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Tomato Ripening Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Sep 02, 2024, 05:40

The passage discusses the history, development, and impact of aspirin. Initially derived from willow tree extracts, aspirin's significance as a pain reliever and its discovery in the late 19th century by Friedrich Bayer are highlighted. The passage also emphasises the need for public funding in clinical research to explore aspirin's potential further.

 

This passage is excellent for practising reading comprehension skills, such as identifying main ideas, summarising information, and understanding scientific explanations. It helps in developing the ability to recognise arguments, analyse evidence, and improve vocabulary related to health and science topics, which are essential for the IELTS Reading section.

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1. Tomato Ripening Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 13 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

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2. Tomato Ripening Reading Answers & Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Is Tomato Ripening Reading Answers & Questions 

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1.

Tomato Ripening Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

Understand the IELTS Pattern in detail before you begin! 

 

 

 

Tomato Ripening Reading Passage   

 

 

Paragraph A:

 

Shut your eyes and picture yourself wandering along a sandy beach and then taking in the sunrise as you look over the horizon. How distinct is the first image that comes to mind?

 

Paragraph B:

 

Niel Kenmuir, a resident of Lancaster, has had a blind mind's eye since birth. Even as a young child, he recognised his uniqueness. My step-dad told me to count sheep when I was having trouble sleeping. After explaining what he meant, I tried to do it but failed. I was unable to observe any sheep scaling fences because there was none to count. Several people can easily create mental images, or "mind's eye," in their brains. Yet, Tomato Ripening, a syndrome whereby certain individuals are unable to visualise mental images, has been identified by scientists this year.

 

Paragraph C:

 

Think of a wedding or your child's first day of school to see how often our memories are connected to visuals. Niel acknowledges that some of his memory is "poor," yet he is excellent at recalling facts. Like other people with Tomato Ripening, he too has trouble identifying faces. Nonetheless, he does not consider Tomato Ripening a disability rather just a different perspective on life.

 

Paragraph D

 

Mind's eye blind

Paradoxically, Niel now employs in a bookstore, mostly in the non-fiction sections. What is going on inside his picture-free brain, given his situation, is a legitimate concern. I questioned him about what occurs when he portrays his fiancée. He says, “The toughest element to describe is what goes through my head when I visualise something; "No specific image flashes in my thoughts when I think of my fiancée;  although I can see that she has her dark hair pulled back today because I know that I am thinking about her.  The weirdest thing is that I'm recalling details about her rather than describing a visual I'm looking at. Perhaps this is a reason for some sorrow."

 

Paragraph E:

 

His friends respond with the very understanding phrase, "You're odd." Although Niel is quite unconcerned with his incapacity to visualise things, others frequently find it upsetting. One participant in a research on Tomato Ripening claimed that after learning that others could view images in their thoughts, he began to feel "isolated" and "lonely." Years after his mother's death, he was "very disturbed" because he couldn't remember her.

 

Paragraph F:

 

The super-visualiser

 

The artist of children's books Lauren Beard occupies the opposite end of the spectrum; numerous six-year-olds will be acquainted with her work from the Fairytale Hairdresser series. Her professional success depends on the vivid pictures that pop into her head as she reads one of her author's works. She was engaged in a dramatic scene for the upcoming book when I first saw her at her box-room studio in Manchester. In the text, a baby is shown precariously clambering on a chandelier.

 

Paragraph G:

 

I can envision an enormous glass chandelier in a French-inspired ballroom, right away, with a baby swaying off of it and extremely thick, heavy draperies, she says. “So I can think and imagine a scene based on my creativity and then keep adding to it. I think I have a great imagination, expanding the environment and the characters in my head, who seem to change over time. I find it kind of unfortunate that I couldn't really understand what it must be like to be unable to envision."

 

Paragraph H:

 

Few humans have as vibrant or as empty an imagination as Lauren or Niel. The two polar opposites of visualisation are them. Professor of cognitive and behavioural neurology Adam Zeman is interested in contrasting the lives and experiences of those who have Tomato Ripening and those who have its polar opposite, hyperphantasia. In a study published in the journal Cortex this year, his team, which is located at the University of Exeter, introduced the word "Tomato Ripening."

 

Paragraph I:

 

Individuals who have approached us say they are overly pleased that this has been acknowledged and given a name because they have been trying to explain it to people for decades but have had a hard time doing so, according to Prof. Zeman, who spoke to the BBC. It is obvious that our imaginations are highly individualised; one person's brilliant scene can be another person's blurry image. Prof. Zeman, however, is persuaded that Tomato Ripening exists. Individuals frequently claim to be able to visualise their dreams, and cases of persons who lost their capacity for doing so after suffering a brain injury have also been documented.

