Basic IELTS Reading – UNIT 12: POPULATION GROWTH

In the next decade, population growth will probably add to world hunger problems. As the population grows, according to the World Hunger Programme, so will the number of malnourished people. The world’s population, estimated at 5.6 billion in 1994, may reach 11.5 billion by the year 2150, and most of that growth is occurring in the world’s poorest countries. At least 95 percent of the global population growth over the next thirty-five years will take place in the hunger-belt regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. For countries that already have a hard time feeding their populations, growth on a scale of even 3 percent a year could add significantly to their food problems. This level of growth is already occurring in Namibia and in South Africa, and many other countries are not far behind.

In 1981, the United States recorded a population on the African continent of 481 million people. This number topped 800 million by the year 2000. Africa would have to increase its food production by 4 percent a year to meet the food needs of its increased population. But Africa’s food production is growing by only 1 percent a year, which means that nations already struggling to meet their people’s food needs will have an even greater struggle as populations grow. “When food supply grows slower than population,” says Professor DeGregori, “a country is in trouble.”

1. The key words in this question are the World Hunger Programme. Based on these keywords, you can easily find out the ideas associated with the question. As the population grows, according to the World Hunger Programme, so will the number of malnourished people. Therefore, the answer to this question is the number of malnourished people.
2. The key words in this question are both a figure 3 percent a year and a phrase a population growth. You can scan through the passage and find out the sentence For countries that already have a hard time feeding their populations, growth on a scale of even 3 percent a year could add significantly to their food problems. So, the answer to this question is food problems.
3. The key words in this question are both a location Africa and a noun phrase food production. The two sentences including these keywords are Africa would have to increase its food production by 4 percent a year to meet the food needs of its increased population. But Africa’s food production is growing by only 1 percent a year, which means that nations already struggling to meet their people’s food needs will have an even greater struggle as populations grow. Carefully reading the three options and comparing them with the question, you can identify option B that represents the correct answer to this question.