The Convention(公约)concerning the protection of world cultural and natural heritage appeared from a need to call for international cooperation to protect the world's natural and scenic areas and historic sites for present and the future generations.
In 1959 there was international concern over the flooding of the Abu Simbel temples, a treasure of ancient Egyptian civilization, to build the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. Through an international campaign by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on the request of Egypt and Sudan, resources were found to move the temples to a new site. In 1965,a conference at the White House in Washington DC, USA called for a "World Heritage Trust" and international cooperation to protect "the world's superb natural and scenic areas and historic sites for the present and the future". In 1969, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) developed similar proposals for its members .Therefore, the Convention was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. By regarding heritage as both cultural and natural, the Convention reminds us of the ways in which people interact with nature , and of the basic need to keep the balance between the two.
The Convention identifies the natural or cultural sites on the World Heritage List, and sets out their role in protecting them .Although the emphasis has been on sites and natural features of "outstanding universal value", each country promises not only to conserve the World Heritage sites situated in its country, but also to protect and conserve its cultural and natural heritage.
There is also a "List of World Heritage in Danger" which are sites threatened by serious and specific dangers caused by changes in the use or ownership of the land , wars or natural disasters.
小题1:What is the purpose of the World Heritage Convention according to the passage?
A．To call for international cooperation to help poor people.
B．To protect the world's natural and cultural heritage.
C．To save the natural resouces for next generation in the world.
D．To raise money for the endangered heritage in the world.小题2:What can we infer from the second paragraph in the passage?
A．The history of the UNESCO is very long.
B．The World Heritage Convention is not accepted by people.
C．The Abu Simbel temples in Egypt are moved to a new site.
D．The adoption of the World Heritage Convention takes al long time.小题3:The last two paragraphs mainly tell us __________.
A．the detailed purpose of the World Heritage Convention
B．how to make a list of world heritage in danger
C．how to make a world heritage list
D．the importance of making two lists小题4:Which of the following has the same meaning as the underlined word "conserve"?
A．Pretend.
B．Prevent.
C．Preserve.
D．Prepare.小题5:According to Paragraph 4, there are many sites in danger for reasons EXCEPT________.
A．abuse of land
B．conflicts
C．lack of money
D．natural disasters
