Crowned the “king of fruits” in Southeast Asia, the durian is notorious for sparking fierce debate with its distinct love-it-or-hate-it aroma. The reading passage The King of Fruits takes readers on a fascinating journey through the biological and commercial world of this unique fruit—from the ecological purpose of its spiky shell in supporting local wildlife and regional differences in taste preferences to the rise of hybrid cultivars and its expanding export market in the West.
This highly practical passage falls under the topic of Botany & Agriculture. Featuring accessible yet highly discriminatory vocabulary, it is paired with a diverse range of question types: Matching Paragraphs, Label the Diagram, True/False/Not Given, and Short Answer. Let’s break down this engaging reading passage together with ECE!
Reading Passage
The King of Fruits
[Paragraph A] One fact is certain—you’ll smell it before you see it. The scent is so overpowering that some people enjoy it and others dislike it intensely. Descriptions of the smell vary wildly, but this fruit is often considered the most unusual in the world: the durian, a favourite in Southeast Asia and commonly known as the “king of fruits.”
[Paragraph B] The durian’s title is deserved. It’s large (up to 3 kg) and covered in sharp thorns, making it difficult to handle without gloves or protective bags. In western markets, vendors often remove and package the flesh to ease buying.
[Paragraph C] Though its smell and tough exterior seem odd, these features serve a purpose. The strong scent helps animals in the tropical forests of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia locate the fruit when it falls. Because the seeds are large, only the biggest animals—like deer, pigs, orangutans, and elephants—can eat and disperse them, which is why the spiny shell exists.
[Paragraph D] Inside the husk is fibrous pith with pockets of creamy yellow flesh around large seeds. Although the seeds can also be eaten, it’s the flesh that most people seek. A British naturalist, Alfred Wallace, described the taste as rich and smooth. After trying it, he became a dedicated durian eater.
[Paragraph E] The taste and texture vary between regions. For example, in Southern Thailand, younger, milder durians are preferred, while in Malaysia, durians are left to ripen naturally, resulting in a creamier flesh. The flesh can be used in sweets like ice cream or cakes, and even lower-quality durian is fermented and added to rice dishes.
[Paragraph F] Durian cultivation has spread because the tree thrives in tropical climates, including northern Australia where it was introduced in the 1960s. Through selective breeding, many cultivars now exist with different aromas, seed sizes, and flesh textures. The trees grow tall and the heavy pods can fall from high branches, so wearing protective gear is recommended.
[Paragraph G] Thailand remains a major exporter of durian, especially to other Asian countries, and demand is growing in places like Canada and Australia due to Asian diaspora communities. The fruit is seasonal and expensive, partly because less than one third of the durian pod is edible. Still, the number of “confirmed durian eaters” around the world is increasing.
Questions
Questions 1 – 4: Matching Paragraphs
Which paragraph gives a reason for the durian’s:
1. Spread outside of Asia?
2. Variety of forms?
3. Variety of food uses?
4. Defining characteristics?
Questions 5 – 7: Label the Diagram
Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
5. Parts of a durian covered in _______________.
6. The interior supporting structure is called _______________.
7. Small compartments holding the edible sections are _______________.
Questions 8 – 10: TRUE / FALSE / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
Write:
TRUE — if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE — if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN — if there is no information on this
8. The seeds can be eaten.
9. Durian trees are grown in many parts of Australia.
10. Thailand consumes the most durians.
Questions 11 – 13: Short Answer
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
11. What helps carry durians in markets?
12. Which type of durian is fermented into paste?
13. What should you wear walking among durian trees?
Full Reading Passage Translation
[Paragraph A] One fact is certain—you’ll smell it before you see it. The scent is so overpowering that some people enjoy it while others dislike it intensely. Descriptions of the smell vary wildly, but this fruit is often considered the most unusual in the world: the durian, a favorite in Southeast Asia and commonly known as the “king of fruits.”
[Paragraph B] The durian’s title is well deserved. It is large (weighing up to 3 kg) and covered in sharp thorns, making it difficult to handle without gloves or protective bags. In Western markets, vendors often husk and package the flesh to make buying easier for customers.
[Paragraph C] Although its smell and tough exterior seem odd, these features serve a purpose. The strong scent helps animals in the tropical forests of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia locate the fruit when it falls. Because the seeds are large, only the biggest animals—such as deer, wild pigs, orangutans, and elephants—can eat and disperse them, which is why the spiny shell exists.
[Paragraph D] Inside the husk is fibrous pith with pockets of creamy yellow flesh surrounding large seeds. Although the seeds can also be eaten, it is the flesh that most people seek out. British naturalist Alfred Wallace described the taste as rich and smooth. After trying it, he became a devoted durian eater.
[Paragraph E] Taste and texture vary across regions. For example, in Southern Thailand, younger, milder durians are preferred, whereas in Malaysia, durians are left to ripen naturally on the tree, resulting in a creamier flesh. The flesh can be used in desserts like ice cream or cakes, and even lower-grade durian is fermented and added to rice dishes.
[Paragraph F] Durian cultivation has spread because the tree thrives in tropical climates, including northern Australia, where it was introduced in the 1960s.
Khai giảng Khóa học Hè cực HOT.
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