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

Time limit: 3 minutes 
Rice 
Since ancient times, rice has been the most commonly used food grain for the majority 
of people in the world. A member of the grass family Graminae, rice (Oryza sativa) can 
be grown successfully under climatic conditions ranging from tropical to temperate. 
Properly cultivated, rice produces higher yields than any other grain with the exception 
of corn, and although the total area planted in rice is far smaller than that devoted to 
wheat (the world total is about one-third less), the rice crop feeds a far greater 
proportion of the world’s population.
In contrast to wheat and corn, only a small percentage of the total rice crop enters 
international trade. Not quite 40% of the total worldwide becomes an export 
commodity, although the United States exports approximately 45% of its production. 
Limited international trade in rice has prevented the establishment of large, active 
trading centres like those for marketing cereal grains, and formulation of official grain 
standards for rice has been slow to develop. 

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 IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
16 
During the past quarter of a century, rice-breeding programs have been initiated in 
several countries. Resistance to diseases and insects was the major objective of the 
earlier research, but hybrid programs have dominated recently. High-yielding dwarf 
plants that can withstand deep water and that respond to fertilizers have been 
developed. Improved grain quality and higher protein levels have been added 
objectives of new programs designed to improve nutrition.
Questions: 
1. Rice has been eaten since ancient times. 
T F NG 
2. Rice is a member of the grass family.
T F NG 
3. Rice can only be grown in tropical climates.