It is easy to be worried about the future of our planet. Forests are disappearing. Water cycles are breaking down. Pollution is harming cities. But I am still a little bit hopeful about our planet’s future.

Nature is making a comeback in many places. Even in the worst landscapes, nature is developing and regaining its own land. Wolves are moving across Europe and there are more tigers in India. I am not saying we should stop worrying about losing biodiversity (生物多样性), but the good news is that nature isn’t so fragile. And in many parts of the world, we are giving it more room to do its thing. For example, farmers are returning land to nature in some areas.

The population is getting smaller. We used to think a continuing baby boom (生育高峰) was a danger to the planet. But today, couples are having half as many children as half a century ago. In fact, the fear in much of the world is that the population is becoming smaller.

Our modern world depends less on materials. This century, the UK’s consumption (消耗) of materials has fallen from 16 tonnes a year per head to 11 tonnes. Why? We make much more with less by using modern ways of producing goods. And today’s wealthy people spend less money on materials and more on lifestyle experiences: eating out, taking exercise, attending concerts and so on.

I agree that the worst could still happen. To avoid it, we have no choice but to act. And that means staying positive.

1.1. How does the writer explain people’s worries about the planet in paragraph 1?

A By telling stories.

B By describing facts.

C By offering advice.

D By comparing ideas.

解析：选B。写作手法题。第一段：Forests are disappearing. Water cycles are breaking down. Pollution is harming cities.（森林消失、水循环破坏、污染危害城市），作者通过列举客观现实事实，阐述人们对地球的担忧。A 没有叙事讲故事；C 本段并未提建议；D 不存在不同观点做对比。

2.2. What does the underlined word “fragile” probably mean in paragraph 2?

A Active.

B Light.

C Weak.

D Quiet.

解析：选C。词义猜测题。fragile 意为脆弱的。前文列举：自然正在复苏，狼、老虎数量回升。本句 “但好消息是大自然并没有那么脆弱”。weak（虚弱的）和 fragile 语义最贴近。active 积极；light 轻；quiet 安静均不符合上下文。

3.3.According to the passage, today’s wealthy people may spend more money ▲ .

A doing sports

B buying clothes

C producing goods

D holding concerts

解析：选A。细节查找题。定位原文more on lifestyle experiences: eating out, taking exercise, attending concerts and so on。taking exercise=doing sports（做运动）。B 买衣服属于物质消费，文中说富人少花钱在实物；C 生产商品不是富人消费行为；D 是 “参加音乐会 attending concerts”，不是 “举办音乐会 holding concerts”，概念偷换。

4.4. What is the passage mainly about?

A How we can protect our future planet.

B How we can control population growth.

C Why we should reduce the use of materials.

D Why we should stay hopeful about the earth.

解析：选D。主旨大意题。文章首段点明：虽然地球有诸多问题，但作者对地球未来抱有希望。中间分三点论述理由：自然复苏、人口下降、物质消耗减少；结尾呼吁保持积极。全文围绕为什么应对地球心怀希望展开。A：文章重点不是讲保护地球的具体做法；B 人口只是其中一个分论点；C 减少物质消耗只是分论点，不是全文主旨。