The IELTS Reading section includes passages that test your ability to find specific information, understand environmental issues, and recognise ideas expressed in different words. Saving the Soil Reading Answers is based on a passage about the importance of soil, the causes of soil degradation, and possible ways to protect and restore it.
The passage explains why healthy soil is essential for human life and the environment, while also discussing the impact of agriculture, fertilisers, and soil degradation. It also looks at scientific projects and policy ideas that could help address soil degradation and support soil conservation on a global scale.
The passage contains Summary Completion, Matching Sentence Endings, and Matching Information questions. These questions test your ability to locate specific information, understand paraphrases, identify causes and effects, connect ideas with the correct paragraphs, and distinguish between different statements.
Saving the Soil Reading Passage
The Saving the SoilIELTS Readingpassage explains why healthy soil is much more than a medium for growing crops. It discusses its role in food production, climate regulation, and flood prevention before examining the causes of soil degradation and possible solutions.
SAVING THE SOIL
Paragraph A
More than a third of the world’s soil is endangered, according to a recent UN report. If we don’t slow the decline, all farmable soil could be gone in 60 years. Since soil grows 95% of our food and sustains human life in other, more surprising ways, that is a huge problem.
Paragraph B
Peter Groffman, from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York, points out that soil scientists have been warning about the degradation of the world’s soil for decades. At the same time, our understanding of its importance to humans has grown. A single gram of healthy soil might contain 100 million bacteria, as well as other microorganisms such as viruses and fungi, living amid decomposing plants and various minerals.
That means soils do not just grow our food, but are the source of nearly all our existing antibiotics, and could be our best hope in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Soil is also an ally against climate change: as microorganisms within soil digest dead animals and plants, they lock in their carbon content, holding three times the amount of carbon as does the entire atmosphere. Soils also store water, preventing flood damage: in UK, damage to buildings, roads, and bridges from floods caused by soil degradation costs £233 million every year.
Paragraph C
If the soil loses its ability to perform these functions, the human race could be in big trouble. The danger is not that the soil will disappear completely, but that the microorganisms that give it its special properties will be lost. And once this has happened, it may take the soil thousands of years to recover.
Agriculture is by far the biggest problem. In the wild, when plants grow, they remove nutrients from the soil, but then when the plants die and decay, these nutrients are returned directly to the soil. Humans tend not to return unused parts of harvested crops directly to the soil to enrich it, meaning that the soil gradually becomes less fertile. In the past, we developed strategies to get around the problem, such as regularly varying the types of crops grown, or leaving fields uncultivated for a season.
Paragraph D
But these practices became inconvenient as populations grew and agriculture had to be run on more commercial lines. A solution came in the early 20th century with the Haber-Bosch process for manufacturing ammonium nitrate. Farmers have been putting this synthetic fertiliser on their fields ever since.
But over the past few decades, it has become clear this wasn’t such a bright idea. Chemical fertilisers can release polluting nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, and excess is often washed away with the rain, releasing nitrogen into rivers. More recently, we have found that indiscriminate use of fertilisers hurts the soil itself, turning it acidic and salty, and degrading the soil they are supposed to nourish.
Paragraph E
One of the people looking for a solution to his problem is Pius Floris, who started out running a tree-care business in the Netherlands, and now advises some of the world’s topsoil scientists. He came to realise that the best way to ensure his trees flourished was to take care of the soil, and has developed a cocktail of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and humus to do this. Researchers at the University of Valladolid in Spain recently used this cocktail on soils destroyed by years of fertiliser overuse. When they applied Floris’s mix to the desert-like test plots, a good crop of plants emerged that were not just healthy at the surface, but had roots strong enough to pierce dirt as hard as a rock. The few plants that grew in the control plots, fed with traditional fertilisers, were small and weak.
Paragraph F
However, measures like this are not enough to solve the global soil degradation problem. To assess our options on a global scale, we first need an accurate picture of what types of soil are out there, and the problems they face. That’s not easy. For one thing, there is no agreed international system for classifying soil. In an attempt to unify the different approaches, the UN has created the Global Soil Map project. Researchers from nine countries are working together to create a map linked to a database that can be fed measurements from field surveys, drone surveys, satellite imagery, lad analyses, and so on to provide real-time data on the state of the soil. Within the next four years, they aim to have mapped soils worldwide to a depth of 100 meters, with the results freely accessible to all.
