Directions (1-9): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below them.
There is widespread international concern that Russia's war will provoke a global food crisis similar to, or worse than, that faced in 2007 and 2008. The war comes at a time when the global food system was already struggling to feed its growing population in a sustainable way, under the pressure caused by climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. Russia and Ukraine are key agricultural players, together exporting nearly 12% of food calories traded globally. They are major providers of basic agro-commodities, including wheat, maize and sunflower oil, and Russia is the world's top exporter of fertilisers. The global supply chain will get impacted until Russia and Ukraine retreat and will end the war.
The war's impact on global food supply centred on three factors. First is a significant reduction in exports and production of essential commodities from both countries, caused by the war and not the economic sanctions imposed on Russia, which, intentionally, did not target the agricultural sector. Overall, the European Commission estimates that 'up to 25 million tonnes of wheat would need to be substituted to meet worldwide food needs in the current and the next season. Second factor is a global spike in prices of food supplies and inputs needed for agri-food production, which were already at record levels before the war. The war has further pushed the prices up. Third factor is the international response to the above, which could either amplify the effects of the crisis (mainly by uncoordinated export bans) or mitigate them (applying lessons learnt from the 2007-2008 food crisis). A number of countries, other than Russia and Ukraine, have already imposed or announced their intention to impose some control over exports of essential agricultural commodities, including Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia, Serbia, Turkey and, in the EU, Hungary. We should keep this in our mind that the long duration of war will make the global situation irrecoverable.
What can be said about the impact of Russia and Ukraine's war on the global food system?
Only Russia and Ukraine are experiencing a shortage of food supply.
The war is affecting not only the global food system but polluting groundwater also.
The war is further worsening an already battered global food system.
Global food supply is unaffected by the war but has some impacts of Covid-19.
None of these
Correct Answer: The war is further worsening an already battered global food system.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
Step 1: Analyze the question
The question asks about the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the global food system based on the provided passage.
Step 2: Locate relevant information in the passage
Referring to the first paragraph of the passage:
"The war comes at a time when the global food system was already struggling to feed its growing population in a sustainable way, under the pressure caused by climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic."
Additionally, the second paragraph mentions:
"Second factor is a global spike in prices of food supplies and inputs needed for agri-food production, which were already at record levels before the war. The war has further pushed the prices up."
Step 3: Evaluate the options
- Option 1: "Only Russia and Ukraine are experiencing a shortage of food supply." - Incorrect. The passage describes a widespread global impact.
- Option 2: "The war is affecting not only the global food system but polluting groundwater also." - Incorrect. Groundwater pollution is not mentioned in the passage.
- Option 3: "The war is further worsening an already battered global food system." - Correct. The text explicitly states that the global food system was already struggling (battered) due to climate change and COVID-19, and the war has further exacerbated/pushed the crisis.
- Option 4: "Global food supply is unaffected by the war but has some impacts of Covid-19." - Incorrect. The war severely impacts the global supply.
Therefore, the correct statement summarizing the impact is "The war is further worsening an already battered global food system."
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