# Should we stop eating meat? - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 2） - 考频：超高频 - 最近考试：2025.11.15 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/28ec99cd-08e0-48e7-a32d-9555d22f98c6（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 Some claim that it's the only way to save our planet from disaster. But is it really that simple? A The call for people to eat less meat to save the planet is growing louder, so if less is good, wouldn't none be better? To find out, let's imagine what would happen if the world eliminated meat, milk and eggs from its diet, then trace the effects. Last year the world consumed 289 million tonnes of meat, 700 million tonnes of milk and 1.2 billion eggs. Environmentally speaking, this came at an enormous cost. B All agriculture damages the environment. Take for example the felled forests and the common use of irrigation systems.And it may surprise you to know that agriculture creates more greenhouse gases than all methods of transport put together. Livestock farming does the most damage. In part,that is because most livestock eat grain that could be used to feed human populations, and farmers are forced to grow more than we would otherwise need to meet the demand. Altogether, if we switched to a vegan diet,meaning no meat,dairy or eggs, the land currently required for crops would drop by an estimated 21 per cent, about 3.4 million hectares, roughly the size of India. C One environmental impact that would also lessen through a reduction in animal farming would be that of the nitrogen emitted from agricultural processes, which spreads into both waterways and land. According to environmental scientist Allison Leach, if everyone eliminated dairy products and eggs, this kind of pollution would fall by 60%. Livestock production has another serious environmental impact. Global statistics are hard to come by, but in the US at least, livestock account for 55% of erosion, mostly from forests being cut down to make way for grazing land. On top of this, half of all antibiotics manufactured are fed to livestock as part of their normal diet,a practice that is leading to drug-resistant bacteria. D A meat-free world, then would be greener in many ways. However, if everyone opted to give up meat there would be significant costs too. For most of human history, livestock grazed on land that wasn't suitable for ploughing, and in doing so they converted inedible grass into edible meat and milk. Even today, a flock of sheep or goats can be the most efficient way to get food from marginal land. In a world in which over a billion people do not have enough to eat, using this land for crop production would contribute to food insecurity. E In some parts of the world today, livestock like chickens, for instance, can subsist on leftovers and whatever they find. Tara Garnett, who heads the Food Climate Research Network at the University of Surrey, points out the usefulness of these animals. By giving them your leftovers, she says, they deal with your rubbish, and you get meat. Garnett admits, though, that if this kind of approach were generally adopted, it would require a major adjustment in food preferences; people would have to get used to chicken, for example,with less fat. F Another downside to a meat-free world would be the disappearance of animal by-products. Such a world would have to replace the 11 million tonnes of leather and 2 million tonnes of wool that come annually from livestock farming and which are turned into clothing. Furthermore, even ardent vegetarians acknowledge that dairy products and meat may be a good thing in poorer countries.Whilst there's no doubt that considerable reduction of meat consumption would have an environmental benefit, we do have to be careful about saying it would be the best solution if the whole world went vegetarian, says Annette Pinner, chief executive of the UK Vegetarian Society. For many of the world's poorest rural residents, an animal may represent their only realistic hope for a little extra income, and a little animal protein can make a big difference to a marginal diet. G What if we decided on a no-meat vegetarian diet, rather than a vegan diet? After all, milk and eggs are very efficient ways of producing animal calories.It's difficult to switch to a “no- meat- but- milk diet”, says Helmut Haberl, a social ecologist. Dairy cows must calve every year to keep producing milk, and only half their off spring will be female. While many vegetarians see moral reasons not to kill and eat the males, there is surely no practical reason to waste so much meat.' Similar arguments apply to chickens kept for eggs. H So even though a meat-free world sounds good on paper,it is likely that a utopian future will still have some animal products in it.The real questions,then, are how much meat do we want, and how will we produce it? The answers depend on how you approach these questions. The most straightforward approach is to assume that the world will continue to want ever more meat. The United Nations 'best guess is that by 2050, the world will need to more than double its production of meat, an increase that would be environmentally disastrous. I Under this scenario the goal will have to be producing the most meat at the lowest environmental cost. According to Walter Falcon, an agricultural economist, this means fewer free range cattle and sheep in green fields. 'lf you're going to keep some livestock systems, I think the ones you'll want to keep are the intensive ones,he says. Of course this does not take into account animal welfare issues, as intensive farming usually means poor living conditions and the use of growth hormones. ## 题目与答案 ### 14. the suggestion that people may need to adapt to a different quality of meat the suggestion that people may need to adapt to a different quality of meat - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：E 原文定位：Garnett admits, though, that if this kind of approach were generally adopted, it would require a major adjustment in food preferences; people would have to get used to chicken, for example, with less fat 同义替换：「suggestion」↔「require」；「adapt to」↔「get used to」；「different quality of meat」↔「less fat」 ### 15. a description of the way animals were fed in the past a description of the way animals were fed in the past - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：D 原文定位：For most of human history, livestock