When people argue about whether coffee is good for health, they're usually thinking of the health of the coffee drinker. Is it food for your heart? Does it increase blood pressure? Does it help you concentrate? However, coffee affects the health of the human population in other ways, too.
Traditionally, coffee bushes were planted under the canopy (树冠) of taller indigenous (土生土长的) trees. However, more and more farmers in Latin America are deforesting the land to grow full-sun coffees. At first, this increases production because more coffee bushes can be planted if there aren’t any trees. With increased production come increased profits.
Unfortunately, deforesting for coffee production immediately decreases local-wildlife habitat. Native birds nest and hide from predators (捕食者) in the tall trees and migrating birds rest there.
Furthermore, in the long term, the full-sun method also damages the ecosystem because more chemical fertilizers and pesticides are needed to grow the coffee. The fertilizers and pesticides kill insects that eat coffee plant, but then the birds eat the poisoned insects and also die. The chemicals kill or sicken other animals as well, and can even enter the water that people will eventually drink.
Fortunately, farmers in Central and South America are beginning to grow more coffee bushes in the shade. We can support these farmers by buying coffee with such labels as "shade grown" and "bird friendly." Sure, these varieties might cost a little more. But we're paying for the health of the birds, the land, ourselves, and the planet. I think it's worth it.
正确答案及解析
正确答案
解析
当人们讨论咖啡是否有益于健康时，通常情况下，他们考虑的是喝咖啡的人的健康。咖啡对你的心脏有好处吗？会增高血压吗？会帮助你提高注意力吗？其实，咖啡还通过其他途径影响着人类的健康。
按传统，咖啡灌木丛都种植在土生土长的大树树冠之下。但是，在拉丁美洲越来越多的农民通过砍伐森林将咖啡种植在阳光充足的旷野上。刚开始，因为没有了那么多的树木，种植的咖啡灌木增多了，咖啡的产量因此增长了。产量增长了，利润就增加了。
可惜的是，为增加咖啡产量而砍伐森林，这很快就使当地的野生动物栖息地变少。当地的鸟类需要在大树上筑巢，而且为了躲避捕食者也需要藏在大树里。还有迁徙而来的鸟儿也要在那些大树上休息。
而且，从长远来看，这种充足阳光的种植方法会破坏生态系统，因为如果用这种方法种植咖啡，就需要用更多的化学肥料和杀虫剂。化肥和杀虫剂可以杀掉那些伤害咖啡作物的昆虫，但是随后鸟儿吃下中毒的昆虫之后也会死掉。化学药品还会杀死其它动物，或者让它们患病，甚至最终会进入到人们的饮用水之中。
庆幸的是，美国中部和南部的农民开始更多地在避光处种植咖啡。如果我们购买标签上写有如“避光生长”或“鸟类无害”的咖啡，那么我们就可以通过这种方法支持那些农民。当然，这些种类的咖啡价格较高。但是，我们是为了鸟儿、大地、我们自己以及地球的健康买单。我认为这是值得的。
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