The concept of 'ecological footprint' has gained prominence as a metric for assessing human demand on natural capital. It quantifies the amount of biologically productive land and sea area required to regenerate the resources a population consumes and to absorb the corresponding waste, given prevailing technology and resource management practices. While the metric offers a compelling snapshot of sustainability, critics argue that it oversimplifies complex environmental impacts by aggregating disparate resource uses into a single land-based unit. Moreover, it does not account for the depletion of non-renewable resources or the long-term effects of pollution, which may lead to misleading policy conclusions. Proponents counter that, despite its limitations, the ecological footprint serves as an effective communication tool, raising awareness and prompting behavioral change in both individuals and institutions. Ultimately, its utility depends on whether it is used as a heuristic for education rather than as a precise scientific instrument for environmental accounting.
❓ According to the passage, what is a major criticism of the ecological footprint metric?
A. A) It ignores the impact of technology on resource use.
B. B) It combines different environmental impacts into a single unit, potentially oversimplifying them.
C. C) It focuses too much on non-renewable resources.
D. D) It is not effective in raising public awareness.
✅ 正确答案
B) It combines different environmental impacts into a single unit, potentially oversimplifying them.
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