2. 考研
  3. One of the most pressing challenges that the United States--and indeed, the world--will face in the next few decades is how to a

One of the most pressing challenges that the United States--and indeed, the world--will face in the next few decades is how to a

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问题     One of the most pressing challenges that the United States--and indeed, the world--will face in the next few decades is how to alleviate the growing stress that human activities are placing on the environment. The consequences are just too great to ignore. Wildlife habitats are being degraded or disappearing altogether as new developments take up more land. Plant and animal species are becoming extinct at a greater rate now than at any time in Earth’s history. As many as 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks are overexploited. And the list goes on.
    Yet, there is reason to have hope for the future. Advances in computing power and molecular biology are among the tremendous increases in scientific capability that are helping researchers gain a better understanding of these problems. Recent developments in science and technology could provide the basis for some major, and timely actions that would improve our understanding of how human activities affect the environment.
    One priority for research is improving hydrological forecasting. It has been estimated that the world’s water use could triple in the next two decades. Already, widespread water shortages have occurred in parts of China, India, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. The need for water also is taking its toll on freshwater ecosystems in the United States. Only 2 percent of the nation’s streams are considered in good condition, and close to 40 percent of native fish species are rare to extinct. Using a variety of new remote sensing tools, scientists can learn more about how precipitation affects water levels, how surface water is generated and transported, and how changes in the landscape affect water supplies.
    To prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases in plants, animals, and humans, more study is needed on how pathogens, parasites, and disease-carrying species--as well as humans and other species they infect--are affected by changes in the environment. The overuse of antibiotics both in humans and in farm animals has contributed to the growth of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.  Researchers  can take  advantage  of new technologies in genetics and computing to better monitor and predict the effects that environmental changes might have on disease outbreaks.
    Humans have made alterations to Earth’s surface--such as tropical deforestation, reduction of surface and ground water, and massive development--so dramatic that they approach the levels of transformation that occurred during glacial periods. Such alterations cause changes in local and regional climate, and will determine the future of agriculture. Recent advances in data collection and analysis should be used to document and better understand the causes and consequences of changes in land cover and use.  
Throughout the passage, the author mainly emphasizes
选项 A、the need for more federal funding of environmental scientific research.
B、the role of science in alleviating environmental degradation.
C、the role technology could play in environmental research.
D、the extent of damage humans have wrought on the environment.
答案C
解析 主旨题。文章指出，由于新的发展项目占据了更多的土地，野生动植物的栖息地正在缩减，或者正在消失；不过，我们有理由对未来充满希望；计算能力的提高以及分子生物学领域的进步就是科学能力取得巨大成就的一部分，这些科学能力的提高正在帮助研究人员更好地了解这些问题；科学和技术的新发展能够为一些重要、及时的行动提供基础；然后具体说明了这些技术的好处。这说明，作者在本文主要强调的是科学技术可能给环境研究带来的好处。这与C项的意思相符。文中没有提到A；B、D不是作者关注的重点。  
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