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政治献金、生物多様性、そしてアマゾン探検:環境保全のジレンマ」の英語長文問題

以下の英文を読み、設問に答えなさい。

The lush Amazon rainforest, a biodiversity hotspot teeming with countless species, faces an unprecedented threat. Deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion and illegal logging, is relentlessly shrinking its expanse. This environmental crisis is intricately linked to the complex web of political contributions and lobbying efforts. Powerful agribusiness corporations, often benefiting from government subsidies and tax breaks, contribute heavily to political campaigns. This financial influence allows them to shape environmental policies, often to their advantage, weakening regulations designed to protect the rainforest. A recent expedition to a remote region of the Amazon uncovered alarming evidence of this destructive interplay. Dr. Elena Ramirez, a leading botanist and expedition leader, documented widespread illegal logging operations directly linked to a prominent agribusiness conglomerate, ‘AgroTech.’ AgroTech, known for its substantial political donations to the ruling party, has consistently opposed stricter environmental legislation. Dr. Ramirez’s team discovered numerous endangered species driven to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, highlighting the devastating consequences of this political-economic nexus. The situation is further complicated by the lack of transparency in political financing. Many contributions are made through opaque channels, making it difficult to track the true source of funding and the influence it wields. This lack of accountability allows powerful interests to operate with impunity, undermining efforts to conserve biodiversity and protect the Amazon's invaluable ecosystem. International pressure is mounting, with environmental NGOs calling for greater transparency and stricter regulations on both political donations and logging practices. However, powerful lobbying groups, backed by the financial muscle of corporations like AgroTech, continue to resist these efforts, creating a formidable obstacle to effective environmental protection. The fate of the Amazon rainforest and its incredible biodiversity hangs in the balance. The complex interplay between political funding, corporate interests, and environmental conservation presents a significant challenge to global efforts to protect our planet's most precious natural resources. Finding solutions requires not only stricter regulations but also greater transparency and accountability in political systems worldwide.

1. According to the passage, what is the primary driver of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

2. What role does AgroTech play in the environmental crisis described in the passage?

3. What challenge does the lack of transparency in political financing present in addressing the Amazon deforestation issue?

4. What is the overall tone of the passage regarding the future of the Amazon rainforest?