This debate has been simmering quietly among biologists for years; however, it is coming to a boil now with the publication of an article in the current issue of American Scientist arguing that “calls to direct conservation funding to the world’s biodiversity hot spots may be bad investment advice.” “The hot-spot concept has grown so popular in recent years within the larger conservation community that it now risks eclipsing all other approaches,” write the authors of the paper. “The officers and directors of all too many foundations, non-governmental organizations and international agencies have been seduced by the simplicity of the hot spot idea,” they go on. “We worry that the initially appealing idea of getting the most species per unit area is, in fact, a thoroughly misleading strategy.”

　　But hot spots have their ardent defenders, notably Dr. Norman Myers and Dr. Russell Mittermeier. Dr. Myers says hot spots have been successful at attracting attention and financing for conservation in tropical countries. “And that has been good,” he said. “No one is suggesting that one invest solely in hot spots, but if you want to avoid extinctions, you have to invest in them.”

　　26. The best title for this passage would be ________.

　　A) A Debate on Preserving Hot Spots B) An Introduction to Hot Spots

　　C) Hot Spots vs. Cold Spots D) How to Finance Hot Spots

　　27. Hot spots occupy a small percentage of the earth’s land surface with _____________.

　　A) a third of all plants B) many major animal groups living in cold spots

　　C) rich biological diversity D) many rare species living in cold spots

　　28. Critics of hot spots hold the opinion that ________.

　　A) hot spots are always as important as cold spots

　　B) it is unwise to invest largely in hot spots

　　C) governments should choose the best time to invest in hot spots

　　D) the hot-spot approach is a misleading strategy from the very beginning

　　29. According to Dr. Norman Myers, _________.

　　A) protecting and investing in hot spots can save species from extinction

　　B) conservation efforts should not center on hot spots

　　C) governments should invest most in cold spots

　　D) the hot-spot approach now is not as good as it was in the past