On American School: You will have three minutes to read an academic text of around 260 words. Then you will hear an extract of a lecture on the same subject. You will have to write a summary of both documents and explain the relationship between the two. You will have 20 minutes to write an answer that is 150- to 225-words long.
The day of the exam: You will hear the recording only once.
Tip: Don’t hesitate to take notes as you listen to the recording. They will help you better structure your answer. You can also look back at the text if you need.
Text
Hydroponics as an alternative to traditional farming is becoming widespread, with the value of the global industry forecast to be $16 billion within the next 5 years. Instead of planting crops into the soil in fields, they are grown in special nutrient-rich water in a controlled environment with artificial light. The benefits from this revolutionary approach should make Hydroponics a viable and profitable commercial alternative all around the world, particularly in places where conventional farming is not feasible.
The first advantage is that crops can be cultivated everywhere on the planet irrespective of local conditions, like fluxes in temperature and soil quality. With traditional methods, plants are totally reliant on soil to support their roots and provide them with oxygen and the right combination of nutrients for healthy growth. They are also at the mercy of the elements, from extreme heat to violent storms. Yet no matter where Hydroponics units are located, the plants inside receive the perfect balance of nutrients and water, oxygen, temperature and light whatever species they are.
In addition, as all their needs are met without using pesticides, plants grow stronger and up to 25% more quickly than comparable crops grown in soil. This results in better quality produce with an extended shelf-life with the added bonus of increased yield, generally in excess of 30% more!
Finally, it takes up far less space to set up a Hydroponics farm than a traditional one and make a profit, for instance, even as small a plot as 2,000 sq. feet is feasible as a starting base though most are between 5,000 to 10,000 sq. feet, for example, with greenhouses, vertical structures or container farms. Even allowing for set up costs, like purchasing equipment, a return on investment on a well-managed farm is achievable by the third year of operations.