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.
❓ Согласно тексту, какое из следующих утверждений является ограничением концепции экологического следа?
A. Он не учитывает отходы, образующиеся в результате деятельности человека.
B. Оно предполагает, что вся земля имеет одинаковый уровень продуктивности.
C. Он сосредоточен только на социальных и экономических аспектах использования ресурсов.
D. Оно завышает площадь биологически продуктивной воды.
✅ 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