Over the last few decades it has become increasingly
clear that mankind is having an enormous impact on the world's environment.
Global problems such as climate change, the damage to the ozone layer and the
extinction of wildlife species, are now well known and are increasingly seen as
threats to our very survival. All of these problems are clearly
linked to human activity.
People need development to provide them with decent
housing, meaningful and rewarding jobs, and education and to meet other basic
needs. However, we need to develop in a way that does not over burden
natural systems or squander natural resources. In other words there must
be sustainable development to enable us to hand a better world to the next
generation.
The Government's goal for sustainable development is
defined as 'enabling all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs
and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of
future generations'.
Key to achieving sustainable development is the integration of social, economic and environmental
goals, as success in one is totally reliant on the others. Good social
conditions require strong economies, strong economies rely on environmental
resources, and environmental conditions are inseparable from our quality of
life. Despite this, each goal has often been pursued independently and success in
one area has worked against others.
COMPREHENSION
1. One of the statements
below did not appear in the text. Read the statements carefully and cross out (x) the idea not mentioned.
r People need development to provide them with decent housing, meaningful
and rewarding jobs...
r Global problems include climate change, the damage to the ozone layer
and the extinction of wildlife species...
r We need to develop in a way that does not over burden natural systems or
squander natural resources.
r There must be sustainable development to enable us to hand a better
world to the next generation.
r Sustainable development is defined as 'enabling all people throughout
the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life,
without compromising the quality of life of future generations'.
r The most widespread,
common meaning for the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable development”
come from the Brundtland Commission Report from the
United Nations.
2. Answer the following questions briefly, in your own
words as far as possible.
a. What do people need development to provide them with?
………………………………………………...………………………
b. What should sustainable development enable us to do?
………………………………………………...………………………
c. In what way do we need
to develop?
………………………………………………...………………………
d. what does achieving sustainable development require?
………………………………………………...………………………
3.
Put the words between brackets before the appropriate definition/ meaning.
(Decade, mankind, enormous, rely on, inseparable,
global, species, squander)
A……………………………….: To use supplies
in a wasteful way,
B……………………………….:
A period of ten years, especially a period such as 1860 to 1869, or 1990 to
1999.
C……………………………….:
cannot be separated.
D……………………………….: extremely
large.
E……………………………….:
the whole of the human race, including both men and women.
F……………………………….: relating
to the whole world.
G……………………………….:
to need a particular thing or the help and support of someone or something in
order to continue, to work correctly, or to succeed.
H……………………………..….: a set of animals or
plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can
breed with each other.
4.
What do the underlined words in the text refer to?
- All of these problems (Paragraph 1) : …………………….……….…………