CHAPTER 1

LISTENING COMPREHENSION
Section 1. Questions 1-4

Complete the notes below by writing no more than two words and/or a number for
each answer:

Questions 5-10
Complete the table below by writing no more than two words for each answer:
READING COMPREHENSION

Agricultural Business

Agricultural business involves the buying and selling products that have been produced
through the forestry and farming industries. It can give consumers a greater access to a
variety of agricultural goods, often at more affordable prices. For example, European
countries can obtain cocoa, coffee, and tropical fruits by engaging in agricultural business.
Trade also brings fresh fruits and vegetables to countries like Canada, the United Kingdom,
and the United States during their cold winter months.
The notion of agricultural business dates back to the time of the Romans, who grew crops
expressly for the purpose of trade. Since ancient times, agricultural business has expanded
into a global enterprise and includes countless commodities. The modern agricultural market
is vast, encompassing more than just food importing and food exporting. Other commodities
that can be traded include livestock, raw materials, fibres and stimulants.
Food products primarily cereals, vegetables, and fruits are bought and sold in agricultural
markets in order to meet global food demand. Cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and horses are
often traded for food, recreation, or other purposes, such as leather production. Raw
materials like lumber and bamboo are also bought and sold on agricultural markets. Another
frequently-traded agricultural commodity is fibre, including materials like hemp, silk, wool,
and cotton. Stimulants like tobacco and alcohol also make up a sizable chunk of the
agriculture market.
The economies of developing countries are often driven by their abilities to export agricultural
products. While agricultural business can provide opportunities for poorer nations, some of
these countries lack the infrastructure to adequately distribute the products. In addition, they
can have difficulty competing if high tariffs are placed on their exported goods. As a result,
international agricultural trade can be difficult in developing nations, particularly for small-
scale or rural farm operations.
Agricultural business is becoming more global due to advance in technology and trade
agreements made among countries. Tracking market fluctuations as well as being
knowledgeable about applicable trade regulations can be a challenging task for buyers and
sellers in the industry. As trade becomes more global, countries are taking steps to support
policies that promote fair trade and sustainable agriculture practices.
For example, many countries have adopted their own agricultural trade programs. These
programs are usually targeted at implementing and growing domestic and international
outlets for the country’s agricultural commodities. Some countries offer farmers subsidies for
growing certain agricultural products. Education and training on sustainable growing
practices may also be part of a country’s overall trade program. In addition, many countries
seek to expand trade with other countries by entering into agreements that eliminate or
reduce import and export taxes on agricultural products.

(from: Charity Delich. 2003. Conjecture Corporation)

Answer the following questions based on the text:

1. What is agricultural business?
2. What kind of goods is engaging in agricultural business?
3. What is a raw material?
4. What does this sentence mean?
“The economics of developing countries are often driven by their abilities to export
agricultural products.”
5. Why do some countries get difficulties competing their exported goods?
6. Why is tracking market fluctuation a challenging task for buyers and sellers?
7. What is fair trade?
8. Mention the example of fair trade.

Match the following words from the previous text with their definition.
Word Definition
1. Leather a. Dietary material containing substances such
as cellulose, lignin, and pectin that are
resistant to the action of digestive enzymes
2. Export b. A raw material or primary agricultural product
that can be bought and sold
3. Lumber c. A material made from the skin of an animal
by tanning or a similar process
4. Fibre d. Move in a slow, heavy, awkward way
5. Commodity e. Send goods or services to another country
6. Cocoa for sale

LANGUAGE FOCUS: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Definition
A verb must agree with its subject in number. A singular subject (one person or thing)
takes a singular verb. A plural subject (more than one person or thing) takes a plural verb.
Mistakes in subject-verb agreement are sometimes made in the following situations:
 When words come between the subject and the verb
 When a verb comes before the subject
 With indefinite pronouns
 With compound subjects
 With who, which, and that

Each situation is explained in depth as follows.

Words between the Subject and the Verb

Words that come between the subject and the verb do not change subject-verb agreement.
In the following sentence:
The breakfast cereals in the pantry are made mostly of sugar.