Paragraph G
But this is only a first step. We need ways of presenting the problem that brings it home to governments and the wider public, says Pamela Chasek at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, in Winnipeg, Canada. ‘Most scientists don’t speak the language that policy-makers can understand, and vice versa.’ Chasek and her colleagues have proposed a goal of ‘zero net land degradation’. Like the idea of carbon neutrality, it is an easily understood target that can help shape expectations and encourage action.
For soils on the brink, that may be too late. Several researchers are agitating for the immediate creation of protected zones for endangered soils. One difficulty here is defining what these areas should conserve: areas where the greatest soil diversity is present? Or areas of unspoiled soils that could act as a future benchmark of quality?
Whatever we do, if we want our soils to survive, we need to take action now.
Saving the Soil Reading Answers: Questions 1–13
The questions in this section cover three common IELTS exam Reading formats. Instructions for Saving the Soil Reading Questions:
Question Numbers
Question Type
Instructions
Questions 1–4
Summary Completion
Complete the summary using ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.
Questions 5–8
Matching Sentence Endings
Match each sentence beginning with the correct ending from the options provided.
Questions 9–13
Matching Information
Choose the paragraph A–G that contains the information described in each statement.
Tip: Read the instructions carefully before answering. Look for keywords, names, numbers, scientific terms and paraphrased information in the passage, and always check the word limit where applicable.
Questions 1–4: Summary Completion
Complete the summary using ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Q1: Healthy soil contains microorganisms, decomposing plant material and various ________.
Answer: MINERALS
Explanation: Paragraph B describes the contents of healthy soil. It says that microorganisms live among decomposing plants and “various minerals”. The summary uses “plant remains” as a paraphrase of decomposing plants, so the missing word is minerals.
Answer Location: Paragraph B
Q2: Soil helps fight climate change by storing ________.
Answer: CARBON
Explanation: Paragraph B explains that microorganisms in soil digest dead plants and animals and lock in their carbon content. The passage says soil holds three times as much carbon as the entire atmosphere. Therefore, carbon correctly completes the summary.
Answer Location: Paragraph B
Q3: Soil can help prevent damage to buildings and other infrastructure because it stores ________.
Answer: WATER
Explanation: The final part of Paragraph B states that soils store water and therefore help prevent flood damage. The passage then gives the example of damage to buildings, roads and bridges in the UK. The required word is water.
Answer Location: Paragraph B
Q4: The biggest factor contributing to soil degradation is ________.
Answer: AGRICULTURE
Explanation: Paragraph C directly identifies agriculture as the biggest problem. It explains that crops take nutrients from the soil, while people often fail to return unused parts of harvested crops to the soil. This gradually reduces soil fertility.
Answer Location: Paragraph C
Questions 5–8: Matching Sentence Endings
Match each sentence beginning with the correct ending.
Q5: Nutrients contained in the unused parts of harvested crops ________.
Answer: C — may not be put back into the soil.
Explanation: Paragraph C explains that people generally do not return the unused parts of harvested crops directly to the soil. Because these materials are not returned, the soil gradually loses fertility. This directly matches ending C.
Answer Location: Paragraph C
Q6: Synthetic fertilisers produced using the Haber-Bosch process ________.
Answer: E — may cause damage to different aspects of the environment.
Explanation: Paragraph D discusses the problems associated with synthetic fertilisers. They can release nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, while excess fertiliser can enter rivers as nitrogen. The passage also says excessive fertiliser use can damage the soil itself. Therefore, E is the best match.
Answer Location: Paragraph D
Q7: Addition of a mixture developed by Pius Floris to the soil ________.
Answer: A — may improve the number and quality of plants growing there.
Explanation: Paragraph E describes the results of applying Floris’s mixture to severely damaged soil. Healthy plants appeared and developed strong roots. In comparison, plants in the control plots were small and weak. This shows that the mixture can improve plant growth and quality.
Answer Location: Paragraph E
Q8: The idea of zero net land degradation ________.
Answer: D — may help governments to be more aware of soil-related issues.
Explanation: Paragraph G says that scientists need better ways to communicate the seriousness of soil degradation to governments and the public. The proposed goal of “zero net land degradation” is presented as a simple target that can shape expectations and encourage action. Therefore, D is correct.
Answer Location: Paragraph G
Questions 9–13: Matching Information
For each statement, identify the paragraph where the information is found. You may use a paragraph more than once.
