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hundred years, has now been replaced by an accelerated rate of extinction-one species every year.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 of species is likely 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
cranes in North America, etc., receive great public attention, plant extinctions are often more
significant ecologically. According to Peter H. Raven, Director of theMissouri 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 of species at risk understate the true problem’, for they deal only with known and
higher life forms. It seems 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 such a
multitude of species would constitute an irreversible alternation in the nature of the biosphere even
before we understand its workings- an evolutionaryRubiconwhose 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 showthe 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 mainly because of the rapid increase in human population and extensive changes made by human beings to natural habitats. Forests are destroyed, land is converted for agriculture and settlements, and natural ecosystems are disturbed. As a result, the rate of biological extinction has increased greatly. The passage gives the example that extinction, which earlier caused the disappearance of one species in several hundred years, has now accelerated to about one species every year. 2. If the present rate of extinction continues, about one-fourth to one-third of all species may become extinct within the next few ______ ________ ________ ______ _____ _____.
_____ _____ ________ ____ _________ _________ _______ _________.
____ _______ __________ ______ _________ __________ __________ ________ __________.
_____ ________ ___ ____ _______.
___ ________ _______ ____ _________ __________.
_______ __________ _____ _______ _________ ___ __________ ____ ____ __________.
_____ __________ ________ ____ _______ ___ ________.
____ _______ ______ ________ ___.
____ ______ __________ ____ _____ _____ ____ _____ __________ _______.
________ ______ _______ _________ ________ _______ ____ ________ _________ _______ _________.
______ __________ _______ _________ ________ __________ _______ ________ _________ _________ _________.
_____ __________ _____ ________ __________ __________.
____ _______ _____ ___ _______.
___ ___ _____ _______ ________ _______ ___ ______ ______.
__________ ____ _______ __________ _______ ______ __________ ____ _____ ____ ________.
______ ___ ____ ____ __________ _______.
____ ____ _____ _______ ________ ________.
_______ ___ _________ ____ _____ ______.
_______ ______ ________ _________ ______ ____ ___ ___ _________ ________.
____ _________ __________ ____ _________ _______ ______.
_______ _________ ________ ________ __________ _________.
____ ________ _________ _________ _________ __________.
_____ __________ __________ ________ _________.
_____ __________ _______ ______ ________ _______ ____ ______ __________ ______.
____ ___ ___ ____ ____ _________ ______ ___ __________ ____ _________ _____.
________ _________ ________ __________ __________ _________ ______ __________ __________.
______ _________ _____ ________ ______.
__________ ________ ____ _____ ___ ___ ________ __________ ________ _______ _______ __________.
______ __________ _________ ______ _______.
_________ ___ ___ ___ ____ _______ __________.
_____ _______ ____ ______ _____ ______.
__________ ______ _______ _____ _________ ______ _________ _____ _____ ______.
_____ _______ ______ ______ ______ _______ __________ __________ ____ ________ _________ _________.
________ _____ ___ _____ ___ ____ ____ _____.
__________ ______ ___ ____ ________ ____ __________ ______ ________.
_____ ________ _____ ____ ________ __________ ______ ________ __________ _____ __________ ____.
________ ___ _______ _______ ___ __________ _____.
___ ___ ______ __________ _________ __________ ______ ___ _________.
____ __________ ____ ___ ___ _______ _________ _________ ____ _____ __________ ______.
_____ _________ ___ ___ ____ ______ ______.
____ ________ ____ ___ ______ __________ __________ _______.
_______ ________ __________ __________ ___ _____ ____.
______ _________ __________ ________ _______.
______ __________ ___ _______ ______ ________ ____ _____ _______ __________.
____ ______ ______ ____ _______ _________ _______ ___.
____ _________ _________ ________ _______ ___ ______ __________ _________ _______ _______ ___.
______ ____ __________ _____ _________ ______ ____.
______ ________ ________ ____ _________ _________ ___ ___ _______ ______ _____ _____.
______ ________ _______ _________ ______ ____ _______ _____ ___ _____.
________ ______ ________ ______ _________ ________ _________ __________ _______ _______ __________ _____.
_______ _________.
Get Full Answer on WhatsApp