READING PASSAGE
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-14, which are based on the reading passage below.

The Future of Our Plates: Changing Food Habits

A
In recent decades, our relationship with food has undergone a dramatic transformation. Historically, daily meals were centered around home cooking, requiring time and effort to prepare from scratch. However, the modern era has seen a surge in convenience foods and eating out, driven by increasingly busy lifestyles. While this shift offers undeniable convenience, it has also led to concerns regarding the nutritional value of heavily processed meals and a decline in traditional culinary skills.

B
In response to the industrialization of food production, there has been a growing resurgence in the demand for natural, wholesome ingredients. The ‘farm-to-table’ movement has gained immense popularity, advocating for the consumption of locally sourced and organic produce. Supporters argue that buying directly from regional farmers not only guarantees fresher and tastier ingredients but also significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with transporting goods over long distances.

C
At the same time, globalization has profoundly altered the contents of our supermarket shelves. Thanks to international trade and advanced refrigeration technology, consumers are no longer restricted to seasonal availability. It is now entirely normal to purchase exotic fruits and out-of-season vegetables at any time of the year. While this culinary diversity is celebrated by many food enthusiasts, critics point out the massive carbon footprint generated by flying fresh produce across the globe.

D
Another critical challenge facing the modern food industry is the staggering scale of food waste. Shockingly, it is estimated that roughly one-third of all food produced globally for human consumption is discarded. Much of this perfectly edible produce ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Addressing this issue requires a combined effort from supermarkets to relax their strict cosmetic standards for fruit and vegetables, and from consumers to plan their weekly shopping more carefully.

E
Looking to the future, the question of how to feed a rapidly expanding global population sustainably is a pressing concern. Scientists and food technologists are actively exploring unconventional alternative protein sources. One promising, albeit controversial, innovation is the development of cultured meat, grown directly from animal cells in a laboratory. Another highly efficient option is the consumption of edible insects. Although currently unappealing to many Western palates, insects are highly nutritious and require a fraction of the water, feed, and land needed for traditional livestock farming.

Questions 1-5

The reading passage has five paragraphs, A-E.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-E, next to each question.
NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. A description of a movement advocating for nearby food producers. ____

2. Mention of unconventional alternative protein sources for the future. ____

3. An explanation of how international trade affects our daily diets. ____

4. A reference to the environmental consequences of discarded produce. ____

5. The contrast between traditional meal preparation and modern convenience eating. ____

Questions 6-9

Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Tackling Waste and Future Needs

The modern food industry faces severe environmental challenges. A massive amount of edible food is thrown away and sent to (6) _______________, which generates harmful greenhouse gases. Furthermore, experts must find ways to sustainably feed a growing population. Solutions being researched include producing cultured meat inside a (7) _______________ and promoting the consumption of (8) _______________, as both methods use significantly less land and water than conventional (9) _______________.

Questions 10-14

Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

10. In the past, people primarily relied on _______________ for their daily meals.

11. The popularity of the _______________ movement shows that people want fresh, local ingredients.

12. Because of _______________ and advanced refrigeration, we can buy out-of-season vegetables all year round.

13. To reduce food waste, supermarkets need to change their strict _______________ for fresh produce.

14. Although highly nutritious, insects are currently unappealing to many _______________.