A child returns to a beach she once knew by heart and finds it narrowed, dirtier, strangely wounded. An old farmer watches the seasons lose...

A child returns to a beach she once knew by heart and finds it narrowed, dirtier, strangely wounded. An old farmer watches the seasons lose their rhythm. A student reads about fires, floods, and vanishing species, then feels guilty for laughing at lunch. Nothing in these moments looks dramatic enough for a headline, yet something real is breaking. The grief does not arrive after one funeral bell. It gathers slowly, like smoke in a closed room, until even ordinary beauty begins to feel fragile.

The American Psychological Association explains that people may experience climate grief when they notice or anticipate the loss of species, ecosystems, and meaningful landscapes because of environmental change. That idea matters because it tells us this sadness is not merely oversensitivity. It is a human response to damage, whether already visible or still approaching on the horizon. Not weakness but attachment often lies at its core. We grieve what we love, and we fear losing what once made us feel rooted.

Yet public discussion of environmental loss can move in two very different directions. At its best, it raises awareness by helping people name their distress, share it, and see that they are not imagining the wound. At its worst, it turns suffering into a display case, repeating apocalyptic images until despair becomes a habit and attention itself starts to feed on fear. The line is thin but crucial. One invites responsibility; the other sells helplessness wearing the mask of concern.

Still, eco grief is not only a dark feeling to be managed and tucked away. Properly understood, it can sharpen care rather than crush it. Seldom does love for a place disappear simply because the place is under threat. More often, grief reveals the depth of that bond. It may not hand us easy hope, but it can give us a cleaner kind of honesty, and from honesty, sometimes, a steadier form of action grows.

[Adapted from American Psychological Association]

Question 23. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 1 as an example of how environmental loss may be felt in ordinary life?

A. A child notices that a familiar beach has become narrower and more polluted.

B. A farmer realizes that the natural pattern of the seasons is no longer stable.

C. A student feels guilty even during a normal lunch after reading about environmental destruction.

D. A family is forced to leave home at once because of a violent coastal storm.

Question 24. The word “rooted” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to __________.

A. secure and connected        B. calm and peaceful        C. safe and protected        D. settled and quiet

Question 25. The word “apocalyptic” in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to __________.

A. gentle        B. peaceful        C. pleasant        D. reassuring

Question 26. The word “It” in paragraph 2 refers to __________.

A. environmental change        B. this sadness        C. the horizon        D. that idea

Question 27. Which of the following best paraphrases the sentence in paragraph 3?

A. One reaction makes environmental damage easier to solve, while the other prevents the public from learning scientific facts.

B. One style of discussion reduces concern about environmental loss, while the other makes people exaggerate the danger for political reasons.

C. One form of public debate avoids emotional language, whereas the other simply asks people to care more deeply about nature.

D. One approach encourages people to respond seriously, while the other turns fear into a performance that keeps people passive.

Question 28. Which of the following is TRUE according to paragraph 4?

A. Eco-grief becomes constructive only when people are given clear reasons to feel hopeful right away.

B. Feeling grief for a threatened place may reflect a deep emotional connection rather than simple emotional weakness.

C. Once a place comes under threat, people usually begin to care less about it in order to protect themselves.

D. The main value of eco-grief lies in helping people hide painful feelings until the crisis has passed.

Question 29. In which paragraph does the author discuss the negative impact of certain ways of reporting environmental issues?

A. Paragraph 1        B. Paragraph 2        C. Paragraph 3        D. Paragraph 4

Question 30. In which paragraph does the author explain that feeling sad about the environment can lead to more effective actions?

A. Paragraph 1        B. Paragraph 2        C. Paragraph 3        D. Paragraph 4