Table of Contents
BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 578
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 578 – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 578
READING PASSAGE – 2
The Future of Ocean Farming
A. Ocean farming—also referred to as marine aquaculture—has rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing methods of food production globally. With the global population expected to surpass 9 billion by 2050, the demand for sustainable food sources is becoming more urgent. Ocean farming, which involves cultivating marine life such as fish, seaweed, and shellfish in the ocean, offers a promising solution. It not only avoids the need for arable land but also places less pressure on freshwater resources—two advantages that land-based agriculture cannot offer.
B. One of the most environmentally friendly components of ocean farming is seaweed cultivation. Seaweed grows without the need for fertilizers, pesticides, or even freshwater. It absorbs carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the surrounding water, helping to mitigate the effects of ocean acidification and nutrient pollution. Seaweed farms can also act as protective buffers, preventing coastal erosion and providing habitats for marine life. Another low-impact practice is shellfish farming. Oysters and mussels, known as filter feeders, naturally clean the water by removing algae and suspended particles, which in turn helps to restore ecological balance.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
C. However, not all ocean farming practices are sustainable. The farming of certain carnivorous fish such as salmon raises concerns. These fish require high-protein diets that are often made from wild-caught fish, putting pressure on marine ecosystems. Moreover, intensive fish farms can generate large amounts of waste, spread diseases, and contribute to the use of antibiotics and chemicals, which may have downstream effects on the environment.
D. To address these issues, researchers are experimenting with more sustainable forms of feed made from insects, microalgae, and agricultural by-products. There is also increasing interest in vertical ocean farming, a technique where seaweed and shellfish are cultivated together in the same area, suspended on ropes and nets. This method not only maximizes space but also creates a symbiotic relationship between species. The shellfish clean the water, while the seaweed absorbs nutrients and carbon, forming a closed-loop system with minimal environmental footprint.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
E. From an economic perspective, ocean farming has the potential to transform coastal communities. In many areas where wild fish stocks are declining due to overfishing and climate change, aquaculture can provide alternative employment and income. Seaweed, for instance, is not just a food source but can also be processed into biofuels, bioplastics, fertilizers, and cosmetics. Despite this promise, several challenges must be overcome to realize its full potential. These include regulatory hurdles, limited public awareness, access to funding, and vulnerabilities to climate-related threats like ocean warming and extreme weather events.
Questions 14–20
Matching Information
Match each statement with the correct section (A–E).
You may use any letter more than once.
14. Describes how some marine crops can improve ocean water quality.
15. Refers to new farming methods that use vertical space efficiently.
16. Mentions the growing global need for sustainable food solutions.
17. Discusses negative effects of certain aquaculture practices.
18. Refers to how ocean farming can help restore the ecosystem.
19. Points out the economic opportunities offered by aquaculture.
20. Lists difficulties that limit the expansion of ocean farming.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
Questions 21–26
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
21. Ocean farming reduces the strain on __________, unlike traditional farming.
22. Seaweed farms can help combat the problem of __________ in oceans.
23. Shellfish like oysters clean the water by removing __________.
24. Salmon farming is problematic due to the need for __________ in their feed.
25. Vertical ocean farming encourages a __________ between seaweed and shellfish.
26. Seaweed has commercial applications beyond food, such as in __________ and cosmetics.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
IELTS Academic Reading Test
ANSWERS
14. B
15. D
16. A
17. C
18. B
19. E
20. E
21. FRESHWATER RESOURCES
22. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
23. ALGAE AND SUSPENDED PARTICLES
24. WILD-CAUGHT FISH
25. SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
26. BIOFUELS
IELTS Academic Reading Test