Tips: Ask yourself what all the parts of the report have in common, not what one group says.

Why the other options are wrong:

• whether foreign buyers should be banned from buying farmland.: A ban comes up only at the close, and the speaker rejects it. The report is about the causes of rising prices, not mainly about a ban.
• whether family farms can still compete with larger domestic operations.: Larger domestic operations are mentioned as active buyers. But that is one piece of support for one group, not the topic of the whole report.
• whether low interest rates explain the rise in farmland prices.: Low interest rates are one cause named by one group. The report weighs foreign ownership against several causes, not interest rates alone.

Correct Answer: even a few wealthy investors can distort local land markets.

Why this is correct: The supporters of this view argue that even a small number of deep-pocketed investors can distort local markets. That is why they want stricter limits.

Tips: Listen for the group named in the question, then note the reason that group gives.

Why the other options are wrong:

• pension funds are outbidding family farms on most land sales.: The supporters point to headlines about pension funds competing with family farms. They do not say the funds win most sales.
• farm income growth explains most of the jump in prices.: Critics on this side say the jump can't be explained by farm income growth. This option says the opposite.
• Saskatchewan's current law on foreign buyers is too weak.: The other group says the law in Saskatchewan is tight. The supporters never say the law is too weak.

Correct Answer: foreign buyers are blamed too easily for rising prices.

Why this is correct: Farm Credit Canada says larger domestic operations have been the most active buyers. The group that thinks foreign ownership is blamed too easily uses this to point to other causes.

Tips: Notice which side of the debate presents the information, and what claim it is placed next to.

Why the other options are wrong:

• foreign-backed companies are outbidding local families.: Outbidding by foreign-backed companies is the other side's concern. Farm Credit Canada says the most active buyers are domestic operations.
• money through Canadian funds can raise prices on local farms.: Money through Canadian-managed funds is Dr. Li's point. The Farm Credit Canada information is about domestic buyers, not funds.
• farm income growth cannot explain the jump in prices.: The point about farm income comes with the Statistics Canada price figure. It supports the other side, not the Farm Credit Canada point.

Correct Answer: persuaded by it.

Why this is correct: The speaker calls it a third position that 'I find compelling'. Finding a view compelling means the speaker is persuaded by it.

Tips: Listen to how the speaker introduces the view and decide whether the words sound positive, negative or neutral.

Why the other options are wrong:

• unsure about it.: Dr. Li herself says the evidence is mixed. But the speaker is not unsure about her view and calls it compelling.
• neutral towards it.: The speaker reports the other views without comment. For this view, the speaker gives a personal opinion and calls it compelling.
• worried about it.: The speaker does use the word 'worrying', but about dismissing concerns entirely. It is not about Dr. Li's view.

Correct Answer: can affect prices while local farmers still run the land.

Why this is correct: Dr. Li says indirect investment through Canadian-managed funds can still influence prices, even if the land remains locally operated.

Tips: Separate what the analyst claims from the conditions she attaches to it.

Why the other options are wrong:

• can affect prices mainly where outsiders run the land.: Dr. Li says the effect can happen even if the land remains locally operated. She does not say it happens mainly where outsiders farm it.
• can affect prices, but less than direct foreign purchases do.: Dr. Li says direct purchases may be limited. She does not compare which kind of buying affects prices more.
• can affect prices only where direct purchases are not limited.: Dr. Li says indirect money can still have an effect while direct purchases are limited. So the limit on direct buying does not stop it.

Correct Answer: a step that goes further than the problem calls for.

Why this is correct: The speaker says foreign ownership is not the sole culprit and finds Dr. Li's view compelling, though her evidence is mixed. The speaker wants better data and says the sensible response isn't an outright ban. So a ban goes further than the problem calls for.

Tips: Work out the speaker's own view, then apply it to the situation in the question.

Why the other options are wrong:

• a fair step, given the 12% price jump in a single year.: The 12% jump is used by the supporters of stricter limits. The speaker says the sensible response isn't an outright ban.
• a sensible step until better data is collected.: The speaker wants better data instead of a ban, not a ban while the data is collected.
• a step aimed at the wrong cause of rising prices.: Blaming other causes is the other group's view. The speaker says it is worrying to dismiss concerns about foreign ownership entirely.