Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 41 to 47
About two thirds of the world’s population live in what are loosely called “developing countries”. Of course, strictly speaking, all countries are developing, but the term is used to describe those which are undeniably poor. Although the rich countries have only about 34% of the world's population, they earn about 90% of the world's income. They also possess about 90% of the world’s financial resources, and more than 80% of the world's scientists and technicians. They produce 80% of the world's protein - including 70% of its meat - and they eat it.
Thanks to an impressive succession of agricultural revolutions, man's food-growing capacity is now hundreds of times larger than it was at the turn of the 20th century, and we are now feeding more people than at any time in history. Nonetheless, the number of hungry and malnourished people is also larger than at any time in history. Admittedly, total food production has increased since 1961 in most parts of the world. Yet, per capita food production is little changed from the inadequate levels of the early 1960s. In short, world and regional production have barely kept up with population growth.
There appear to be five food problems. First, there is the problem of quantity - of every human being getting enough calories to provide him with the energy to work and progress. Second, there is that of quality - of everyone getting enough protein, vitamins, and necessary minerals. Next, there is the matter of distribution: we have to find satisfactory ways of transporting, storing and issuing food. Then there is the problem of poverty: many people in developing countries do not have money to buy food in sufficient quantity and of sufficient quality. And last, we must find ways of avoiding ecological side-effects. In other words, we must be able to grow enough food without further degrading our land, water and air.
A number of proposals have been made to improve food quantity and quality. An obvious and very necessary one is to limit population growth. Another is to increase the amount of land under cultivation by clearing forests and by irrigating arid land. Furthermore, the ocean (comprising 70% of the Earth's surface) is a potential source of more food, and there have been developments recently in the use of non-conventional proteins and synthetic foods. And last, various attempts are being made to increase the yield per hectare by developing or selecting new genetic hybrids of plants (the “Green Revolution”), by increasing the use of fertilizers, water, pesticides and herbicides, and by using modern agricultural and management techniques in poorer countries.
What is probably a suitable title for the passage?
