阅读理解。
In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources, the harm from the traditional business
model is on the rise. Actually, the past decade has seen more and more forests disappearing and the
globe becoming increasingly warm. People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed, and
that we must be able to develop in sustainable ways. That means growth with low carbon or development of sustainable products. In other words, we should keep the earth healthy while using its supply of natural
resources.
Today, sustainable development is a proper trend in many countries. According to a recent study, the
global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decade. China, for
example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global
energy revolution. It is now trying hard to make full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge
amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains. In addition, we are also seeing great growth
in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil, which is produced without cutting down
valuable rainforest. In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown by more than 50%.
Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets. First, they can set high targets for
reducing carbon emissions and targets for saving and reusing energy. Besides, stronger arrangement of
public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development. Finally, governments can avoid
the huge expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can
accelerate the change from traditional model to a sustainable one.
The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of growing population within the
limits of this single planet. That is no small task, but it offers abundant new chances for sustainable product
industries.
1. The traditional business model is harmful because of all the following EXCEPT that ______.
A. it consumes natural resources
B. it makes the world warmer
C. it brings severe damage to forests
D. it makes growth hard to continue
2. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
A. China lacks wind and solar energy.
B. China is the leader of the low-carbon market.
C. Palm oil is made at the cost of valuable forests.
D. High-speed trains are a low-carbon development.
3.To fully develop the low-carbon markets, governments can ______.
A. cut public expenses
B. encourage energy conservation
C. develop public resources
D. forbid carbon emission
4. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A.To advocate sustainable development.
B.To compare two business models.
C.To predict a change of the global market.
D.To introduce a new business model.
