I. Fill in the blanks with the correct words.

1. Britain became an industrial and trading nation which ___to be___ in foodstuffs.

2. In spite of the fact that the agricultural area of the country is fairly large, only about 2.5 per cent of the working population are ___in agriculture.

3. It was decided to support agriculture by paying ___ to farmers which would help them to compete with foreign producers.

4. Climate is the chief factor limiting the successful ___ of cereal crops, especially of wheat.

5. Barley is much more adaptable as far as soil, temperature and rainfall are concerned, and requires a shorter ___ period.

6. In recent years exports of wheat and barley have ___ considerably, accounting for about a quarter of the total production.

7. Sugar beet is a root crop which in recent years has ___ considerable importance.

8. As the name implies, market gardening is strongly influenced by ___ to markets.

9. Nowadays sheep are in general numerous only on land which is ___ for other types of farming.

10. Poultry farms are chiefly concerned with the supply of ___ to local markets and the production of _____ .

II. Complete the sentences with the best answer (a, b or c).

1. Over three-quarters of the land area is used for agriculture, the remainder being

a) mountain and forest.

b) grassland and water.

c) forest and grassland.

2. Britain's agriculture is famous for its high level of

a) efficiency.

b) diversity.

c) productivity.

3. Although cultivable land is found in almost every lowland, particular concentrations of such land occur in

a) eastern England and eastern Scotland.

b) western England and western Scotland.

c) eastern Scotland and northern England.

4. Modern British farming displays two important characteristics:

a) intensive farming and mixed farming.

b) extensive farming and mixed farming.

c) intensive farming and extensive farming.

5. A certain kind of barley with a low nitrogen content is particularly suitable for the production of

a) beer and whisky.

b) wine and ale.

c) whisky and wine.

6. Scotland is one of the countries in which oats are cultivated for

a) human consumption.

b) animal feed.

c) export.

7. High-grade seed potatoes are grown in

a) south England and north Wales.

b) Scotland and Northern Ireland.

c) Northern Ireland and south England.

8. The need for daily deliveries of fresh milk has given rise to particular concentration of dairy cattle close to densely populated areas on

a) lowland.

b) upland.

c) highland.

9. Pig production occurs in most areas but is particularly important in

a) northern England and eastern England.

b) western England and northern England.

c) eastern England and southern England.

10. Nowadays the area available for farming is being gradually reduced to meet the needs of

a) housing and industry.

b) commerce and urbanization.

c) industry and growing population.

III. Are the statements true or false? Correct the false statements.

1. Before the Industrial Revolution Britain had a comparatively large population.

2. But during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as the Industrial Revolution gathered speed, not only did the number of people increase rapidly, but also many of those who had previously been employed on the land went to work in the factories and mines.

3. During the nineteenth century Britain became increasingly inde­pendent on imported food.

4. British agriculture is protected by an artificial price structure and by taxes imposed on imported food.

5. Almost all Britain's wheat crop is "winter wheat", which is sown in the spring.

6. Of root crops cultivated in Britain, most important are potatoes and sugar beet.

7. Today sugar beet provides almost all sugar requirements of the country.

8. Glasshouses are widely used for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, flowers, pot plants and nursery stock.

9. Beef cattle are more widely distributed throughout the British Isles than dairy cattle, and rearing extends into lowland regions far from urban areas.

10. Britain remains self-sufficient in poultry meat and eggs.