考研英语听力基本功训练1: Passage31

Consumption of natural resources rises dramatically every year as the human population increases and standards of living ris

Between 1950 and 1990 the world population doubled to 5.3 billio

with nearly 80 percent living in developing ,or poorer nation

The large,developed nations,however,are responsible for the greatest consumption of natural resources because of their high standards of livin

Conservation education and the thoughtful use of resource

is necessary in the developed countries to reduce natural-resource consumptio

To protect natural resources from pollution,individuals,industries,and governments have many obligation

These include prohibiting or limiting wastewater and airborne pollutant

preventing the production of radioactive material

and regulating drilling and transportation of petroleum product

Failure to do so results in contaminated air, soil,rivers,plants,and animals.

For example,if governments required that all oil tankers be fitted with double-layered frame

the damages to fisheries and wildlife from the many oil spills of the 20th century may have been reduced.