PART I: WRITTEN RECEPTION (60 points)

(ACCESS TO INFORMATION FROM WRITTEN TEXTS)

Read the article below and then answer questions 1–7.

FARMLAND RETURNS TO NATURE

I A surprising new trend is seen nowadays all over the world – farms are being abandoned and
nature is taking over. Where crops once grew and sheep and cattle grazed, now trees and flowers are
flourishing. Insects are returning, and even animals such as deer and wild cats are beginning to move
in. For the first time in human history, the amount of farmed land is actually decreasing. Last year
5 alone, an area twice the size of Greece went from farmland to wilderness. How can this dramatic
change be explained?
II Among the factors driving the trend are the choices we make as consumers. Most notably,
when buying meat and vegetables we generally opt for the least expensive. Through the intensive
use of chemicals and modern technology, large industrial farms are able to supply much cheaper
10 produce. Unable to compete with their prices, many owners of small farms have moved to cities in
search of better-paid work. And it is not only small farms that are being abandoned. For example,
some huge sheep farms in Australia are being forced out of business because of the sharp drop in the
price of wool – the result of the worldwide preference for clothes made from synthetic materials.
III Ecologists and conservationists, of course, welcome the return of farmland to nature. "All
15 farmland was home to wildlife before it was cleared for agricultural purposes," says ecologist Robert
Lawson. "The 're-naturing' of land will enable many animal and plant species that are on the edge of
extinction to spread and increase their numbers. It's also beneficial for us humans. For example, there's
a significant improvement in air quality due to the increase in vegetation."
IV However, returning farmland to nature is not simple. "You can’t just turn off the tractors and
20 walk away," says Lawson. "Long-term farming often leaves the land in such terrible condition that
wild plants can no longer grow there. Environmentalists have been trying out different ways to make
these lands suitable for re-naturing. But the solution for one area is not necessarily good for any other,
so we need to evaluate and monitor each project. Yes, it takes time, and yes, it's expensive, but it also
provides employment for a lot of people."
25 V In some countries, governments and conservation organizations are paying farmers to plant
trees and wild flowers on the land they no longer farm. "Many of these areas have become tourist
attractions, with people coming for the thrill of seeing wild animals in their natural habitat," says
economist Gemma Richards. "Local farmers often provide visitors with a comfortable place to stay.
They may no longer be doing traditional farming but they're still generating enough income to stay in
30 the countryside. Everybody wins."

<u>QUESTIONS</u> (60 points)
Answer questions 1–7 in <u>English</u> according to the article. In questions 1, 4, 5 and 6, circle the number of the correct answer. In the other questions, follow the instructions.