At first sight, the fate of threatened species might seem a world apart from the economy

. Upon closer examination, however, we start to understand the connections between the two. The “good health” of natural systems is a precondition for the “good health” of our social and economic systems. Can one say that a society is thriving when it is exposed to air and water pollution and endures related health problems？ Equally, can a society “function” if a large proportion of people are unemployed or cannot make ends meet？

Despite gaps and uncertainties in our understanding, we can see that our world is changing. After 10,000 years of relative stability, the average global temperature is increasing. Although the European Union’s (EU’s) greenhouse gas emissions are declining, fossil fuels release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than our land and oceans can absorb. Some regions are more vulnerable to the potential impacts of climate change – and t

1Though different understandings exist, one thing people all recognize is that __________.

A、more greenhouse gases are emitted than our land can absorb

B、the world we are living in is different from what it was before

C、some countries are too vulnerable to adapt to climate change

D、EU countries are producing less greenhouse gas emissions now

2Additional pressure on our natural systems can result from ___________.

A、the change of lifestyles of people in the developed countries

B、the accelerated extinction rates of plant and animal species

C、the improvement of living standards in developing countries

D、the risk of turning our home into an unlivable place for us

3What is a main cause of global biodiversity loss？

A、The disappearance of natural habitats caused by human activities.

B、The increase of the average temperature in the world.

C、The release of excessive greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

D、The consumption and production patterns we follow today.

4Why are large areas of forests cut down every year according to the passage？

A、To provide wood for urban development.

B、To turn the land into other uses.

C、To grow grass for cattle to eat.

D、To grow crops to meet human demand.

5What point does the writer try to illustrate through the passage？

A、Our quality of life is declining due to environment change.

B、Damage to natural environment should be prevented.

C、Human beings should rethink their activities on earth.

D、Economy and natural systems are closely connected.