EXCERCISES Who must guarantee a yearly production of high-quality seeds? What special requirements must seed features fulfil? What technique may help save seeds in the long term? What is the risk of crop uniformity? Why is crop diversity necessary? How many worldwide gene banks hold collections of food crops for safekeeping? What is the Global Seed Vault? What does this seed safekeeping represent? How can low metabolic activity be ensured inside the Seed Vault? What is the aim of Italian germplasm banks? 10 Answer the questions. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 Find in the text the words corresponding to these phrases. The ability of a breeding population to remain adapted to its natural environment ............................................................................................. Worry ............................................................................................. Everywhere in the world ............................................................................................. The act of protecting, safeguarding ............................................................................................. Anything that has been transmitted from the past ............................................................................................. The set of chemical reactions that maintain life in any organism ............................................................................................. Capable of living ............................................................................................. Involved ............................................................................................. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 12 Listen to a recording about a seed library promotion and say if the sentences are true or false. Correct the false ones. Four seed libraries are going to be opened. ☐ T ☐ F Only flower seeds are available in the library. ☐ T ☐ F Seeds are free of charge. ☐ T ☐ F Humans have saved seeds for hundreds of years. ☐ T ☐ F Both experienced and beginner gardeners are encouraged to grow their own products. ☐ T ☐ F Only traditional varieties may be available. ☐ T ☐ F Growers are encouraged to donate seeds back to the library. ☐ T ☐ F The policy of the seed library encourages the preservation of genetic diversity. ☐ T ☐ F 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. GLOSSARY : : : : : : germination rate tasso di germinazione germplasm plasma germinale in perpetuity per l’eternità ultimate estremo vault caveau viability vitalità