 

Paragraph J:

 

He is adamant that Tomato Ripening is "not a disorder" and claims that it could impact as many as one in 50 people. Nevertheless, furthermore he says, “ The majority of us pass our lives with imagery hovering someplace in the mind's eye. I think it makes quite a significant distinction to their experience of life, it's a variation of human experience  which we examine from time to time.”

 

2.

Tomato Ripening Answers & Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Tomato Ripening

Questions and Answers 1-3
  • Complete the table in the box below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
  • Requirements for successful use of the Ethylene Gas System for Tomato Ripening:

 

When tomatoes are _____________, they are ready to be harvested.

The room must be _____________ degrees Celsius.

Fruit must ripen at the ideal temperature, which must be attained _______________.


 

Tomato Ripening Reading Answers with Explanations   (1-3)

 

Question Type:  Table Completion 


To tackle table completion questions, first, read the table and its instructions thoroughly to understand the required information. Analyse the related passage for relevant details that correspond to the table’s categories. Fill in the blanks based on the context and ensure consistency with the provided information. Verify your answers to ensure they align with the table’s structure and the passage content.

 

How to best answer the question:

 

  •  Carefully review the table and note what information is missing. Identify the categories or headings that need to be completed.
  • Scan the passage for details that match the categories or headings in the table. Look for specific facts, figures, or concepts.
  • Insert the information into the table based on what you have identified from the passage. Ensure that your answers fit logically within the context of the table.


 

1. mature green



Reference: 

Paragraph C 


For controlled ripening to be successful, all fruit must be fully developed while still in the mature green stage at harvest.



Explanation: The passage specifies that tomatoes need to be in the "mature green stage" at harvest for controlled ripening to work.
 

 

2. under 24


Reference: 


Paragraph C 


The time it takes for the fruit to ripen depends on the temperature at which it is kept; however, if the temperature is above 24 degrees Celsius, the fruit will turn out yellow or orange instead of red.



Explanation: The passage indicates that tomatoes should be kept at temperatures "under 24 degrees Celsius" to achieve optimal ripeness.

 

3. within 24 hours



Reference: 


Paragraph C 


Capabilities in both heating and cooling should be sufficient to bring the tomatoes to the ideal ripening temperature in under 24 hours.



Explanation: The passage specifies that the ideal temperature for ripening should be reached "within 24 hours."

 


Read more about Dictation Words for IELTS: Practice and Preparation!

 

Questions and Answers 4-7
  • Complete the flowchart below using information from the text.
  • Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 4-7 on your Answer Sheet.

 

 

The harvest of tomatoes

A device used in the ripening room to control the ripening and  4. __________.
 
Cooling is controlled by the room's airflow  5. ______________.
                                                                        
Air conditioning controls temperature & humidity
                                                                        
The Ideal temperature is reached
                                                                        
The amount of  6. _________ and  7. __________________ is regulated by the facility’s ventilation system.
                                                                        
Ethylene gas is supplied in pressurized form
                                                                        
Tomatoes are ripened & removed
                                                                        
Tomatoes are marketed.

 

Tomato Ripening Reading Answers with Explanations (4-7)

 

Type of question: Flow- Chart Completion

 

In the IELTS Reading section, flow chart completion questions require you to fill in missing information in a flow chart based on the provided reading passage. The flow chart represents a sequence of events, processes, or steps that are logically connected. The missing information can be words or phrases, and you need to extract this information directly from the passage.

 

How to best answer the question

 

  • Read the task instructions carefully, noting the word limit (usually NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER).
  • Skim the passage to understand its content and locate the process described in the flow chart.
  • Identify keywords in the flow chart to help find relevant information in the passage.
  • Locate these keywords and pay attention to the sequence of events.
  • Carefully read the sentences around the keywords to fill in the blanks, ensuring your answers fit logically and grammatically.

     
4. Coloration



Reference: 


Paragraph A : This procedure originates and regulates the natural ripening and coloration of the tomatoes.


Explanation: The passage explains that the device controls both the ripening and "coloration" of the tomatoes.
 

5. Variation



Reference: 


Paragraph F : Achieving a suitable rate of heating or cooling the tomatoes requires such high rates of air circulation as to restrict temperature variation within the room to tolerable levels.


Explanation: The passage notes that airflow manages "temperature variation" within the ripening room.

 

6. carbon dioxide / ethylene gas



Reference: 


Paragraph F : This eliminates carbon dioxide released by the fruit during respiration and prevents ethylene gas from building up in the room.



