Some people say that the planet is getting smaller, that there are few places left to explore, and that the age of exploration will be over soon.

I would argue instead that there has never been a greater need to explore. That’s because the stage for all exploration is the natural world, and nature is experiencing a rapid decline. It is by exploring that we understand and when we understand we develop an appreciation for what is found. Ultimately, only the things we appreciate are worth protecting.

As the golden age of exploration weakens, so does the richness of life on Earth. It isn’t just that there are fewer blank areas on the map; it is that wild places and spaces have been progressively carved up (瓜分). Visiting the Okavango Delta or Kalahari Desert, for example, no longer implies a self-supported expedition. Field stations pop up in important national parks and remote sensing by satellite becomes commonplace.

In the next century, I believe we will need larger and wilder areas. We will need the wilderness, not just for the protection of it, but because it is an important part of the ecosystems from which we gain our necessities like clean water, food and materials. If we succeed, then expeditions — brief travels into the wild that seek to answer questions, monitor populations, and inspire action — will have a renewed sense of purpose. More importantly, they greatly help the public experience, understand and appreciate nature.

Based on my own research expedition which aims to understand “edge effects” — how the changes in temperature at forest edges impact animals, I find it important that today’s scientists continue to spend time in the field. It is here that they begin to understand how seemingly unrelated environmental interactions influence their study system. Sometimes, it’s difficult to know which is important to measure until you stand out there on the forest edge.

It is the young generation that is the main force to lead the next wave of expeditions. The measure of their success will be whether there are still well-preserved wild places for expeditions in the future. Their leadership is needed now, more than ever.

【小题1】What’s the purpose of this text?

A．To suggest understanding nature by keeping exploring.

B．To advise people not to travel to unknown places.

C．To inform us about the reduced biodiversity.

D．To call on the public to support the study.

【小题2】What can we know about the expedition in wild spaces from Paragraph 3?

A．It is difficult for explorers to make progress.

B．It is more accessible with the help of technology.

C．It promotes the development of satellite technology.

D．It requires explorers to take sufficient heavy equipment.

【小题3】What does the underlined part “pop up” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Appear unexpectedly.	B．Close temporarily.
C．Develop quickly.	D．Differ greatly.

【小题4】What does the author realize after his research expedition?

A．The significance of scientists’ field trip.

B．The difficulty of carrying out fieldwork.

C．The need to expand the edges of forests.

D．The influence of his study on the environment.