grazed on land that wasn't suitable for ploughing, and in doing so they converted inedible grass into edible meat and milk 同义替换：「the way animals were fed in the past」↔「For most of human history, livestock grazed on」 ### 16. a prediction in regard to human demand for meat a prediction in regard to human demand for meat - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：H 原文定位：The United Nations 'best guess is that by 2050, the world will need to more than double its production of meat, an increase that would be environmentally disastrous 同义替换：「prediction」↔「best guess」 ### 17. the potential consequences of a meat-free world for textile industries the potential consequences of a meat-free world for textile industries - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：F 原文定位：Another downside to a meat-free world would be the disappearance of animal by-products. Such a world would have to replace the 11 million tonnes of leather and 2 million tonnes of wool that come annually from livestock farming and which are turned into clothing 同义替换：「textile industries」↔「clothing」；「potential consequences」↔「disappearance」 ### 18. How does agriculture damage the environment? Agriculture causes significant harm to the environment in a number of ways, including the frequent use of 18_____ in modern farming and the cutting down of trees. How does agriculture damage the environment? Agriculture causes significant harm to the environment in a number of ways, including the frequent use of 18_____ in modern farming and the cutting down of trees. **答案**：irrigation 原文定位：All agriculture damages the environment. Take for example the felled forests and the common use of irrigation systems 同义替换：「frequent」↔「common」；「modern farming」↔「agriculture」；「cutting down of trees」↔「felled forests」 ### 19. It is also responsible for the production of many greenhouse gases,more so than 19_____ is. It is also responsible for the production of many greenhouse gases,more so than 19_____ is. **答案**：transport 原文定位：agriculture creates more greenhouse gases than all methods of transport put together 同义替换：「is responsible for」↔「creates」 ### 20. However, it is livestock farming in particular that is most harmful, because cows,chickens and sheep, for example,are given vast quantities of grain which could be consumed by people instead. A meat-free diet would mean that actually less 20_____ could be used for crops. However, it is livestock farming in particular that is most harmful, because cows,chickens and sheep, for example,are given vast quantities of grain which could be consumed by people instead. A meat-free diet would mean that actually less 20_____ could be used for crops. **答案**：land 原文定位：Altogether, if we switched to a vegan diet,meaning no meat,dairy or eggs, the land currently required for crops would drop by an estimated 21 per cent 同义替换：「could be used for crops」↔「required for crops would drop」；「meat-free diet」↔「vegan diet」 ### 21. Far less chemical pollution, specifically in the form of 21_____, would also be released into the environment, especially if consumers cut out dairy and egg products as well as meat. Far less chemical pollution, specifically in the form of 21_____, would also be released into the environment, especially if consumers cut out dairy and egg products as well as meat. **答案**：nitrogen 原文定位：One environmental impact that would also lessen through a reduction in animal farming would be that of the nitrogen emitted from agricultural processes, which spreads into both waterways and land 同义替换：「chemical pollution」↔「nitrogen emitted from agricultural processes」 ### 22. In the US, there is clear evidence that considerable 22_____ is caused by the demand for grazing land, although there is no information on this from other countries. In the US, there is clear evidence that considerable 22_____ is caused by the demand for grazing land, although there is no information on this from other countries. **答案**：erosion 原文定位：in the US at least, livestock account for 55% of erosion, mostly from forests being cut down to make way for grazing land 同义替换：「caused」↔「account for」；「no information from other countries」↔「Global statistics are hard to come by」 ### 23. It is not possible to say that a vegetarian diet is right for everyone. It is not possible to say that a vegetarian diet is right for everyone. - Allison Leach - Tara Garnett - Annette Pinner - Helmut Haberl - Walter Falcon **答案**：Annette Pinner 原文定位：Whilst there's no doubt that considerable reduction of meat consumption would have an environmental benefit, we do have to be careful about saying it would be the best solution if the whole world went vegetarian 同义替换：「not possible to say」↔「be careful about saying」；「vegetarian diet is right for everyone」↔「best solution if the whole world went vegetarian」 ### 24. It maybe economically preferable to farm animals in limited space. It maybe economically preferable to farm animals in limited space. - Allison Leach - Tara Garnett - Annette Pinner - Helmut Haberl - Walter Falcon **答案**：Walter Falcon 原文定位：According to Walter Falcon;this means fewer free range cattle and sheep in green fields;If you're going to keep some livestock systems;I think the ones you'll want to keep are the intensive ones 同义替换：「economically preferable」↔「lowest environmental cost」；「farm animals in limited space」↔「intensive ones」 ### 25. It does not make sense to give up meat without giving up dairy products too. It does not make sense to give up meat without giving up dairy products too. - Allison Leach - Tara Garnett - Annette Pinner - Helmut Haberl - Walter Falcon **答案**：Helmut Haberl 原文定位：It's difficult to switch to a “no- meat- but- milk diet”, says Helmut Haberl, a social ecologist 同义替换：「give up meat without giving up dairy products」↔「no-meat-but-milk diet」；「does not make sense」↔「difficult」 ### 26. Some animals can be fed in a way that allows waste to be recycled. Some animals can be fed in a way that allows waste to be recycled. - Allison Leach - Tara Garnett - Annette Pinner - Helmut Haberl - Walter Falcon **答案**：Tara Garnett 原文定位：Tara Garnett;points out the usefulness of these animals. By giving them your leftovers, she says, they deal with your rubbish, and you get meat 同义替换：「Some animals can be fed」↔「subsist on leftovers」；「waste to be recycled」↔「deal with your rubbish」；「fed in a way that allows」↔「giving them your leftovers」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。