The concept of 'ecological footprint' has gained prominence as a metric for assessing human impact on the environment. It quantifies the amount of biologically productive land and water area required to produce the resources an individual, population, or activity consumes, and to absorb the waste it generates, given prevailing technology and resource management. This measure is often contrasted with 'biocapacity', which represents the ecosystem's ability to regenerate resources and absorb waste. When a population's ecological footprint exceeds its biocapacity, it leads to ecological overshoot, depleting natural capital and undermining long-term sustainability. Critiques argue that the footprint simplifies complex environmental interactions and fails to account for technological innovation or trade, yet it remains a powerful tool for raising awareness about unsustainable consumption patterns.
❓ According to the passage, what happens when an ecological footprint surpasses biocapacity?
A. A. The population experiences a technological breakthrough that increases resource efficiency.
B. B. The ecosystem begins to regenerate resources at a faster rate to compensate.
C. C. The population draws down natural capital, threatening future sustainability.
D. D. The region automatically imports resources to balance the deficit.
✅ 正确答案
C. The population draws down natural capital, threatening future sustainability.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
Watch for paraphrasing; correct answers are often reworded
Be wary of absolute statements (all, always, never) — usually wrong
Pay attention to content after transition words (however, but, yet)
Manage time: about 20 minutes per passage; skip difficult questions first