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.
❓ Согласно тексту, что происходит, когда экологический след превышает биологическую ёмкость?
A. A. Население переживает технологический прорыв, который повышает эффективность использования ресурсов.
B. B. Экосистема начинает восстанавливать ресурсы с более высокой скоростью, чтобы компенсировать это.
C. C. Население истощает природный капитал, угрожая устойчивости в будущем.
D. D. Регион автоматически импортирует ресурсы для балансировки дефицита.
✅ 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