An Australian start-up is trying to help the climate using fungi. Farmers in
Australia are spreading tiny fungi spores on their fields to take carbon
dioxide from the air and store it underground. This idea is part of a global
effort to see if soil can help reduce climate pollution. By using fungi, plants
can lock away carbon dioxide in the soil for a long time.
Loam Bio, the Australian company behind this, is one of several start-ups
working on this idea. They hope to make soil healthier and remove carbon
from the atmosphere. This is important because soil holds a lot of carbon
and can help fight climate change. But it’s still early, and scientists aren’t
sure how well it will work on large farms.
The goal is to improve soil health and maybe even earn money from
carbon credits if they can prove they’ve stored carbon underground.
However, critics worry that this might not be enough to solve climate
change.
Farmers in Australia are interested because better soil means better
crops, and they might earn carbon credits from the government. Some
farmers have tried other methods in the past, like using waste or
planting trees, but with mixed results. Loam Bio’s idea is that the fungi
can help build more stable soil carbon that stays underground for a
long time. This process might take many years, but some farmers are
willing to give it a try, hoping it will pay oB in the future.
Adapted from New York Times
Part 1-Multiple Choice Questions:
1..What is the main goal of using fungi on farms in Australia?
A) To grow more crops
B) To remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it underground
C) To kill pests
D) To produce more water in the soil
2.What is the name of the Australian start-up that is spreading fungi spores on
fields?
A) Andes
B) Groundworks Bio Ag
C) Loam Bio
D) Silicate Carbon
3.How do fungi help plants in storing carbon dioxide?
A) By turning carbon dioxide into water
B) By burning carbon dioxide
C) By locking carbon dioxide in the soil through plant roots
D) By releasing carbon dioxide back into the air
4.What are farmers in Australia hoping to earn by storing carbon underground?
A) Extra crops
B) Government-issued carbon credits
C) Free fertilizers
D) Awards for best farming practices
5.Which of the following is a concern critics have about using fungi to store
carbon?
A) It is too expensive for farmers
B) It could harm the crops
C) It might not address the root causes of climate change
D) It uses too much water
Part-2 True/False Questions:
True or False: The goal of using fungi spores on farms is to help reduce climate
pollution.
True or False: Fungi spores can only be used on Australian farms.
True or False: Storing carbon in the soil could potentially help in fighting climate
change.
True or False: The carbon stored in the soil by fungi will definitely stay there forever.
Download the document to see the answer key.
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