English summary of Passage B

Current approaches to environmentalism do not work because American carbon emissions continue to grow. A few western nations are having trouble meeting their reduction targets. The developing world is starting to flood the atmosphere with carbon dioxide. China’s carbon emissions increased, nearly all of it the result of coal. We are now starting to realize this failure was almost unavoidable. Environmentalism’s method of handling global warming is flawed. In this paradigm, the job of environmentalism is to cure the worst effects. The same fuels that gave us our growth now threaten our civilization. China demonstrates everyday, the cheapest way to spur economic growth is by burning more fossil fuel. Benjamin Friedman conceded that carbon dioxide is the one major environmental contaminant. We would need to change as dramatically as light bulbs. The houses that we build are enormous. Technologically efficient furnace or air-conditioner struggles to heat or cool such a giant space. A movement that takes people’s aspirations for good and secure lives seriously.

I thought that people will change for the better after given a position of high authority, yet it did not turn out the way I expected. During my secondary school days, Yvonne was our school President for two years. The teachers and students have been complimenting her for her good attitude and excellent academic results. She set a good example for everyone and had a good reputation.

I started being friends with her when we were assigned as partners in a project. We hit it off really well and began to hang out often after school at the canteen to study. As the weeks went by, we knew each other even better. Gradually, she became my best friend and will always lend a helping hand in my studies and teach me moral education.

However, tragedy always struck when you least expect it. Yvonne started hanging out with bad company. There was once I even heard her shouting at a teacher.

Yvonne exclaimed, “Why must I do your homework!”

The teacher shook her head and said it with disappointment, “Yvonne, as a school President, you must set a good example. Why have you change so much?’’ with that she let out a big sigh, and walk away.

These girls were notorious for being the ‘gangsters’ in the school. I was afraid and worried as we, along with the entire secondary 4 cohort, were taking our ‘O levels’ this year. This was extremely important as it would decide whether we would get into our desired course.

I was determined not to let her have her way and consistently advised and persuaded her. Even so, my advice fell on deaf ears. My worst fears were realised, her grades deteriorated badly and she started to push her responsibilities as a school president to other student leaders. The worst was yet to come, she started smoking, being influenced by those girls. I tried means any ways to stop her but she just told me off.

In the end, I gave up trying and concentrated harder on my studies instead. When the ‘O levels’ results came out, I was elated to be able to go to a good Junior college. Yvonne, on the other hand dropped out of school. She was not able to live up to her reputation as the school’s president.