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5581650-179705Name ______________________________ Core _________ Date ________________________Trying to Save Plants and AnimalsThis is an Iberian lynx photographed in Spain. European officials say that hundreds of native plants and animals are endangered, and they have a plan to help save some species.BRUSSELS, Belgium. The Iberian lynx prowls the grasslands of southern Spain. The Mediterranean monk seal swims waters off Greece and Turkey. The Bavarian pine vole scurries in the high meadows of the Alps mountain range. These are among the hundreds of European animal species that are threatened with extinction. This includes up to a quarter of the total species native to the continent. That's according to a warning that the European Union (EU) issued in May 2011. Europe's plant life is threatened as well, say environmentalists. They argue that saving these species is important for a healthy environment. "Biodiversity is in crisis, with species extinctions running at unparalleled rates," said a statement from the European Union's Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik. Environmentalists maintain that there are two reasons for saving species. One reason is moral. People have an obligation to preserve species, even if there are no consequences for letting them go extinct. "The species [were] here before we were even here, so there's... a moral issue," said Ana Nieto. Nieto works with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The other reason to save species is to maintain biodiversity, which is diversity among plant and animal species. Conservationists maintain that biodiversity is key to environmental health. Why? The living things that share an environment depend on one another to meet their needs for food, shelter, and more. The threatened species in Europe, which include mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and butterflies, as well as plant life, are disappearing for several reasons. Loss of habitat, pollution, presence of invasive species, climate change, and overfishing have all resulted in species decline. As species have disappeared, biodiversity has become threatened. According to Nieto, the loss of biodiversity is more acute in Europe than in many other parts of the world. That's because Europe is highly developed, both residentially and industrially. With an average of nearly 180 people per square mile, Europe is the second most crowded continent, after Asia. Europe is about three times as crowded with people as North America. "Today, biodiversity doesn't simply mean the protection of rare plants and species," said Sarolta Tripolzsky, with the European Environmental Bureau. "It's about protecting a system people rely on to live. The costs of replacing nature's free services would be [enormous]." Conservationists argue that ecosystems take time to find a complex balance among living things. Changing one seemingly small aspect of an ecosystem can have significant consequences that cannot always be foreseen. The crisis threatens humans, as well. That's because it can potentially cause economic and social problems in Europe, said Joe Hennon, an EU spokesperson. How can the disappearance of species harm humans? The continuing loss of birds can allow insects to breed at alarming rates, harming crops, Hennon said. A reduced number of bees prevents some plants from multiplying. Disappearing forests mean water is not cleaned naturally. (Forests clean water because trees absorb carbon dioxide.) Having fewer trees allows the soil to loosen, making floods and mud slides more likely. On behalf of the EU, Potocnik set a variety of targets. These include halting the loss of species in the European Union countries by 2020, putting management plans in place for all forests, restoring at least 15 percent of damaged ecosystems, controlling invasive species, and more. Environmentalists have generally welcomed the targets. Still, they have expressed doubts. "There needs to be funding [to reach the targets], and there's not really funding," said Nieto. Environmentalists say that the EU strategy "appears to fall short of delivering what is needed to protect Europe's valuable natural resource base." Hennon acknowledged that funding so far is insufficient to meet the EU's goals. A report explaining the EU's new proposals said the EU is determining the funding needs for meeting the 2020 goals. The EU failed to meet its biodiversity targets for 2010. Hennon believes that governments should spend sufficient money to preserve species from extinction. "People say, 'Yes, but we don't have the money to spend on environmental protection. Surely growth and jobs are more important,'" Hennon said. "... [But] you can have [terrible] flooding because forests have been cut down. [Forests can help protect against flooding.] So it ends up costing you more in the long run.”-123825430530Dictionaryaspect (noun) particular part or feature of somethingconsequence (noun) the result of an action or eventexchange (verb) to give something and get something in returninvasive species (noun) a type of plant or animal that enters an area to which it is not nativeMultiple Choice: Circle the letter of the choice the best completes the statement. (2 points each)What is a cause and effect relationship that takes place in the article? Many factors, including loss of habitat, pollution, and presence of invasive species, have led to a decline in species. The loss of biodiversity in Europe has caused many farmers to go out of business on the continent. The loss of biodiversity in North America has led to an increase in invasive species from Europe. Climate change and overfishing have caused the European Union to miss important environmental deadlines. What is this article mainly about? Some people believe they have an obligation to protect plant species, even if there are no consequences for letting them go extinct. The environmental crisis threatens humans because it could potentially cause economic problems in Europe. With an average of nearly 180 people per square mile, Europe is the second most crowded continent, after Asia. The European Union has warned that hundreds of the continent's native plants and animals are threatened with extinction. Which of these is a statement of opinion? The European Union reported that it did not meet its biodiversity targets for 2010. Humans must do everything possible to preserve species, even if there are no consequences for letting them go extinct. With an average of nearly 180 people per square mile, Europe is the second most crowded continent. The European Union said that hundreds of European animal species are threatened with extinction. Which is the closest synonym for the word consequence? Debut Outcome Barrier Income Based on the article, the reader can predict that __________. Now that the European Union has set targets, other continents will copy them. Once the environmental problems in Europe are gone, the economy will be much stronger around the world. Unless the European Union obtains more funding, the 2020 targets will not be met. Europe will ask most people to leave the continent so that more space can be dedicated to preserving wildlife. Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article? The continuing loss of birds can allow insects to multiply more quickly, which can harm crops that humans need. Living things that share an environment need one another to meet their needs for food and shelter. Decreased forest lands can lead to an increase in mud slides and flooding. Officials in Europe say that up to a quarter of the continent's native plant and animal species is endangered. The article states: Hennon acknowledged that funding so far is insufficient to meet the EU's goals. A report explaining the EU's new proposals said the EU is determining the funding needs for meeting the 2020 goalsWhich would be the closest synonym for the word acknowledged? Admitted Subscribed Denied Presumed The news article says all of the following except __________. Even without money, Europe's environmental problems will be solved by 2020. The Iberian lynx and the Bavarian pine vole both face extinction. The European Union's biodiversity targets for 2010 were not met. Many factors have caused a threat to biodiversity on the continent of Europe. Opinion Question: In the space below explain your opinion; do you believe it's important for leaders to come up with enough funding to save species from extinction? (5 points)Thought Question: In the space below write what you think about the plan to save plant and animal species in Europe? How important do you think it is to preserve the planet's biodiversity? (5 points) ................
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