The global market for coffee has failed, and needs a complete overhaul so that farmers can get more for their beans. The plunging price of coffee over the past decade has certainty caused regrettable misery for many farmers. Big coffee companies now stand accused of placing profits before people. If efforts are made to cut down on the profits, the companies will almost certainly fight back to keep up their excessive profits. It is likely that they will win because the trade barriers set by rich countries means that it is hard for coffee farmers to change over and grow other crops.
According to the passage, one of the problems faced by coffee farmers is ____.
that the consumption of coffee around the world is declining rapidly
the trade barriers fixed by wealthy countries
the rising costs of labor and marketing
that the supply of coffee on the global market is in excess of the demand
the urgent need to update their methods of farming
As it is pointed out in the passage, over the past ten years or so, the condition of coffee farmers _____.
has worsened with the falling market price of coffee
has fluctuated greatly as crops have varied so much
has attracted a great deal of public attention
has been sympathetically heeded by the big coffee companies
has forced many of them to find other ways of making a livelihood
It is clear from the passage that the big coffee companies ____.
have mostly agreed to bring down the retail price of coffee
recognize the need for massive changes in the production and marketing of coffee
are not likely to yield to demands and pressure to reduce their profits
cannot afford to pay the coffee farmers a higher price for their beans
are largely responsible for the decline in coffee sales