feed the world’s growing population sustainably.

B. The process of creating cultured meat begins with harvesting muscle cells from a living animal through a painless biopsy. These cells are then placed in a nutrient-rich medium where they multiply and grow, just as they would in an animal’s body. The result is a product that is biologically identical to conventional meat but produced without the need for animal slaughter or intensive farming practices. This technology has the potential to dramatically reduce the land, water, and energy requirements of meat production, as well as significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with animal agriculture.

C. While the concept of cultured meat has been around for decades, it’s only in recent years that significant progress has been made towards bringing these products to market. In 2013, the first cultured meat burger was unveiled to the public, with a price tag of around $330,000. Since then, numerous startups and established food companies have entered the field, driving rapid advancements in technology and substantial reductions in production costs. Today, several companies are on the brink of launching their first commercial products, with prices expected to be much more competitive with conventional meat.

D. Despite the potential benefits, cultured meat faces several challenges on its path to widespread adoption. One significant hurdle is consumer acceptance. Many people are hesitant about the idea of eating meat grown in a laboratory, citing concerns about its safety, taste, and “naturalness.” The industry is working hard to address these concerns through transparent communication about the production process and by emphasizing the similarities between cultured and conventional meat.

E. Another challenge lies in scaling up production to meet potential demand. While great strides have been made in reducing costs and improving efficiency, producing cultured meat at a scale that could significantly impact the global meat market remains a formidable task. This will require continued technological innovation, substantial investment, and the development of new supply chains and manufacturing facilities.

F. Regulatory frameworks also present a potential obstacle. As a novel food product, cultured meat will need to navigate complex approval processes in different countries. Questions about how to label and market these products are also being debated. Some traditional meat producers have pushed for restrictions on using terms like “meat” or “burger” for cultured products, arguing that these labels could confuse consumers.

G. Despite these challenges, many experts believe that cultured meat has the potential to transform the global food system. If successfully scaled up and widely adopted, it could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of meat production, improve animal welfare, and help meet the growing global demand for protein. Moreover, the technology opens up new possibilities for customization and innovation in food production, potentially allowing for the creation of novel meat products with enhanced nutritional profiles or unique flavor combinations.

H. As we look to the future, it’s clear that cultured meat will play an increasingly important role in our food systems. While it’s unlikely to completely replace conventional meat in the near term, it represents a promising complement to existing protein sources and a potential solution to some of the most pressing challenges facing global food production. As technology continues to advance and consumer acceptance grows, we may well be on the cusp of a new era in how we produce and consume meat.

Questions 1-7

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information FALSE if the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. Cultured meat is nutritionally inferior to conventional meat.
2. The first cultured meat burger cost significantly less than traditional burgers.
3. Consumer acceptance is one of the main challenges facing the cultured meat industry.
4. All countries have established clear regulatory frameworks for cultured meat products.
5. Cultured meat production requires less land and water compared to traditional animal farming.
6. Some conventional meat producers support the use of traditional meat terminology for cultured meat products.
7. Experts predict that cultured meat will completely replace conventional meat within the next decade.

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For further reading practices, you can visit: Animal Rights and Science.