2011专业士英语 Unit_4_Too_Many_People.pptVIP

Background Information Overpopulation can result from: ◆ an increase in births, a decline in mortality rates due to medical advances ◆ an increase in immigration ◆ an unsustainable biome and depletion of resources The resources to be considered when evaluating whether an ecological niche is overpopulated include clean water, clean air, food, shelter, warmth, and other resources necessary to sustain life. If the quality of human life is addressed, there may be additional resources considered, such as medical care, education, proper sewage treatment and waste disposal. Overpopulation places competitive stress on the basic life sustaining resources, leading to a diminished quality of life. Background Information 2: Weather Forecast Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location. Weather forecasts are made by collecting quantitative data about the current state of the atmosphere and using scientific understanding of atmospheric processes to project how the atmosphere will evolve. Uses of Weather Forecasts Weather warnings are important forecasts because they are used to protect life and property. Forecasts based on temperature and precipitation are important to agriculture, and therefore to traders within commodity markets. On an everyday basis, people use weather forecasts to determine what to wear on a given day. Since outdoor activities are severely curtailed by heavy rain, snow and the wind chill, forecasts can be used to plan activities around these events, and to plan ahead and survive them. Background Information 3: Traffic Jam/Traffic Congestion Traffic congestion is a condition on networks that occurs as use of vehicles increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased queueing. When vehicles are fully stopped for periods of time, this is colloquially known as a traffic jam. Pre-reading Questions 3: Some suggestio