Earth is Getting Greener, but It’s Not All Good News
gloss over: to ignore or avoid talking about something negative
According to satellite images from space, the Earth has been getting greener over the past forty years. Scientists found that the amount of green leaves has increased by 5 percent in the last twenty years, covering an area as large as the Amazon rainforest. More plants mean more photosynthesis, which helps remove carbon dioxide from the air. This sounds like good news, but Robin Chazdon, a tropical ecologist, said, “It’s glossing over the reality of what’s actually happened.”
Some of the new green areas come from industrial farms that replace natural habitats. These farms need a lot of water and chemicals to grow plants, which can harm the environment. While more plants can absorb more carbon, the use of industrial fertilizers and pesticides results in higher overall carbon emissions. Unfortunately, a greener Earth doesn’t always mean a healthier one.
Sample sentences
1. The report glossed over the serious problems with the new project.
2. During the meeting, he tried to gloss over his mistakes by talking about the successes.
3. The advertisement glosses over the side effects of the medicine.
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The Earth is getting greener. Hurray?