Read the following passage and answer the following questions:
During the past few centuries, with the increase in human population, biodiversity has come under tremendous pressure. Biological extinction, which led to the disappearance of one species in several hundred years, has now been replaced by an accelerated rate of extinction-one species every year. This is the result of the extensive habitat changes brought by mankind. If the same pace continues, an estimated one-fourth to one-third ofspeciesislikely to become extinct within the next few decades. Over all, roughly 1000 birds and mammals are now thought to be in jeopardy. Although endangered animals, e.g. tigers in Asia, cheetahs in Africa, whales in the Antarctic, whooping cranesin NorthAmerica, etc., receive great public attention, plant extinctions are often more significant ecologically. According to Peter H. Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, a disappearing plant can take with it ten to thirty dependent species such as insects, higher animals, and even other plants. The International Union for Conversation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) finds about 10 per cent of the world’s flowering plants to be dangerously rare or under threat.
These estimates ofspecies at risk understate the true problem’, for they deal onlywith known and higher life forms. Itseems probable that many unnamed species are disappearing in scientifically uncharted tropical areas. In his book The Sinking Ark, Norman Myers surmises on the basis of exploitation that, right now, at least one species might be disappearing each day in tropical forests alone. Even outside the tropics, many small, obscure organisms such as worms, mites, beetles and herbs may be disappearing. without our knowledge. Besides, an examination of the survival prospects of all forms of plant and animal life- including obscure, fens, shrubs, insects, mollusks, elephants and wolves - indicates that huge number of them have little future. Loss of sucha multitude ofspecies would constitute an irreversible alternation in the nature ofthe biosphere even before we understand its workings- an evolutionaryRubicon whose crossing Homo sapiens would do well.
1) A) 1) Why has the natural environment suddenly come under great pressure? Give example from the passage to show the pressure.
2) If extinction continues at this place, what is the prediction for the present and the future?
3) Name the different life formsthat are affectedbyourindifference toour environment.
4) What are Norman Myers comments about the tropical forest in his book “The Sinking Ark”?
5) What will be the effect of the loss of various living things on earth, mean for mankind?
6) Give your opinion and solution as to what we can do to save our environment.
1) The natural environment has come under great pressure due to the increase in human population. This has led to extensive habitat changes brought by mankind, resulting in accelerated species extinction. For example, the passage states that "biological extinction, which led to the disappearance of one species in several hundred years, has now been replaced by an accelerated rate of extinction—one species every year." This illustrates the tremendous pressure caused by human activities.
2) If extinction continues at this pace, the prediction is that a significant portion of species will become extinct. __________ _______ _______ _______ ________ ____ __________ __________ ________ __________ __________ _______.
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