Why are finance ministers debating money that harms nature at a biodiversity summit?

Check your understanding

15-question test

Answer all the questions, then check your results.

1. True / False

   1.Finance ministers are scheduled to join environment ministers at COP17 in Yerevan.

   ATrueBFalse
2. 2.Today's talks have produced a new annual funding pledge matching the harmful-incentive reduction target.

   ATrueBFalse
3. 3.Governments disagree about both the contributors to international biodiversity finance and the mechanisms for providing it.

   ATrueBFalse

4. Reading Comprehension

   4.Why does the article connect biodiversity protection with finance ministries?

   AFinance ministries have replaced environment ministries in the negotiations.BConservation programmes no longer require additional funding.CSpending rules can reward damaging activities as well as support conservation.DAll agricultural assistance has been classified as harmful.
5. 5.What does the reported support from businesses and financial institutions demonstrate?

   ASupport for faster reform extends beyond governments.BDomestic reforms have already been implemented.CThe international financing mechanisms have been agreed.DRecipients of agricultural assistance have accepted the proposed changes.
6. 6.Inference: Why might agreement on conservation goals still leave difficult policy choices?

   AConservation goals automatically prohibit public support for farming.BReform can affect people who depend on existing assistance.CFinancial institutions have authority to settle government disagreements.DA reduction target guarantees that livelihoods will improve.

7. Grammar & Phrasal Verbs

   7.A government decides to phase out a damaging incentive. Which description best preserves that meaning?

   AIt withdraws the incentive gradually.BIt ends the incentive immediately.CIt suspends the incentive pending an investigation.DIt extends the incentive to additional recipients.
8. 8.Which sentence would sound most natural in professional English?

   AMinisters must reconcile conservation goals against recipients' interests.BMinisters must reconcile conservation goals towards recipients' interests.CMinisters must reconcile conservation goals upon recipients' interests.DMinisters must reconcile conservation goals with recipients' interests.
9. 9.Which reformulation preserves the meaning of 'at least US$500 billion a year by 2030'?

   ANo less than US$500 billion annually by 2030.BNo more than US$500 billion annually by 2030.CExactly US$500 billion in total before 2030.DApproximately US$500 billion spread across the years to 2030.

10. Prepositions

    10.Complete the sentence: 'Governments remain divided ___ reforming harmful incentives.'

    AthroughBoverCtowardsDunder
11. 11.Complete the sentence: 'The dispute concerns who should contribute ___ international biodiversity finance.'

    AforBtoCwithDinto
12. 12.Complete the sentence: 'Public budgets and conservation policy may be working ___ cross purposes.'

    AonBbyCatDwith

13. Vocabulary & Synonyms

    13.What does 'reconcile' mean in the discussion of conservation goals and recipients' interests?

    ARank them without considering their compatibility.BRecord them without attempting to resolve differences.CReplace them with an unrelated objective.DFind a way to accommodate their competing demands.
14. 14.Which phrase best replaces 'counteract its effects' in the article?

    AMeasure the consequences without changing them.BReinforce the consequences of the rewarded damage.CTransfer responsibility for the consequences.DOffset the consequences of the rewarded damage.
15. 15.What are 'outstanding decisions' in the final paragraph?

    ADecisions praised for their exceptional quality.BDecisions that have already entered into force.CDecisions that remain to be settled.DDecisions excluded from the conference agenda.