The concept of 'ecological footprint' has become a central tool in measuring human impact on the environment. Originally developed by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees in the 1990s, it quantifies the amount of biologically productive land and water required to sustain a population's consumption patterns and absorb its waste. However, critics argue that the metric oversimplifies complex environmental interactions, ignoring factors such as biodiversity loss and the uneven distribution of resources. Despite these limitations, the ecological footprint remains influential in policy-making, as it provides a tangible comparison of consumption across nations, prompting debates on sustainability and equity. Recent studies have refined the methodology to include carbon emissions more accurately, yet the debate over its validity persists, highlighting the tension between quantitative simplicity and ecological reality.
❓ What is the main criticism of the ecological footprint mentioned in the passage?
A. It is too complex for policy-makers to understand.
B. It fails to account for biodiversity loss and resource distribution.
C. It was developed before the 1990s and is outdated.
D. It only measures carbon emissions and ignores other factors.
✅ 正确答案
It fails to account for biodiversity loss and resource distribution.
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