雅思阅读第083套P3Arethese two reporters on the same planet
Reading Passage 3
You should spend about 20minutes on Questions 28-40 which are based on this passage.
Are these two reporters on the sameplanet?
An essay by scientist, educator and environmentalist, Dr.David Suzuki
A number of books, articles andtelevision programs have disputed the reality of the claimed hazards of globalwarming, overpopulation, deforestation and ozone depletion. Two newspapercommentaries show the profound differences of opinion on critical issuesaffecting the planet.
The first, by Robert Kaplan,has generated both fear and denial. Entitled The Coming Anarchy, the reportpaints a horrifying picture of the future for humanity. The author suggeststhat the terrible consequences of the conjunction between exploding humanpopulation and surrounding environmental degradation are already visible inAfrica and parts of Southeast Asia. As society is destabilised by the AIDSepidemic, government control evaporates, national borders crumble beneath thepressure of environmental refugees and local populations revert to tribalism tosettle old scores or defend against fleeing masses and bands of statelessnomads on the move.
Kaplan believes what he hasseen in Africa and Southeast Asia is the beginning of a global pattern ofdisintegration of social, political and economic infrastructure under theimpact of ecological degradation, population pressure and disease. Asecosystems collapse, this scenario could sweep the planet, first in EasternEurope and then the industrialised countries. It is a frightening scenario,built on a serious attempt to project the aftermath of ecological destruction.It comes from a core recognition that the planet is finite and consumption hasvast social, political and economic ramifications. It has also generated agreat deal of discussion and controversy.
Marcus Gee pronounces Kaplan’svision 'dead wrong’ in a major article headlined Apocalypse Deferred. Attackingthe 'doomsayers’, Gee counters with the statistics favoured by believers in thelimitless benefits and potential of economic growth. Citing the spectacularimprovements in human health, levels of education and literacy, availability offood and length of life even in the developing world, Gee pronounces thefivefold increase in the world economy since 1950 as the cause of this goodnews. He does concede that immense problems remain, from ethnic nationalism totropical deforestation to malnutrition to cropland losses but concludes thatKaplan has exaggerated many of the crises and thus missed the broad pattern ofprogress.
Focusing on statistics of thedecline in child mortality and the rise in longevity, food production and adultliteracy, Gee reaches the conclusion that things have never been better.Economic indicators, such as the rise in gross world product and total exportsshow 'remarkable sustained and dramatic progress'. Life for the majority of theworld's citizens is getting steadily better in almost every category.'
Gee's conclusions rest heavilyon economic indicators. He points out the annual 3.9 percent rise in the globaleconomy and the more than doubling of the gross output per person, that hasoccurred for the past thirty years. World trade has done even better, growingby 6 percent of a product's price in 1947 to 5 percent today.
Gee skips lightly over suchfacts as third world debt and the daily toll of 22,000 child deaths from easilypreventable disease. He also fails to mention that during this period the gulfbetween rich and poor countries has increased. He does acknowledge the threatsof loss of topsoil and forests, pollution of the air and contamination ofwater. However, he concludes that there is little evidence they are seriousenough to hall or even reverse human progress. Gee challenges the notion of apopulation crisis since there have never been as many people so well off.Furthermore, he suggests there will never be a limit to population because morepeople means more Einsteins to keep making life better.
Gee's outlook rests on a tinyminority of scientists who have faith in the boundless potential of science andtechnology to overcome the physical constraints of air, water and soil so thata much larger population can be sustained. His final proof? -the general risein living standards along with population growth. But the relationship betweenchanges in living standards and population is a correlation, not proof ofcausal connection. Gee is ignoring basic economic as well as scientificreality.
If we inherit a hank accountwith a thousand dollars that earns 5% interest annually, we could withdrawfifty dollars or less each year forever However, suppose we start to increaseour withdrawals, say up to sixty dollars, then seventy dollars and more eachyear. For many years the account would yield cash. But it would be foolish toconclude that we could keep drawing more from the account indefinitely. Yetthat is what Gee believes. As ocean fisheries around the world show, we areusing up the ecological capital of the planet (biodiversity, air. water, soil)rather than living off the interest. It is a dangerous deception to believethat the human-created artifice called economies can keep the indicators risingas the life support systems of the planet continue to decline.
The value system that dominatesmost of the popular media promotes the delusion that resources and the economycan continue to expand indefinitely. It also blinds the public to the urgencyand credibility of warnings that an environmental crisis confronts us.
SECTION 3: QUESTIONS 28-40
Questions 28-33
Use the information in thepassage to match the people (A-C) with the opinions (28-33)listed below.
There may be more than onecorrect answer.
Example
Environmental challenges willbe met by technological advances B
28 __________Our patterns of consumption are using up the ecological capital of the planet.
29 __________Crises beginning in the Third World will spread to developed countries.
30 __________Scientific progress will enable the planet to sustain increased population.
31 __________Social and political infrastructure worldwide could collapse.
32 __________Earth’s life support systems are at critical risk.
33 __________Environmental problems are not a threat to progress.
A
R. Kaplan, author of The Coming Anarchy
B
M. Gee, author of Apocalypse Deferred
C
D. Suzuki, author of this passage
Questions 34-36
Choose ONE phrase pomthe list below (A-G) to complete each of the following sentences.
There are more phrases thanquestions so you will not use all of them.
34 __________The growth of world trade
35 __________The relationship between population and standard of living
36 __________Natural resources and the economy
List of Phrases
A
have most benefited developing countries
B
has led to a drop in the standard of living generally
C
cannot continue to expand indefinitely
D
have decreased third world debt
E
shows a correlation, not cause and effect
F
pose a threat to human progress
G
has been accompanied by a fall in tariffs
Questions 37-40
Choose the correct letter A-D.
37Which of the following is NOTstated by Kaplan as a key contributing factor to potential globaldestabilisation?
Apolitical corruption
Bcollapse of ecosystems
Cpopulation explosion
Dmalnutrition and disease
38What is the main source of Gee’s optimism?
Ascientific and technological advances
Bdecreasing Third World debt
Cthe rise in the standard of livingworldwide
Deconomic growth
39Which of the following can we infer aboutthe views of the author of this passage?
AHe disagrees with both Gee and Kaplan.
BHe supports the views of Gee.
CHis views are closer to those of Kaplan.
DHe thinks both Gee and Kaplan are right.
40The main purpose of the author in thispassage is ...
Ato alert us to an environmental crisis.
Bto educate the media.
Cto create uncertainty about the future.
Dto challenge current economic theory.
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