A
Human demands for natural resources have doubled in less than 50 years and are now beyond what the earth can provide, a report warned. If humans carry on like this, we will need two earths by 2030. The population of wildlife has fallen by 60% in thirty years.
The report said British people are consuming (消耗) far more than the earth can deal with. If everyone lived such a lifestyle, humans would need 2.75 planets to survive. People are now living lifestyles which would require 1.5 planets, though there are great differences between rich and poor nations.
Researchers studied the global change in land use and water consumption. The UK comes 31st in a list of countries based on “ecological footprint (生态足迹)” that measures how much land and sea each person needs to produce the resources they consume and to absorb (吸收) the wastes. The UK has fallen down from 15th place in the last report two years ago to 31st place, but the WWF believes it is an increase in other countries' efforts rather than a reduction in the UK's use of resources.
Ireland has the 10th highest ecological footprint, while the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Denmark, Belgium and the US are the five worst countries for overconsumption of resources. The study suggests if the expected global population of 9.2 billion in 2050 were to eat a Malaysian diet, 1.3 planets would be needed but if everyone were to eat an Italian diet, humans would need almost two planets. Those countries that can provide the highest quality of life using the lowest amount of resources will not only serve the global interest, but will be the leaders in a resourcelimited world.
本文为说明文。本文讲述人类在透支地球的资源。
1．We will probably need earths if we follow the British lifestyle.
A．1.3 B．2.75
C．2 D．1.5
答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段The report said British people are consuming (消耗) far more than the earth can deal with. If everyone lived such a lifestyle, humans would need 2.75 planets to survive.可知，如果我们按照英国的生活方式，我们可能需要2.75个地球。故选B。
2．What do we know about “ecological footprint ”？
A．It has something to do with human demands for resources and their wastes.
B．It is used to produce the resources and absorb the wastes.
C．We can know the total amount of resources on the earth through it.
D．It is about changes in land use and water consumption across the globe.
答案：A
解析：推理判断题。根据第三段．..based on “ecological footprint (生态足迹)” that measures how much land and sea each person needs to produce the resources they consume and to absorb (吸收) the wastes. 可知，生态足迹与人类对资源的需求和浪费有关，故选A。
3.The WWF believes that .
A．the earth won't be able to meet human needs after 50 years
B．the UK has possibly not reduced the use of resources over the past two years
C．Ireland has a lower ecological footprint than the UK
D．there are no big differences in lifestyle between rich and poor nations
答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段The UK has fallen down from 15th place in the last report two years ago to 31st place, but the WWF believes it is an increase in other countries' efforts rather than a reduction in the UK's use of resources.(英国的排名从两年前的第15位降至第31位，但世界自然基金会认为，这是其他国家努力的结果，而不是英国资源使用量的减少)可知，WWF组织认为，英国可能没有减少对资源的使用。故选B。
4．It can be learned from the text that Malaysia .
A．has a larger population than Italy
B．consumes fewer resources than Italy
C．would need almost two planets
D．has the highest quality of life
答案：B
解析：推理判断题。根据最后一段The study suggests if the expected global population of 9.2 billion in 2050 were to eat a Malaysian diet, 1.3 planets would be needed but if everyone were to eat an Italian diet, humans would need almost two planets.(这项研究表明，如果2050年全球92亿人口以马来西亚人的饮食为标准，那么就需要1.3个地球；而如果每个人都以意大利人的饮食为标准，那么人类就需要将近两个地球)可推断，马来西亚人的消费模式消耗的资源比意大利少，故选B。
