In English, the present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or to talk about temporary situations. For example, 'I am reading a fascinating book right now' indicates an action in progress at the present moment, whereas 'The company is expanding into new markets' describes a temporary situation that is currently occurring. Consider the following excerpt from an article about current environmental initiatives: 'Scientists are developing new methods to reduce carbon emissions, and companies are increasingly investing in sustainable technologies.' (Source: Environmental Progress, June 2023, www.envprogress.com) Based on your understanding of the present continuous tense, analyze the use of this grammatical structure in the given context and address the following points in your response: 1. Identify and explain the function of the present continuous tense in each of the two examples from the article. 2. Discuss how the use of the present continuous tense contributes to the overall meaning of the sentence and the sense of ongoing progress in environmental efforts.