The changing earth
Although the earth was
formed about 4,500 million years ago, human beings have (0)………… it for less than half a million years. Within
this time, population has increased hugely and people have had a vast (1)………………. upon the earth. They have long
been able to (2)…………….. the forces of nature to use. Now, with modern technology,
they have the power to alter the balance of life on earth.
Reports back from the
first astronauts helped dispel the dangerous (3)……………….. that the world had no boundaries and had limitless
resources. (4)……………..,
ecologists have shown that all forms of life on
earth are interconnected, so it (5)……………… that all human activity has an effect
on the natural environment.
In recent years, people
have been putting the environment under stress. As a result, certain (6)……………… materials such as timber, water and
minerals are beginning to (7)…………… short. Pollution and the (8)…………….. of waste are already critical issues,
and the (9)……………… of the environment is fast becoming the most pressing problem (10)…………… us all. The way we respond to the
challenge will have a profound
effect on the earth and its life support (11)……………
.
However,
despite all these threats there are (12)……………… signs. Over the past few decades, the growth in population has been more
than matched by food production, indicating that we should be able to feed
ourselves for some time yet.
1 A imprint B indication
2 A put B make
3 A judgement B notion
4 A However B Likewise
5 A results B follows
6 A raw B coarse
7 A turn B come
8 A disposal B displacement
9 A state B situation
10 A encountering B opposing
11 A projects B systems
12 A stimulating B welcoming
C impression
C place
C reflection
C Moreover
C complies
C crude
C go
C dismissal
C case
C meeting
C methods
C satisfying
D impact
D stand
D concept
D Otherwise
D develops
D rough
D run
D disposition
D circumstance
D confronting
D routines
D reassuring