The concept of 'ecological footprint' has become a central tool in sustainability studies, quantifying the demand placed on Earth's ecosystems by human activities. It measures the area of biologically productive land and water required to produce the resources consumed and to absorb the waste generated, given prevailing technology and resource management. While this metric offers a clear, intuitive snapshot of environmental impact, it has faced criticism for oversimplifying complex interdependencies. For instance, it treats all land as equally productive and fails to account for the social or economic dimensions of resource use. Nevertheless, its proponents argue that the footprint serves as a vital wake-up call, highlighting the disparity between current consumption patterns and planetary limits, thereby prompting policy discussions on sustainable development.
❓ 지문에 따르면, 다음 중 생태발자국 개념의 한계는 무엇인가?
A. 인간 활동으로 발생하는 폐기물을 고려하지 않는다.
B. 모든 토지가 동일한 수준의 생산성을 가진다고 가정한다.
C. 자원 사용의 사회적 및 경제적 측면에만 초점을 맞춘다.
D. 그것은 생물학적으로 생산적인 물의 면적을 과대평가한다.
✅ 正确答案
It assumes that all land has the same level of productivity.
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