The concept of 'ecological footprint' has gained prominence as a metric for assessing human impact on the environment. Unlike simple measures of resource consumption, it calculates the biologically productive land and sea area required to regenerate the resources a population consumes and to absorb the corresponding waste, given prevailing technology. This approach highlights disparities between nations: developed countries often exhibit footprints far exceeding their own biocapacity, relying on global resources. Conversely, developing nations may have smaller per-capita footprints, yet face pressures from population density and unsustainable practices. Critics argue that the metric oversimplifies complex environmental interactions and fails to account for technological innovations that could reduce future impacts. Nevertheless, the footprint remains a powerful educational tool, fostering awareness of the uneven distribution of resource use and the interconnectedness of global ecosystems.
❓ Согласно тексту, в чём заключается основное ограничение экологического следа как показателя?
A. Он не учитывает технологические достижения, которые могли бы смягчить будущий экологический ущерб.
B. Это переоценивает биокapacity развивающихся стран.
C. Он сосредоточен только на поглощении отходов, игнорируя регенерацию ресурсов.
D. Это слишком сложно для образовательных целей.
✅ 正确答案
It does not consider technological advancements that might mitigate future environmental damage.
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