# Sustainability - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2019.1.17/2017.11.25Asia/2015.10.10/2013.5.18 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/d4885c3b-35f2-4def-85fd-8ed888a30f30（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 00:00:02,940 Now turn to section four on page seven. 00:00:08,260 Section four. 00:00:10,200 You will hear a lecturer talking on the topic of sustainability. 00:00:14,860 First, you have some time to look at questions thirty-one to forty on page seven. 00:00:32,480 Now listen carefully and answer questions thirty-one to forty. 00:01:17,040 This week's lecture on a scientific topic of current general interest is on sustainability. The term sustainability is not new. It was first coined in nineteen eighty-seven in a report for the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. Since then, however, the term has been applied to everything from cars to agriculture and even economics. 00:01:43,260 My specific focus, in fact, derives from this problem. I want to analyze what seems to me to be the confusion that surrounds sustainability. 00:01:54,600 That UN document defines sustainable development as development that allows both the present and all future generations to meet their needs. 00:02:05,520 Here is the first myth. Sustainability is not simply about the environment, which may come as a surprise to you. In fact, the original definition says nothing about it at all. 00:02:20,020 Sustainability is not about protecting the world around us. The original focus was on finding ways to help poor nations catch up with richer nations, which primarily meant giving them similar rights to natural resources: water, food, energy, the things that many of us take for granted. The consequence and ultimate goal was improving living standards for all. Another myth is that sustainability is a synonym for green, as in green movement, green products, et cetera. Although there is some overlap between the terms, green suggests a preference for natural living. For example, when you go shopping, products marketed as green imply the absence of high technology and mass manufacturing processes. 00:03:13,600 Those groups who campaign for sustainability, we can call them the lobby for sustainability, acknowledge that the situation is desperate. 00:03:25,020 The main problem, they state correctly, is time. With six billion people on the planet now and a billion more expected in the next thirty years, only technology will be able to provide everyone with an acceptable and safe lifestyle. Electric cars, wind turbines, and solar cells are key examples of this. They make great use of renewable resources while emitting fewer noxious chemicals. Nuclear power, too, is something the sustainability lobby has come to accept, unlike most greens. 00:04:09,460 And here's the third myth. It concerns the role of technology. Technology is not rejected as evil, but we should not overemphasize the role of technology either. Take electric cars, for example. Researchers are currently working on plans to electrify the world's car fleet. New technology is currently being developed to make better batteries giving longer performance. But a better way of thinking is perhaps to have battery stations for drivers to use on roads. When the battery is getting low, they simply swap the old one for a fully charged one. In other words, new business thinking, not new technology for a sustainable future. 00:04:58,680 There are similarities in agriculture where knowledge can be more productive than new technology. Agriculture uses up about three quarters of the world's water. Some crops are very thirsty and require a lot of water. So many farmers who believe in sustainability are now planting crops like sunflowers and wheat instead of corn, which are happy with much less water. 00:05:25,480 In terms of water consumption, one of the biggest problems is that our diet is changing. As countries develop and people become richer, they aspire to a diet with more meat. Now, admittedly, most of the new births that will take our population to over six billion are going to be born in countries with largely vegetarian diets. However, most of them will be born in the city, and this is where water consumption is highest. 00:05:56,540 That introduces the topic for next week's lecture, and we will be discussing- 00:06:04,460 That is the end of section four. You now have half a minute to check your answers. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. Sustainability: Term first used in 1987 by writers of United Nations Report Lecture Aim: Analysis of the 31_____ surrounding sustainability. Sustainability: Term first used in 1987 by writers of United Nations Report Lecture Aim: Analysis of the 31_____ surrounding sustainability. **答案**：confusion 原文定位：I want to analyze what seems to me to be the confusion that surrounds sustainability ### 32. Sustainable development: Development that will meet the needs of both present and future 32_____ Sustainable development: Development that will meet the needs of both present and future 32_____ **答案**：generations 原文定位：That UN document defines sustainable development as development that allows both the present and all future generations to meet their needs ### 33. Myth 1: ·No mention of the 33_____ in original definition. Myth 1: ·No mention of the 33_____ in original definition. **答案**：environment 原文定位：Sustainability is not simply about the environment, which may come as a surprise to you. In fact, the original definition says nothing about it at all 同义替换：「No mention of」↔「says nothing about it」 ### 34. ·Original focus: poorer nations should have the same 34_____ to natural resources as richer nations. ·Original focus: poorer nations should have the same 34_____ to natural resources as richer nations. **答案**：right 原文定位：The original focus was on finding ways to help poor nations catch up with richer nations, which primarily meant giving them similar rights to natural resources 同义替换：「same」↔「similar」 ### 35. ·This would help them achieve better 35_____ conditions. ·This would help them achieve better 35_____ conditions. **答案**：living 原文定位：The consequence and ultimate goal was improving living standards for all 同义替换：「achieve better」↔「improving」；「conditions」↔「standards」 ### 36. Myth 2: “Green” vs “Sustainable” ·Key difference: unlike “green”, “sustainable” is not always associated with things that are natural. ·For the sustainability body, the key problem is finding 36_____ to develop technology. Myth 2: “Green” vs “Sustainable” ·Key difference: unlike “green”, “sustainable” is not always associated with things that are natural. ·For the sustainability body, the key problem is finding 36_____ to develop technology. **答案**：time 原文定位：The main problem, they state correctly, is time. With six billion people on the planet now and a billion more expected in the next thirty years, only technology will be able to provide everyone with an acceptable and safe lifestyle 同义替换：「key」↔「main」 ### 37. ·Sustainability lobby is prepared to 37_____ unclear energy. ·Sustainability lobby is prepared to 37_____ unclear energy. **答案**：accept 原文定位：Nuclear power, too, is something the sustainability lobby has come to accept, unlike most greens ### 38. Myth 3: Role of technology ·Introduction of battery stations on 38_____ is an example of new business thinking, not new technology. Myth 3: Role of technology ·Introduction of battery stations on 38_____ is an example of new business thinking, not new technology. **答案**：roads 原文定位：But a better way of thinking is perhaps to have battery stations for drivers to use on roads ### 39. ·Agriculture: some farmers plant crops like sunflowers which don`t use much water, unlike 39_____ ·Agriculture: some farmers plant crops like sunflowers which don`t use much water, unlike 39_____ **答案**：corn 原文定位：So many farmers who believe in sustainability are now planting crops like sunflowers and wheat instead of corn, which are happy with much less water 同义替换：「don`t use much」↔「much less」；「unlike」↔「instead of」 ### 40. ·Greater use of water is a result of changes in our 40_____ . ·Greater use of water is a result of changes in our 40_____ . **答案**：diet 原文定位：In terms of water consumption, one of the biggest problems is that our diet is changing 同义替换：「use」↔「consumption」 --- 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。