Q9: A reference to one person's motivation for starting a soil-improvement project.
Answer: E
Explanation: Paragraph E introduces Pius Floris and explains why he became interested in improving soil. He realised that taking care of the soil was the best way to make his trees flourish. This motivation led him to develop his mixture of bacteria, fungi and humus.
Answer Location: Paragraph E
Q10: An explanation of how soil stayed healthy before modern farming practices developed.
Answer: C
Explanation: Paragraph C explains the natural cycle in the wild. Plants take nutrients from the soil, but when they die and decay, those nutrients return to the soil. The paragraph also describes older farming strategies such as varying crops and leaving fields uncultivated for a season.
Answer Location: Paragraph C
Q11: Examples of different ways of collecting information about soil degradation.
Answer: F
Explanation: Paragraph F describes the Global Soil Map project. Researchers can collect information through field surveys, drone surveys, satellite imagery, and laboratory analyses. These methods will provide data about the condition of soils around the world.
Answer Location: Paragraph F
Q12: A suggestion for protecting certain types of soil in the near future.
Answer: G
Explanation: Paragraph G says that some researchers are calling for protected zones for endangered soils. These areas could preserve important or unspoiled soils. This directly matches the idea of protecting certain types of soil.
Answer Location: Paragraph G
Q13: A reason why it is difficult to create a complete picture of soil degradation.
Answer: F
Explanation: Paragraph F explains that there is no internationally agreed system for classifying soil. Because different approaches are used to classify soils, it is difficult to build a complete global picture of soil conditions. This is why the UN created the Global Soil Map project.
Saving the Soil is useful IELTS Reading practice because it combines scientific information with environmental and agricultural issues. The passage moves from the importance of soil to its degradation, the role of farming and fertilisers, and possible solutions.
When dealing with a passage like this, do not try to memorise every sentence. Instead, understand what each paragraph is mainly doing and use important details to find the answers quickly.
Identify Scientific Terms and Key Details
Scientific terms can work as useful scanning anchors. In this passage, words and phrases such as soil degradation, microorganisms, nutrients, fertilisers, ammonium nitrate, Haber-Bosch process, bacteria, fungi, Global Soil Map and land degradation stand out.
Numbers and specific details are also useful. For example, the passage mentions 95% of our food, 60 years, 100 million bacteria, £233 million, nine countries and 100 metres. These details are easier to locate than general ideas.
However, do not depend only on exact words. IELTS can replace a term with a related expression or paraphrase. Understanding what a scientific term means is more useful than simply recognising its spelling.
Follow the Cause-and-Effect Relationship
A large part of this passage follows a cause-and-effect structure.
For example:
Agricultural practices → nutrients are removed → nutrients are not returned → soil becomes less fertile
Another relationship is:
Excess fertiliser → environmental pollution and soil damage
The passage then moves towards possible responses, including Floris’s soil mixture, the Global Soil Map project and the proposed goal of zero net land degradation.
When reading, ask yourself:
What caused this problem?
What happened as a result?
What evidence supports the claim?
Is the paragraph discussing a problem or a solution?
This makes it easier to distinguish between similar-looking pieces of information.
Watch for Paraphrased Information
IELTS questions rarely repeat every sentence word for word. Instead, they often change the wording while keeping the same meaning.
For example, the passage says that soil “store[s] water, preventing flood damage”. A question might refer to soil as helping to reduce flooding by retaining water.
The words are different, but the meaning is the same.
Similarly, “soil gradually becomes less fertile” could appear in a question as a decline in soil productivity. When working on Saving the Soil IELTS Reading Answers, focus on the meaning of the sentence rather than searching for an exact keyword.
Looking for more IELTS Reading practice? Read these answer guides to practise different passage topics and question types:
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Saving the Soil Reading
Environmental and scientific passages can contain many similar terms and ideas. A few common mistakes can make students choose an answer that looks reasonable but does not actually answer the question.
Relying Only on Exact Keywords
Finding the same word in the passage does not automatically mean you have found the answer.
For example, the word “soil” appears throughout the passage. It is not useful on its own as a scanning clue. More specific terms such as Haber-Bosch, ammonium nitrate, Pius Floris, Global Soil Map or specific numbers are much more useful.
Always read the complete sentence and, when necessary, the sentences around it.
Confusing Causes and Effects
The passage discusses several connected problems. Agriculture contributes to soil degradation, while soil degradation can lead to reduced fertility and other environmental consequences.
