IELTS Foundation Reading T/F/NG Meggie Nguyen NEU 2013
I. Reading - Exercise 1
Chilies
Chiles originate in South America and have been eaten for at least 9,500 years.
Organised cultivation began around 5,400BC. Christoher Columbus !as the first
"uroean to encounter chilies, !hen he landed on the island of #isaniola in $49%.
#e thought it !as a tye of eer and called it the &red eer', a name still used
today. After their introduction to "uroe they !ere an immediate sensation and !ere
(uic)ly incororated into the diet. *rom there they sread to Africa, +ndia and "ast
Asia.
,he reason for the chili-s &hotness' lies in a chemical called Casaisin. Casaisin
causes temorary irritation to the trigeminal cells, !hich are the ain recetors in the
mouth, nose and throat. After the ain messages are transmitted to the brain,
endorhins, natural ain )illers, are released and these not only )ill the ain but give
the chili eater a short lived natural high. Other side effects include. an increased
heart rate, a running nose and increased salivation and s!eating, !hich can have a
cooling effect in hot climates.
,he reason for the resence of Casaisin is thought to be to deter animals from
eating the fruit. Only mammals feel the burning effects/ birds feel nothing. As birds
are a better method of distributing the seeds, !hich ass intact through their guts,
Casaisin !ould seem to be a result of natural selection.
,he smaller chilies tend to be the hottest. ,his may reflect the fact that they tend to
gro! closer to the ground and are therefore more vulnerable to animals. ,he heat of
a chili is measured on the Scoville scale. ,he hottest tyes such as the #abenero
and the Scotch Bonnet rate bet!een $00,000 and 000,000, the !orld famous
,abasco sauce1 rates at $5,000 to 00,000, about the same as the ,hai ri) )hee
nu, !hile the oular 2alaeno is bet!een 5,000 and $5,000. 3o!dered chili is 500
to $,000 and the mild casicins and ari)as can range bet!een $00 and 0.
T/F/NG
$. Chilies became oular as soon as they !ere brought into "uroe.
%. Casaisin damages the mouth.
0. Chilies can be art of a birds diet.
4. All large chilies gro! high off the ground.
5. 3eole breed chilies for their heat.
II. Reading - Exercise 2
4isit the island state of ,AS5A6+A
IELTS Foundation Reading T/F/NG Meggie Nguyen NEU 2013
7etting there
,asmania is !ell serviced by air, but the cost of flights varies enormously, so ma)e
sure you sho around for the best rice.,he over8sea route to ,asmania is covered
by t!o fast shis from 5elbourne. ,hese vessels offer an overnight service in both
directions, seven days a !ee), all year round, !ith additional daytime services in the
high season 9:ecember82anuary;. Shis also sail from Sydney and tic)et rices vary
seasonally. ,he ferry ta)es cars and motorbi)es.
7etting around
Coach services lin) all the main to!ns, as !ell as bus tours geared for indeendent
travellers, though services can be limited in the lo! season, so chec) !ith the bus
comany. Cycling is a good otion for eole !ith strong legs, and several e<cellent
tours cater for cyclists throughout the island. Car rental is sometimes the best choice
to go further and at your o!n ace.
=.$. +t is a good idea to investigate the airfares carefully.
=.%. ,here is a reduced ferry service from 5elbourne in :ecember.
=.0. ,he rice of travelling by boat from Sydney is the same throughout the year.
=.4. ,here is a charge for transorting vehicles.
=.5. ,he buses may run less fre(uently !hen there are fe!er visitors.
=.>. ?enting a car is recommended for longer tris.