SECTION III: READING

Read the passage below and choose the best answer to each question.

     Earth is the only place we know of in the universe that can support human life. (56) ________ human activities are making the planet less fit to live on. As the western world (57) ________ on consuming two-thirds of the world's resources while half of the world's population do so just to stay alive we are rapidly destroying the (58) ________ resource we have by which all people can survive and prosper. Everywhere fertile soil is (59) ________ built on or washed into the sea. Renewable resources are exploited so much that they will never be able to recover (60) ________. We discharge pollutants into the atmosphere without any thought of the consequences. As a (61) ________ the planet's ability to support people is being reduced at the very time when rising human numbers and consumption are (62) ________ increasingly heavy demands on it. The Earth's (63) ________ resources are there for us to use. We need food, water, air, energy, medicines, warmth, shelter and minerals to (64) ________ us fed, comfortable, healthy and active. If we are sensible in how we use the resources, they will (65) ________ indefinitely. But if we use them wastefully and excessively, they will soon run out and everyone will suffer.

(56) ________ human activities are making the planet less fit to live on