G2020每日閱讀訓練練習D30

Pistachio_lin

Hi 大家好，閱讀打卡訓練第三十天。

Materials: OG2020

Passages:

The argument for “monetizing”—or putting a monetary value on—ecosystem functions may be stated thus: Concern about the depletion of natural resources is widespread, but this concern, in the absence of an economic argument for conservation, has not translated into significant conservational progress. Some critics blame this impasse on  environmentalists, whom they believe fail to address the economic issues of environmental degradation. Conservation can appear unprofitable when compared with the economic returns derived from converting natural assets (pristine coastlines, for example) into explicitly commercial ones (such as resort hotels). But according to David Pearce, that illusion stems from the fact that “services” provided by ecological systems are not traded on the commodities market, and thus have no readily  quantifiable value. To remedy this, says Pearce, one has to show that all ecosystems have economic value—indeed, that all  ecological services are economic services. Tourists visiting wildlife preserves, for example, create jobs and generate income for national economies; undisturbed forests and wetlands regulate water runoff and act as water-purifying systems, saving millions of dollars worth of damage to property and to marine ecosystems. In Gretchen Daily's view, monetization, while unpopular with many environmentalists, reflects the dominant role that economic considerations play in human behavior, and the expression of economic value in a common currency helps inform environmental decision-making processes.

思路/簡化:

The argument for “monetizing”—or putting a monetary value on—ecosystem functions may be stated thus: Concern about the depletion of natural resources is widespread, but this concern, in the absence of an economic argument for conservation, has not translated into significant conservational progress.

• (Introducing a concept: monetizing ecosystem functions; - this is a concern but this concern comes without economic argument, resulting no progress.)
  

Some critics blame this impasse on   environmentalists , whom they believe fail to address the economic issues of environmental degradation.

• (One view on the fact that no progrress was made. -> enviromentalist fail to take care of the economic aspect: just expressing the concerns but showing no economic aspects)
  
  

Conservation can appear unprofitable when compared with the economic returns derived from converting natural assets (pristine coastlines, for example) into explicitly commercial ones (such as resort hotels).

• (explaining why it is difficult to deal with ith the economic aspects)
  

But according to David Pearce, that illusion stems from the fact that “services” provided by ecological systems are not traded on the commodities market, and thus have no readily quantifiable   value.

• (Change of direction: the value of ecological system actually exists; it's just because the way that it's viewd is different.)
  

To remedy this, says Pearce, one has to show that all ecosystems have economic value—indeed, that all   ecological services are economic services.

• (to further explain Pearce's thought: ecosystems themselves present economic value)
  
  
  

Tourists visiting wildlife preserves, for example, create jobs and generate income for national economies; undisturbed forests and wetlands regulate water runoff and act as water-purifying systems, saving millions of dollars worth of damage to property and to marine ecosystems.

• (examples made to support the previous sentence: the economic value of the ecosystems)
  
  
  

In Gretchen Daily's view, monetization , while unpopular with many environmentalists, reflects the dominant role that economic considerations play in human behavior, and the expression of economic value in a common currency helps inform environmental decision-making processes.

• Putting value on a thing reflects the consideration in terms of how human behavior acts.
• Showing value in a recognizable way boosts enviromental decision-making processes.
  

Main structure:
1. monetizing”—or putting a monetary value on—ecosystem functions


- concern of depleting ecosystem functions comes without economic issues and as a result no conservational progress is made.


- #1 one view to explain this zero progress: enviromentalist fail to take care of the economic aspects.
    - difficulty in dealing with the economic aspects -> conservation appears unprofitable.

- opposing view to #1: the way the value of ecosystem is present is different.
    - eco-systems themselves do show value -> meaning that "conserving them is preserving value".
    - examples.
    - People acts accordingly to the value of a thing and expressing with a recognizable scale boosts decision-making processes.


1. Information in the passage suggests that David Pearce would most readily endorse which of the following statements concerning monetization?

(A) Monetization represents a strategy that is attractive to both environmentalists and their critics.

(B) Monetization is an untested strategy, but it is increasingly being embraced by environmentalists.

(C) Monetization should at present be restricted to ecological services and should only gradually be extended to such commercial endeavors as tourism and recreation.

(D) Monetization can serve as a means of representing persuasively the value of environmental conservation.

• (Correct, In David's view, eco-system presents value in different fields.)
  

(E) Monetization should inform environmental decision-making processes only if it is accepted by environmentalist groups.

2. Which of the following most clearly represents an example of an “ ecological service ” as that term is used in line 20?

(A) A resort hotel located in an area noted for its natural beauty

(B) A water-purifying plant that supplements natural processes with nontoxic chemicals

(C) A wildlife preserve that draws many international travelers

• (Locating this sentence: Tourists visiting wildlife preserves, for example, create jobs and generate income for national economies)
  

(D) A nonprofit firm that specializes in restoring previously damaged ecosystems

(E) A newsletter that keeps readers informed of ecological victories and setbacks


3. According to the passage, Daily sees monetization as an indication of which of the following?

(A) The centrality of economic interests to people's actions

• (People acts accordingly to the value of a thing - locating the original sentence in the passage: monetization reflects the dominant role)
  

(B) The reluctance of the critics of environmentalism to acknowledge the importance of conservation

(C) The inability of financial interests and ecological interests to reach a common ideological ground

(D) The inevitability of environmental degradation

(E) The inevitability of the growth of ecological services in the future

4. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage concerning the  environmentalists  mentioned in line 8?

(A) They are organized in opposition to the generation of income produced by the sale of ecological services.

(B) They are fewer in number but better organized and better connected to the media than their opponents.

(C) They have sometimes been charged with failing to use a particular strategy in their pursuit of conservational goals.

• #1 one view to explain this zero progress: enviromentalist fail to take care of the economic aspects.
  

(D) They have been in the forefront of publicizing the extent of worldwide environmental degradation.

(E) They define environmental progress differently and more conservatively than do other organized groups of environmentalists.


以上分析，還請有想法的大大們不吝分享自己的心得。謝謝！