Question
Read the excerpt from the article “Save the Planet: Eat Your Vegetables.” Then, explain the author’s purpose and identify their point of view.
Save the Planet: Eat Your Vegetables
By Manuel Cortes, PhD, Director of the Institute for a Sustainable
Lifestyle
Our ecological footprint—the amount we affect the natural world—has grown larger
over the years due to population growth and to personal and societal habits. One of the
best ways to reduce our ecological footprint is through eating a vegetarian diet. Raising
animals for food is environmentally demanding. One pound of beef requires between
2,000 and 8,000 gallons of water to produce because cattle feed on grass and grain,
which require water to grow. Tofu, a soybean product, requires only about 300 gallons
per pound to produce. Additionally, livestock, such as beef and dairy cattle, contribute
about 14.5 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
In terms of land use, all forms of agriculture use about half of the land considered
habitable. Crops grown for human consumption use only about 23 percent of total
agricultural land, while livestock production accounts for a whopping 77 percent of
agricultural land use. One-third of the world’s arable land—land suitable for growing
crops—is used to grow livestock feed, while 26 percent of the planet’s ice-free surface is
used for cattle grazing.
What is the author’s purpose and what is the point of view?
Save the Planet: Eat Your Vegetables
By Manuel Cortes, PhD, Director of the Institute for a Sustainable
Lifestyle
Our ecological footprint—the amount we affect the natural world—has grown larger
over the years due to population growth and to personal and societal habits. One of the
best ways to reduce our ecological footprint is through eating a vegetarian diet. Raising
animals for food is environmentally demanding. One pound of beef requires between
2,000 and 8,000 gallons of water to produce because cattle feed on grass and grain,
which require water to grow. Tofu, a soybean product, requires only about 300 gallons
per pound to produce. Additionally, livestock, such as beef and dairy cattle, contribute
about 14.5 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
In terms of land use, all forms of agriculture use about half of the land considered
habitable. Crops grown for human consumption use only about 23 percent of total
agricultural land, while livestock production accounts for a whopping 77 percent of
agricultural land use. One-third of the world’s arable land—land suitable for growing
crops—is used to grow livestock feed, while 26 percent of the planet’s ice-free surface is
used for cattle grazing.
What is the author’s purpose and what is the point of view?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The author’s purpose in the excerpt from “Save the Planet: Eat Your Vegetables” is to advocate for a vegetarian diet as a means to reduce our ecological footprint and mitigate environmental damage. The author presents evidence to highlight the environmental impact of animal agriculture, such as the excessive water usage for beef production and the significant contributions of livestock to greenhouse gas emissions.
The point of view is one of environmental advocacy, suggesting that adopting a vegetarian diet is a practical and effective solution for individuals looking to make a positive impact on the planet. The author emphasizes the environmental costs associated with meat production compared to plant-based diets, indicating a strong belief in the necessity of changing dietary habits for sustainability.
The point of view is one of environmental advocacy, suggesting that adopting a vegetarian diet is a practical and effective solution for individuals looking to make a positive impact on the planet. The author emphasizes the environmental costs associated with meat production compared to plant-based diets, indicating a strong belief in the necessity of changing dietary habits for sustainability.