LTS Reading: Summary Completion Extra Practice 1

The History of Thai Food

Thai food is internationally famous. Whether chili hot or comparatively bland, harmony and contrast are the guiding
principles behind each dish. Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Easter and Western influences
harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai. Characteristics of Thai food depend on who cooks it and
where it is cooked. Dishes can be refined and adjusted to suit all tastes.

Originally, Thai cooking reflected the characteristics of a waterborne lifestyle. Aquatic animals, plants, and herbs
were major ingredients. With their Buddhist background, Thais shunned the use of large pieces of meat. Big cuts
were shredded and blended with herbs and spices. Traditional Thai cooking methods were stewing and baking, or
grilling but Chinese influences saw the introduction of frying, stir-frying and deep-frying. Chilies and other ingredients
were introduced to Thai cooking by Portuguese missionaries who had acquired a taste of South American culinary
while working there during the late 1600s. Culinary from the 17th century onwards included Portuguese, Dutch,
French and Japanese techniques. Thais were very adept at adapting foreign cooking cooking methods and
substituting ingredients. Coconut milk was substituted for other dairy products.
Overpowering pure spices were toned down and enhanced by fresh herbs such as lemon grass and galangal.
Eventually, fewer and less spices were used in Thai curries, while the use of fresh herbs increased. It is generally
acknowledged that Thai curries burn intensely, but briefly, whereas other curries, with strong spices, burn for longer
periods. Instead of serving dishes in courses, a Thai meal is served all at once, permitting diners to enjoy
complementary combinations of different tastes.

Questions 1 - 10
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Although the main tenets of every meal are 1 .................... and 2 .................... , the final taste is determined by who
cooks it. At first, the ingredients used in Thai cooking were the result of a 3 ....................... way of life. Cooking
techniques became more varied thanks to the 4 ..................... . Thai ingredients started to become more eclectic with
the introduction of products from South America such as 5 .................... . Further change began in the 17th century
through the influence of people from various countries such as the 6 .................... and 7 ......................and the
substitution of 8 ........................... with 9 ......................... . One main difference between Thai curries and those from
other countries is that the latter burn for 10 .......................... .

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Answers ExplainedExpand

IELTS Reading: Summary Completion Extra Practice 2

Soft Centres - Hard Profits

Are you being seduced by the sweet industry?

If chocolate were found to be seriously addictive, then the UK would need major therapy to kick the habit. The British
lead the world in their love of the cocoa-based treat. As a product, chocolate has a a lot going for it, appealing to all
ages, both sexes and all income brackets. In 1997, the value of the total IK confectionary market increased by 3% to
a staggering £5.2 billion, with chocolate sales accounting for 70%, at £3.6 billion, and sugar confectionary the
remaining £1.6 billion.

The UK market has shown consistent growth - increasing over the last decade by around 16%. "Chocolate
confectionary is a market that seems to be remarkably resistant," says Pamela Langworthy, marketing director for
Thorntons, the luxury chocolate producer and retailer. It also increasingly transcends national boundaries. In 1997,
Swiss Nestle, the largest confectioner, exported over a quarter of its production to more than 100 countries. Nestle
has recorded particularly fast growth in confectionary sales in Asia, with its expansion of KitKat into several countries
in the region. Eastern Europe provides another promising market. But few markets challenge the UK in terms of
current confectionary consumption. In the US, the land associated with excess, each American devours a mere 10kg
of confectionary per person a year, whereas UK consumers each manage 16kg. In Europe, where the chocolate
market is estimated to be worth £12 billion ($18.5 billion), the UK accounts for almost a third of that total, followed
some way behind by Germany, France and Italy.
Around 60% of all confectionary is bought on impulse, which makes its availability a key determinant of sales.
Impulse buying also makes the development of a strong brand image vital, and large, long-established brands control
the market. Building up these brands costs serious money. Media expenditure on confectionary exceeds that for any
other impulse market. The Cadbury & Trebor Bassett 1997 Confectionary Review reveals that in 1996, media
expenditure on chocolate reached £94m, compared with £69m spent on soft drinks, £31m on the lottery and £23m on
crisps and snacks.
Innovation is also essential for ongoing success, despite the chocolate market being dominated by 'consistent
performers'. In 1996 the chocolate company Mars launched 'Flyte', claiming the be the first mainstream brand to
address the demand for lower fat products. At 98 calories a bar, Flyte is designed to appeal to weight-conscious
women. Another 1997 Mars launch, 'Celebrations', is claimed by the company's annual review to be showing signs of
'revolutionising the boxed chocolates market by attracting new, younger customers'. 'Traditionally, the boxed
chocolates market hasn't changed very much. People who buy the products tend to be older and female. With
Celebrations, we are finding that younger people and men are buying because the chocolate doesn't come in the
traditional-shaped box - they look different. Products such as Flyte and Celebrations are attempts to introduce a
different product category and increase sales for retailers, rather than just shifting market share,' a Mars spokesman
says.
One feature of the chocolate industry in recent years has been the emergence of special editions. The concept was
a marketing triumph. Producers believe that special editions offer the consumer a new and exciting variation of a
product, while suggesting the same consistent quality they associate with familiar brands. Since special editions are
only available for a few weeks while stocks last, they also have a unique quality about them. Far from denting sales
of the straight version, limited editions appear to simply boost overall sales.

Questions 1 - 5
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer
Chocolate - the figures

The chocolate market in the UK in 1997 was worth 1 £..................., having shown a steady increase during the
preceding 10 year period. Overall the manufacturer Swiss Nestle supplies chocolate to over 2 ..................... and the
company has seen rapid sales increases in the markets in 3 .................. . Nevertheless, the UK market remains the
biggest - surprisingly, British people eat more than 4 .................... consumers. Within the European market, their
consumption amounts to nearly 5 ....................... of the total revenue.

Questions 6 - 12
Complete the summary using the list of words, A - P, below.

A purchasing B low fat C selection D media

E impulse F similarly G eating H outdated
I novelty J unsuccessful K well-known L international
M new N children's O lasting P temporary
The Chocolate Market
The chocolate market is dominated by 6 ............. brands. For this reason, confectioners spend large sums of money
on 7 ..................... advertisements. In fact, in 1996, the amount spent totaled £94m.
However, it is also important for companies to allocate resources to developing 8 .................... ideas. Examples of
these are the 'Flyte' bar and 'Celebrations'. Chocolate producers try to increase sales by changing their
customers' 9 ....................... habits. For example, Mars's new line of products appeals to younger customers
because its packaging does not look 10 ..................... .
A 11 ....................... increase in sales can be achieved by introducing 'special editions' on to the market. These are
successful because they have 12 ........................ value.