Read the following passage and answer the following questions:
During the past few centuries, with the increase in human population, biodiversity has come under
tremendous pressure. Biological extinction, which led to the disappearance of one species in several
hundred years, has now been replaced by an accelerated rate of extinction-one species every year.
This is the result of the extensive habitat changes brought by mankind. If the same pace continues,
an estimated one-fourth to one-third of species is likely to become extinct within the next few
decades. Over all, roughly 1000 birds and mammals are now thought to be in jeopardy. Although
endangered animals, e.g. tigers in Asia, cheetahs in Africa, whales in the Antarctic, whooping
cranes in North America, etc., receive great public attention, plant extinctions are often more
significant ecologically. According to Peter H. Raven, Director of theMissouri Botanical Garden, a
disappearing plant can take with it ten to thirty dependent species such as insects, higher animals,
and even other plants. The International Union for Conversation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN) finds about 10 per cent of the world’s flowering plants to be dangerously rare or under
threat.
These estimates of species at risk understate the true problem’, for they deal only with known and
higher life forms. It seems probable that many unnamed species are disappearing in scientifically
uncharted tropical areas. In his book The Sinking Ark, Norman Myers surmises on the basis of
exploitation that, right now, at least one species might be disappearing each day in tropical forests
alone. Even outside the tropics, many small, obscure organisms such as worms, mites, beetles and
herbs may be disappearing. without our knowledge. Besides, an examination of the survival
prospects of all forms of plant and animal life- including obscure, fens, shrubs, insects, mollusks,
elephants and wolves - indicates that huge number of them have little future. Loss of such a
multitude of species would constitute an irreversible alternation in the nature of the biosphere even
before we understand its workings- an evolutionaryRubiconwhose crossing Homo sapiens would do
well.
1) A) 1) Why has the natural environment suddenly come under great pressure? Give example
from the passage to showthe pressure.
2) If extinction continues at this place, what is the prediction for the present and the
future?
3) Name the different life formsthat are affectedbyourindifference toour environment.
4) What are Norman Myers comments about the tropical forest in his book “The
Sinking Ark”?
5) What will be the effect of the loss of various living things on earth, mean for
mankind?
6) Give your opinion and solution as to what we can do to save our environment.
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