Academic/General Training Module by Adam Smith First Published in 2015

 IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
159 
READING PASSAGE 2 
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-25 which are based on 
Reading Passage 2, "The Muang Faai Irrigation System of Northern Thailand". 
Questions 14-19 
Reading Passage 2 has 7 sections. 
Choose the most suitable heading for each section from the list of headings (A-L) 
below. Write the appropriate letter (A-L) in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet. 
N.B. There are more headings than sections, so you will not use all of them. 
List of Headings 
a. Rituals and beliefs
b. Topography of Northern Thailand
c. The forests of Northern Thailand 
d. Preserving the system 
e. Agricultural practices 
f. Village life 
g. Water distribution principles 
h. Maintaining natural balances
i. Structure of the irrigation system 
j. User's rights 
k. User's obligations 
l. Community control 
14. Section 1 
15. Section 2 
16. Section 3 
17. Section 4 
Example Section 5 A 
18. Section 6 
19. Section 7 

---

 IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
160 
THE MUANG FAAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM OF NORTHERN THAILAND 
SECTION 1
Northern Thailand consists mainly of long mountain chains interspersed with valley 
bottoms where streams and rice fields dominate the landscape. Most of the remaining 
forests of the North are found at higher altitudes. The forests ensure regular seasonal 
rainfall for the whole area and at the same time moderate runoff, so that there is 
water throughout the year. 
SECTION 2  
The lowland communities have developed an agricultural system adapted to, and 
partially determining, the distinctive ecosystems of their areas. Practicing wet-rice 
agriculture in the valley-bottoms, the lowlanders also raise pigs, ducks and chickens 
and cultivate vegetable gardens in their villages further up the slopes. Rice, beans, corn 
and native vegetables are planted in hill fields above the villages, and wild vegetables 
and herbal medicines are gathered and wild game hunted in the forests higher up the 
hillsides. The forests also serve as grazing grounds for cows and buffalo, and are a 
source of wood for household utensils, cooking fuel, construction and farming tools. 
Fish are to be found in the streams and in the irrigation system and wet-rice fields, 
providing both food and pest control.