By contrast, developing countries such as Kenya use a fraction of the resources. Nef highlighted the energy wasted in trade. In 2004, for example, Britain exported 1,500 tons of potatoes to Germany and imported the same amount. We sent 10,200 tons of milk and cream to France and imported 9,900 tons.

　　Professor Tim Jackson, head of sustainable development at Surrey University, one of Britain’s leading experts in sustainability, said the research was broadly right and that we are using resources faster than they can be replaced by the planet.

　　He said: “We are clearly drawing natural capital and the point about collapse is that we don’t know when some of the systems in the global atmosphere and fish will collapse but we do know that collapse is a very real possibility.”

　　Our Dwindling Natural Assets

　　Fisheries Degradation of the marine ecosystem is one of the world’s biggest problems after climate change. Many fish population have shrunk by 90 percent in 50 years. Species in particular danger are bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and Atlantic and cod in the North Sea.

　　Energy Oil reserves are fast running out: “peak oil”—the point from which oil reserves start to decline—is imminent, with world consumption of oil at 84 million barrels a day. In turn, the burning of fossil fuels is the largest source of emissions of CO2.

　　Some 13 million hectares of forest are lost every year, says the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Almost 20 percent of the Amazon—the world’s “lung”—has been felled. In 2004 the rate of forest clearance in the Amazon was the second highest on record, caused by the boom in growing soya beans. Deforestation of tropical rainforests may account for the loss of as many as 100 species a day.

　　Water Population growth, pollution and climate change are making water a scarce resource. Only 2 percent of water on Earth is fresh, the rest is salt or trapped in glaciers and snow. By 2050, 7 billion people in 60 countries could be short of drinking water.

　　Farming land Overfarming drains the soil of nutrients, while the chemicals used in the process pollute waterways. Farming uses 70 percent of the world’s water supply: to provide 2,700 calories a day requires 4,300 litres (more than seven bathtubs) of water.

　　1. So far man has tapped the world’s abundant resources on a moderate level.

　　2. The U.S. economics foundation has already figured out the exact date when the Earth is not able to bear the burden imposed by mankind.

　　3. Environmentalists have done extensive research on the relation between the exploitation of natural resources and the improvement of people’s living standards.

　　4. Apart from climate change, the overconsumption has given rise to several other problems, one of which is falling agricultural yields.

　　5. An outstanding example of extreme weather is _________which devastated New Orleans in August last year.

　　6. According to Global Footprint’s estimates, the human race is overusing the Earth’s resources by_________ .

　　7. Mathis Wackernagel warned that humanity would exceed_________ in terms of its natural resources.

　　8. According to Nef’s analysis of the unsustainability of human behavior, the time when humanity reached the limit of sustainability was_________ .

　　9. Professor Tim Jackson confirmed the validity of the research and pointed out that resources are being used faster than they _________by the Earth.

　　10. One of the major causes of the extinction of species is probably the deforestation of_________ .

　　Part ⅢListening Comprehension(35 minutes)

　　Section A

　　Directions: In this section,you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations.At the end of each conversation,one or more questions will be asked about what was said.Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once.After each question there will be a pause. During the pause,you must read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decide which is the best answer.Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　11. A) They earn less than men.

　　B) They have fewer opportunities for promotion.

　　C) 70 percent of them suffer from sex harassment.

　　D) 70 percent of them are laid off.