The practicalities of the economic recovery rate do not differentiate between environmental-sound investment and a recovery based on an increase in energy use and material goods, and more intensive farming. It has become necessary to change the traditional perception of a division of environmental policies and economic well-being, therefore, in turn pursuing the development of a new system based on the environment: environmental taxation; regulation of environmental standards; the establishment of an ecological-economic indicator to determine whether or not sustainability is being adhered to or sacrificed; and finally encouraging the potential green consumer. The task of managing the transition to an environmentally balanced economy over the next few decades becomes the single greatest challenge facing political leaders.
Until then, individual communities seeking ways to prevent local ecological and economic disaster, should consider the advantage of investing locally in energy efficiency and alternative energy technologies. By doing so it is possible to improve the economic health of the community, not to mention the environmental well-being. By becoming increasingly self-sufficient they become responsible for the direct impact on their future. Self-sufficiency provides the basis for a more cohesive commune and establishes within the community a sense of pride through their increased ability, stability, and independence.
This develops a clear case for self-efficiency. Furthermore, industrial countries must realize their responsibility to reduce and eventually repair their damage. It is also the responsibility of industrial countries to aid developing countries to skip the destructive step, therefore fostering self-sufficiency in these developing countries. If the course of mankind is left to go the way it is going, repairing the damage will prove to be much more costly than attending to avert the damage before it occurs. If we reduce our demand on non-renewable resources then we can reduce our negative impact on the environment and in tune with the earth. Western society needs a renewed perspective, rather than measuring our lives in terms of big cars and fancy living, we need to measure our lives in terms of clean air and healthy living, chemical-free workplaces and a lack of the gross.
1. From the information given in the passage, the author’s main concern is that ____.
2. In the third paragraph, the author uses the word “self-sufficiency” to mean ____.
3. The second paragraph is written primarily to ____.
4. From the information in the passage, we can infer that ____.
5. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.the environment well-being and our health are related
B.the environment and the results of our exercising is relevant
C.the balance of environment and economic development is vital for the society
D.the ever changing living standards demand more from the environment
A.that we must reduce the environmental cost of economic development
B.that we should return to the productive mode in the past decades
C.that economic development damages our future
D.that people use their own things rather than borrowing from others
A.remind people of the drawbacks of their overexploitation of the nature
B.illustrate that people can produce more energy to meet industrial demands
C.show that clear air is necessary for people’s health
D.demonstrate that we don’t have to worry about future developments
A.we have to pay more to cut down on pollution
B.we have to pay more to better our environment
C.we have to conserve natural resources in our economic development
D.recovery of nature after pollution costs more money than prevention of pollution
A.The Importance of Environment Protection
B.Environment Protection and Economic Development
C.Industrialized Countries Should Help Developing Countries Protect Environment
D.Self-efficiency
