The 21st century presents humanity with a complex web of interconnected challenges. Consider three seemingly disparate issues: deforestation and habitat fragmentation, advancements in medical robotics, and the escalating crisis of marine plastic pollution. While seemingly unrelated, these issues reveal underlying themes of technological advancement, human impact on the environment, and the ethical considerations that accompany progress. Deforestation, often driven by agricultural expansion and logging, leads to habitat fragmentation, isolating animal populations and reducing biodiversity. This fragmentation disrupts ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to climate change and disease. The loss of forests also contributes to climate change itself, releasing significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In contrast, advancements in medical robotics offer potential solutions to pressing healthcare challenges. Minimally invasive surgical robots allow for more precise procedures, resulting in reduced recovery times and improved patient outcomes. However, the high cost of these technologies creates disparities in access, raising ethical questions about equitable distribution of healthcare resources. Finally, the pervasive problem of marine plastic pollution threatens marine ecosystems and human health. Plastics, persistent and non-biodegradable, accumulate in oceans, harming marine life through ingestion and entanglement. Microplastics, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic debris, enter the food chain, potentially posing risks to human health. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, involving reduced plastic consumption, improved waste management, and technological innovations in bioplastics and plastic recycling. These three issues – deforestation, medical robotics, and marine plastic pollution – highlight the interwoven nature of global challenges. Technological progress, while offering potential solutions, often exacerbates existing problems or creates new ones. Sustainable solutions require careful consideration of environmental impacts, equitable distribution of resources, and ethical implications of technological advancements.
1. According to the passage, what is a major consequence of deforestation and habitat fragmentation?
2. What ethical concern is raised regarding advancements in medical robotics?
3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a solution to the marine plastic pollution crisis?
4. What is the central theme connecting the three issues discussed in the passage?