There is mounting evidence that the frequency and magnitude of landsliding is changing in
many parts of the world in response to climate change. This is not surprising, given that
precipitation is one of the two external triggering mechanisms--the other being seismic
activity--involved in the formation of landslides. Evidence from the past clearly indicates that
cycles of elevated landslide activity have been followed by cycles of low activity, and that
these are correlated with climate fluctuations over a variety of timescales.
What sets current changes in landslide activity apart is the likely influence of anthropogenic
[i.e., human-caused] factors, either acting alone or in concert with climate, which can further
modify the process of landsliding and the nature of ecosystem responses. Among these
factors, deforestation and land-use change have the potential to influence the frequency and
magnitude of landsliding because of their direct effects on vegetation attributes that influence
slope stability. The extent and conditions under which mountain ecosystems are resilient to
these changes--that is, the amount of disturbance they can absorb before changing into states
with different structure and function--are not known. Addressing this issue is crucial for the
long-term conservation of mountainscapes.
2. The passage makes which of the following claims?
A. A rise in precipitation resulting from human factors has increased the frequency and
magnitude of landsliding.
B. Human factors have led to greater changes in landsliding activity than have cyclical climate
fluctuations.
C. Decreases in landsliding activity have historically been accompanied by changes in climate.
D. Slope stability is more influenced by seismic activity than it is by human factors
E. Changes in land-use patterns in mountain ecosystems are generally correlated with
changes in climate.
这个题目为什么选C呀,我选的E
E:是后面 Among these factors, deforestation and land-use change have the potential to influence the frequency and magnitude of landsliding,是直接影响的frequency and magnitude of landsliding不是climate change
C:对应第一段,Decreases in landsliding activity就是frequency of landsliding