雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of the 'Anthropocene' has gained traction among geologists and environmental scientists as a proposed new geological epoch defined by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems. Proponents argue that markers such as plastic pollution, nuclear fallout from atomic tests, and elevated carbon dioxide levels provide clear stratigraphic evidence of a distinct human-driven era. However, critics contend that the term lacks formal precision, as human activities have altered the environment for millennia, and the proposed markers may not be globally synchronous or permanent in the geological record. This debate highlights the tension between scientific classification and the broader narrative of human influence, raising questions about how we define and periodize our own impact on the planet.