METU EPE ONLINE Reading Exam Practice 13- The Future of Urban Agriculture

B2–C1 Reading Exam Practice (METU EPE / ODTÜ İYS)

Time limit: 15 minutes

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions below.
Choose the best answer (A, B, or C).
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A In the mid-20th century, the "Green Revolution" transformed global food production. While it saved millions from hunger, it also created a rift between city dwellers and the sources of their sustenance. Today, as we face rapid urbanization and climate instability, we see a resurgence of urban agriculture. This shift is a fundamental rethinking of our urban ecosystems. Whether it involves vertical farms in Singapore or community gardens in Detroit, urban farming informs our response to the fragility of global supply chains.

1. In paragraph A, why does the author refer to the Green Revolution?

a) To argue that industrial farming was a complete failure in terms of feeding the world.

b) To highlight the specific industrial chemicals that led to the current climate crisis.

c) To link past agricultural shifts to the rise of urban farming.

B For decades, large-scale food production within cities was dismissed as a hobby. However, the advancement of hydroponic technologies has changed the calculation. We now realize that the "distance" our food travels is a significant vulnerability. Historically, cities were surrounded by "market gardens." These were eventually pushed out by suburban sprawl, leading many to believe that high-yield farming was incompatible with high-density living. Luckily, technology is now making it possible to bring the farm back to the heart of the city.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph B?

a) Technological advances have made urban farming viable.

b) The distance food travels has become a major concern for modern cities.

c) Cities once abandoned local food production in favor of expansion.

C One reason for the slow adoption of urban farming was the assumption that global trade would always be reliable. If a city lacked the capacity to produce certain crops, it could simply import them. However, recent disruptions in global supply chains have challenged this assumption. Economists now emphasize the importance of “resilience”—the ability of systems to withstand shocks. Despite early skepticism, data shows that urban farms can reduce "food deserts." Dependence on long-distance logistics might put a time limit on modern urban stability.

3. Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from paragraph C?

a) Economists are becoming increasingly concerned about the reliability of global trade routes.

b) Cities that rely solely on imports are more vulnerable to long-term instability.

c) Urban farming has already replaced global trade as the primary source of food for most cities.

D The need for resilience becomes clearer when we consider the different types of risks within modern food systems. Some risks are localized, such as crop failure due to pests or soil degradation. Others are technological, including failures in automated farming systems. More critically, there are systemic risks—threats that affect entire infrastructures, such as energy or transportation networks. Because modern cities rely heavily on intricate, “just-in-time” delivery systems, disruptions to these networks can have widespread consequences for food availability.

4. Which of the following can be an example of “a systemic risk” explained in Paragraph D?

a) A specific pest that destroys a single farmer's tomato crop in a vertical farm

b) A failure in lab-grown meat production that reduces food availability in one city

c) A cyberattack on the power grid that disrupts food transport and storage

E So how can we scale these solutions? Decision-making often happens under uncertainty, and many governments use it as an excuse for inaction. Top-down solutions, where the city mandates green roofs, are needed for rapid change. However, community-led initiatives are best prepared long beforehand. Solutions often consist of smaller building blocks, so finding useful solutions can also be bottom-up.

5. According to paragraph E, what is one way to improve urban food security?

a) Cities should rely exclusively on top-down mandates rather than community gardens.

b) Cities should integrate both government-sponsored initiatives and bottom-up solutions.

c) Governments should wait for certain data before investing in new agricultural research.

6. What does the word “resurgence” in paragraph A most nearly mean?

a) revival

b) decline

c) expansion

RESULT

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