The subject (cereals) is plural, so the verb (are) is plural. The words in the pantry that come
between the subject and the verb do not affect subject-verb agreement. Other examples are:
One of the crooked politicians was jailed for a month.
The boxes in my grandmother’s atticcontain old family photos and long-forgotten
toys.

Practice 1
1. A trail of bloodstains (leads/lead) to the spot where the murder was committed.
2. The winter clothes in the hall closet (takes/take) up too much room.
3. A basket of fancy fruit and nuts (was/were) delivered to my house.
4. The garbled instructions for assembling the bicycle (was/were) almost impossible to
follow.
5. Smoke from the distant forest fires (is/are) visible from many miles.
Verb before the Subject
A verb agrees with its subject even when the verb comes before the subject. Words that may
precede the subject include there, here, and, in questions, who, which, what, and where.
Examples:
Inside the storage shed are the garden tools.
At the street corner were two panhandlers.
There are times when I’m ready to quit my job.
Where are the instructions for assembling the bed?

Practice 2
1. Outside the novelty shop at the mall (stands/stand) a life-sie cutout of W. C. Fields.
2. Coming out of the fog toward the frightened boys (was/were) the menacing shape of a
large dog.
3. In the rear of the closet (was/were) the basketball sneakers that I thought I had lost.
4. On the table in the doctor’s office (is/are) some magazines that are five years old.
5. Lining one wall of the gym (was/were) a row of lockers for the team members.

Indefinite Pronouns
-one words -body words -thing words
one nobody nothing
anyone anybody anything
everyone everybody everything
someone somebody something

There other indefinite pronouns:

each
either
neither
both

Practice 3
1. Something always (keeps/keep) me from getting to bed on time.
2. Nobody that I know (works/work) as hard as Manuel.
3. Neither of the jobs offered to me (pays/pay) more than eight dollars an hour.
4. Both of the speakers (has/have) told us more that we care to know about the dangers of
water pollution.
5. Someone in Inex’s apartment house (slips/slip) an unsigned valentine under her door
every year.

Compound Subjects
Subjects joined by and generally take a plural verb. Examples:
Yoga and biking are Lola’s ways of staying in shape.
Ambition and good luck are the keys to his success.

When subjects are joined by either . . . or, neither . . . nor, or not only . . . but also, the verb
agrees with the subject closer to the verb. Example:
Either the restaurant manager or his assistants deserve to be fired for the spoiled
meat used in the stew.

Practice 4
1. The pilates and spinning classes (seem/seems) to help me stay in shape, but the key to
fitness is a sensible diet.
2. Either the tongue ring or dragon tattoo (is/are) responsible for Zack’s appeal.
3. A double shot of espresso and two pumps of hazelnut syrup (is/are) all I need to start my
morning.
4. The lecture podcasts and study guides (help/helps) me prepare for exams.
5. Neither Mick Jagger nor my favorite rock band, The Rolling Stones, (impress/impresses)
my ten-year old daughter, who prefers Disney’s Hannah Montana.

Who, Which, That

When who, which, and that are used as subjects of verbs, they take singular verbs if the
word they stand for is singular, and they take plural verbs if the word they stand for is plural.
For example, in the sentence:
Gary is one of those people who are very private.

the verb is plural because who stands for people, which is plural. On the other hand, in the
sentence:
Gary is a person who is very private.

the verb is singular because who stands for person, which is singular.

Practice 5
1. The young man who (has/have) mowed my grass for years just left for college.
2. The jacket that (goes/go) with those pants is at the cleaners.
3. Women who (becomes/become) police officers often have to prove themselves more
capable than do their male coworkers.
4. The restaurant serves hamburgers that (tastes/taste) like dry cereal.
5. The ceiling in Kevin’s bedroom is covered with stars, which (is/are) arranged in the shape
of the constellations.

(The content in Language Focus is taken from Langan, John. 2010. Exploring writing:
sentences and paragraphs 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill)

SPEAKING
1. Some people believe that the earth is being harmed by human activities. Others feel that
human activities make the earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
2. It has been said that not everything that is learnt is contained in books. Please compare
and contrast knowledge gained from experiences with knowledge gained from books.
What is your opinion?