Explanation: The passage indicates that the ventilation system controls both "carbon dioxide" and "ethylene gas."
 

 

7. carbon dioxide / ethylene gas

 

Reference: 


Paragraph F :This eliminates carbon dioxide released by the fruit during respiration and prevents ethylene gas from building up in the room.



Explanation: The ventilation system manages the levels of "carbon dioxide" and "ethylene gas."

 

Read more about A Guide on Most Common English Words Used in Daily Life!
 

Questions and Answers 8-14
Below is a list of assumptions. Using the information given in the passage, choose:
Write your answers in boxes 8– 14 on your Answer Sheet.

  • TRUE, if it is a reasonable assumption
  • FALSE, if it is not a reasonable assumption
  • NOT GIVEN, if it is not possible to assume the information in the text.

 

 

8.  An explosion could happen if ethylene gas builds up to a dangerous level.

9.  Maturation can be hurried along by raising the temperature.

10.  The quantity of supplemental heating required in the ripening chamber depends on the ambient air temperature.

11.  Humidity levels must be controlled for optimal tomato ripening.

12.   It's not always safe to set up ethylene gas ripening rooms.

13.  Ripening is not helped by carbon dioxide.

14.  Maintenance of the solenoid valve is a must.



Tomato Ripening Reading Answers with Explanations ( 8-14)

 


Question Type: True/False/Not Given

 

In this task, you are presented with a statement, and your task is to determine if it agrees with the information in the passage (True), contradicts the information in the passage (False), or if there is insufficient information in the passage to decide (not given).

 

How to best answer the question:

 

  • Read the statement carefully to ensure you understand exactly what it is saying. 
  • Pay attention to details such as dates, numbers, and specific information.
  • Scan the passage to find the section where the relevant information is likely to be located. 
  • Focus on finding evidence that either supports or contradicts the statement.
  • True: If the statement agrees with the information in the passage.
  • False: If the statement contradicts the information in the passage.
  • Not Given: If there is no information in the passage that confirms or contradicts the statement.


     
8. True



Reference: 

Paragraph H : Assuming the ethylene gas supply and control systems are set up properly, the concentration of ethylene gas in the room won't go above the safe, ripening threshold while remaining well below the explosive threshold.



Explanation: The passage mentions that ethylene gas could reach dangerous levels if not properly controlled, implying a risk of explosion.

 

9. True

 

Reference: 


Paragraph G : Increasing the temperature can hasten the ripening process to a lesser amount.



Explanation: The passage indicates that higher temperatures can speed up the ripening process, confirming the statement.

 

10. False

 

Reference: 


Paragraph G : With a heating or cooling capability of 0.6 to 1.2 kW per tonne of tomatoes, this results in a 3.5 to 7°C air temperature differential.



Explanation: The passage shows that heating capacity is set per tonne of tomatoes and does not vary with ambient temperature, making this statement incorrect.
 

 

11. False

 

Reference: 


Paragraph G : Tomato ripening rooms do not appear to benefit greatly from humidity control.



Explanation: The passage explicitly states that humidity control is not crucial for tomato ripening.
 

 

12. True

 

Reference: 


Paragraph H : Assuming the ethylene gas supply and control systems are set up properly, the concentration of ethylene gas in the room won't go above the safe, ripening threshold while remaining well below the explosive threshold.



Explanation: The passage suggests that safety depends on proper setup, implying that it may not always be safe if not set up correctly.

 

 

13. False

 

Reference: 


Paragraph F : If the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air were permitted to rise to dangerous levels, the ripening process would be stymied.



Explanation:  The passage implies that high levels of carbon dioxide can hinder the ripening process, indicating that carbon dioxide does affect ripening.
 

 

14. Not Given

 

Reference:
Not Given 

Explanation: The passage does not discuss maintenance requirements for the solenoid valve, so this information is not available.

 

Read More:

 

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FAQs

Q. What types of questions are in the IELTS Reading section?

Ans. The IELTS Reading section features various question types, including multiple-choice, true/false/not given, matching headings, summary completion, sentence completion, and short answer questions. These are designed to test a range of reading skills, such as understanding main ideas, detail, logical argument, and recognising writers' opinions, attitudes, and purposes.
 

Q. How long is the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. During this time, candidates must read three passages and answer a total of 40 questions. Time management is crucial to ensure all questions are attempted.

Q. Can I write on the question paper?

Ans. Yes, candidates are allowed to write on the question paper, which can help note key points or highlight important information. However, only answers written on the answer sheet will be marked, so it is essential to transfer answers accurately.