The concept of 'environmental carrying capacity' has long been central to ecological studies, yet its application to human societies remains contentious. While traditional models assume a fixed maximum population that an ecosystem can support indefinitely, recent research suggests that technological innovation and trade can temporarily raise this limit. However, such expansions often lead to unforeseen consequences, such as resource depletion in distant regions or increased vulnerability to climate shocks. A study by Smith et al. (2022) demonstrated that historical societies which exceeded their local carrying capacity through imported resources tended to collapse when trade routes were disrupted, whereas those that maintained population levels below the threshold exhibited greater resilience. This implies that sustainable development requires not merely increasing efficiency, but also respecting ecological boundaries, even in an interconnected world.
❓ 文章によると、環境収容力を高めるために技術革新と貿易に依存することの主な限界は何ですか？
A. A. それは、元に戻すことのできない人口の永続的な増加につながる。
B. B. それは、もし途絶された場合、社会の崩壊を引き起こす可能性のある依存関係を生み出します。
C. C. それは強力な中央統治を持つ社会においてのみ有効である。
D. D. 気候関連災害に対する脆弱性を低減する。
✅ 正确答案
B. It creates dependencies that may cause societal collapse if disrupted.
IELTS Reading Tips
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