The early history of olive oil
Read The early history of olive oil and check the IELTS Reading answers. Olive oil is produced from the fruit of the olive tree, which is a member of the Oleaceae plant family. The trees require some cold weather during the year, but also tolerate hot, dry conditions, and do not like moisture when…
Passage preview
Olive oil is produced from the fruit of the olive tree, which is a member of the Oleaceae plant family. The trees require some cold weather during the year, but also tolerate hot, dry conditions, and do not like moisture when they are flowering. They actually produce better when subjected to these stressful conditions, and as a result, olive trees have traditionally been grown on land where little else will survive.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- contend verb
To assert something as a position in an argument; to struggle to surmount a difficulty
Critics contend that the proposed policy will negatively impact small businesses.
- cultivation noun
The act of preparing land and growing crops (agriculture) or the process of trying to acquire or develop a quality
Intensive cultivation of the land has led to soil depletion in some regions.
- domestication noun
The process of taming an animal or cultivating a plant for food to the advantage of humans
The domestication of wild grains was a pivotal moment in human history.
- ingrained adjective
Firmly fixed or established; difficult to change (regarding habits, beliefs, or attitudes)
A respect for elders is deeply ingrained in many Asian cultures.
- laborious adjective
Requiring considerable effort, time, and perseverance; characterized by hard work
Translating ancient texts is a laborious process requiring immense patience.
- malnutrition noun
Lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat
Severe malnutrition remains a critical health issue in developing nations during droughts.
- mechanisation noun
The introduction of machines or automatic devices into a process, activity, or place
The mechanisation of agriculture significantly reduced the need for manual labor.
- pharmacological adjective
Relating to the branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs
The plant is studied for its potential pharmacological properties in treating inflammation.
- refine verb
To remove impurities or unwanted elements from a substance; to improve a theory or method by making small changes
Engineers continue to refine the software to eliminate bugs and improve efficiency.
- residue noun
A small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been taken or used
Chemical residue from pesticides can sometimes be found on non-organic produce.
Answers with explanations
- 1. TRUE
The statement claims a period without rain (dry) is **advantageous**. The text states trees **produce better** when subjected to **hot, dry conditions**. Since 'produce better' confirms the advantage of dry conditions, the statement agrees. Answer: TRUE.
- 2. FALSE
The statement claims **fertile fields** are usually chosen. The text explicitly states olive trees are grown on **land where little else will survive**, implying poor quality soil rather than fertile fields. This directly contradicts the claim. Answer: FALSE.
- 2-3: data
2: The statement claims **fertile fields** are usually chosen. The text explicitly states olive trees are grown on **land where little else will survive**, implying poor quality soil rather than fertile fields. This directly contradicts the claim. Answer: FALSE.
3: The statement says the tree was said to have **divine origins**. The text confirms Greeks believed it was a **gift from the goddess Athena**, which validates the divine origin claim. Answer: TRUE.
- 3. TRUE
The statement says the tree was said to have **divine origins**. The text confirms Greeks believed it was a **gift from the goddess Athena**, which validates the divine origin claim. Answer: TRUE.
- 3-4: B
3: The statement says the tree was said to have **divine origins**. The text confirms Greeks believed it was a **gift from the goddess Athena**, which validates the divine origin claim. Answer: TRUE.
4: The statement compares the **cost** of olive oil to gold. While the text mentions Homer called it '**liquid gold**', this is a **metaphorical** description of its value/appearance, not a literal price comparison. There is no information about the actual cost relative to gold. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 4. NOT GIVEN
The statement compares the **cost** of olive oil to gold. While the text mentions Homer called it '**liquid gold**', this is a **metaphorical** description of its value/appearance, not a literal price comparison. There is no information about the actual cost relative to gold. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 5. TRUE
The statement says **Plato** mentions the use of oil in **food preparation**. The text confirms its '**employment in cooking**... as described by... **Plato**'. 'Cooking' is synonymous with 'preparation of food'. Answer: TRUE.
- 6. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims North African farmers **resisted** the trees. The text only states that trees were **taken to North Africa**. It provides no information about the farmers' reaction or any resistance. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 7. beating
The summary mentions harvesting by 'picking them' (synonymous with 'by hand') or another method. The text lists 'by hand' or 'by **beating** the fruit'. The word 'beating' grammatically fits the gap as a gerund describing the action performed on the trees. Answer: beating.
- 8. bags
The question asks where the olive flesh is placed. The text states explicitly that the flesh was 'put in woven **bags**' before being pressed. The noun 'bags' completes the phrase 'placed in...'. Answer: bags.
- 9. salt
The summary mentions a substance used to 'aid the process'. The text states that **salt** was added to '**speed up** the process'. 'Speed up' acts as the synonym for 'aid' in this context. Answer: salt.
- 10. pollution
The question notes that throwing away the liquid 'led to' something. The text says it was 'discarded', which caused '**serious pollution**'. The noun 'pollution' is the direct result mentioned. Answer: pollution.
- 11. floors
The question asks where the substance was used on certain buildings. The text specifies it was applied to the **floors** of grain storage buildings. The noun 'floors' fits the location context. Answer: floors.
- 12. leather
The question asks about making something 'into goods to wear'. The text describes applying the substance to **leather** to soften it for shaping into 'clothing and shoes' (goods to wear). The answer is the raw material being processed. Answer: leather.
- 13. pesticide
The summary describes use on farms to 'stop insects'. The text confirms it was utilised by farmers as a **pesticide** to 'protect their crops from insects'. The term 'pesticide' matches the function described. Answer: pesticide.