Do not select an answer simply because it appears in the same paragraph. Check whether the question asks for a cause, effect, problem, reason or result.
A useful approach is to mentally mark:
Cause → Problem → Effect
This can prevent you from choosing a consequence when the question is asking for the reason behind a problem.
Mixing Up Problems and Solutions
The passage first explains the damage caused by agriculture and fertilisers and then introduces possible solutions.
For example, chemical fertilisers are discussed as a cause of environmental and soil damage, while Floris’s mixture is presented as a possible method of improving damaged soil.
Before selecting an answer, ask whether the information describes:
a problem,
a cause,
an effect,
an example,
a farming practice, or
a possible solution.
Exceeding the Word Limit
Always follow the instructions given with the question.
If the instruction says NO MORE THAN ONE WORD, write only one word. If it says NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS, do not add unnecessary words.
For completion questions, also check whether your answer fits grammatically into the sentence. An answer can be related to the passage but still be wrong if it does not fit the question instructions.
Conclusion
The Saving the Soil Reading Answers passage is useful practice for understanding scientific and environmental information in IELTS Reading. It covers soil degradation, agriculture, fertilisers, microorganisms, conservation, and different attempts to protect soil for the future.
While solving the passage, focus on scientific terms, environmental keywords, names, numbers, examples, and important developments. These details can help you scan the passage faster. At the same time, pay close attention to paraphrases and cause-and-effect relationships, as IELTS often changes the wording between the passage and the questions.
1. What is the main idea of the Saving the Soil IELTS Reading passage?
The Saving the Soil IELTS Reading passage explains why healthy soil is essential for food production, climate regulation, and flood prevention. It also examines soil degradation caused by agriculture and fertilisers, along with scientific and policy-based solutions.
2. Why is soil important according to the passage?
Soil supports most of the world's food production and contains microorganisms that have important environmental and scientific roles. It stores carbon, holds water and provides materials used in antibiotics. Healthy soil is therefore important for both ecosystems and human life.
3. How does agriculture contribute to soil degradation?
Agriculture can remove nutrients from soil when crops are harvested, and their unused parts are not returned to the land. The passage also explains that excessive use of synthetic fertilisers can damage soil by making it acidic and salty.
4. How does soil help in the fight against climate change?
Microorganisms in soil break down dead plants and animals and lock their carbon content into the soil. The passage states that soils hold around three times as much carbon as the atmosphere, making healthy soil important for climate change mitigation.
5. What role do microorganisms play in healthy soil?
Healthy soil contains huge numbers of bacteria, along with fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. These organisms help give soil its special properties and contribute to processes such as carbon storage and nutrient cycling, making them essential to healthy soil.
6. Why can synthetic fertilisers be harmful to the environment?
Synthetic fertilisers can release nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, while excess nitrogen can be carried into rivers by rain. The Saving the Soil Reading Answers passage also explains that excessive fertiliser use can make soil acidic, salty and degraded.
7. What solution does Pius Floris suggest for damaged soil?
Pius Floris developed a mixture containing beneficial bacteria, fungi, and humus. In research described in the passage, the mixture helped plants grow in severely damaged soil and produced stronger roots compared with plants grown using traditional fertilisers.
8. What is the purpose of the Global Soil Map project?
The Global Soil Map project aims to create a detailed worldwide picture of soil conditions. Researchers use field surveys, drone surveys, satellite imagery, and laboratory analysis to collect information and build a database showing the state of soils.
9. Why is mapping the world's soil difficult?
Creating a global soil map is difficult because there is no internationally agreed system for classifying soil. Different approaches have been used in different places, so researchers are working towards a common system and a shared database.
10. What does zero net land degradation mean?
Zero net land degradation is a proposed target for controlling the overall loss of healthy land. The idea is compared with carbon neutrality and is intended to give governments and the public a clear goal that can encourage action.
11. Why does the passage discuss protected zones for endangered soils?
Some researchers believe certain endangered soils need immediate protection. Protected zones could preserve areas with valuable soil diversity or undamaged soils that could serve as future benchmarks for comparing the condition and quality of degraded land.
12. How should students approach environmental passages in IELTS Reading?
Students should first understand the main idea of each paragraph before scanning for details. In Saving the Soil IELTS Reading Answers, scientific terms, names, numbers, agricultural practices, and environmental problems can act as useful clues for locating information.
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