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 contrasts with mere population density, as it accounts for consumption patterns and efficiency. For instance, a densely populated but resource-efficient nation may have a smaller per-capita footprint than a sparsely populated, consumption-heavy one. Critics argue that the metric oversimplifies complex environmental interdependencies, yet it remains a valuable tool for comparative sustainability studies, prompting policymakers to consider not just how many people inhabit a region, but how their lifestyles strain planetary boundaries.
❓ Según el pasaje, ¿cuál es una ventaja clave de la huella ecológica sobre la simple densidad de población como medida del impacto ambiental?
A. A. Mide directamente la cantidad total de residuos producidos por una nación.
B. B. Incorpora tanto las necesidades de consumo de recursos como las de absorción de residuos.
C. C. Es más fácil de calcular para áreas densamente pobladas.
D. D. Ignora los avances tecnológicos en la gestión de recursos.
✅ 正确答案
B. It incorporates both resource consumption and waste absorption needs.
IELTS Reading Tips
Skim the questions first, underline keywords, then locate in the passage
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