资源描述
Unit 1 The Earth at Risk
Part Ⅰ Getting ready
environment：环境
natural：自然
globe：地球
protecting：保护
attempt：尝试，打算，企图
Amazon /'mzn/：亚马逊
cut down：砍伐
burning：烧荒
tree removal：砍树
The World Wildlife Fund：世界野生动物基金会
rain forest：雨林
towels：毛巾
nylon：尼伦，化纤
defrost：去霜
boil away：煮干
cut out：关掉
full load：满载
fridge：冰箱
lighting：灯（光）
iron：熨斗；熨（衣服）
Rough-dry：晾干(不熨）
kettle：烧水壶
thermostat：恒温（设置）器
brim：壶口； 注满
wall fire：壁炉
ring：（烧烤）环
grill：烧烤架
satellite：卫星
The environment is the natural world of land, sea, air, plants, and animals that exists around towns and cities. Since there is only one globe where we're living, more and more people have come to realize the importance of protecting the total global environment.
A The following words and phrases will appear in this unit. Listen carefully and study the definitions.
1. vicious circle：a set of events in which cause and effect'follow each other in a circular pattern
2. monsoon season：the season of heavy rains that fall in India and neighboring countries
3. hygiene：the study and practice of how to keep good health, esp. by paying attention to cleanliness
4. accelerate：(cause to) move or go faster
5. fossil fuel：any naturally occurring carbon or hydrocarbon fuel, such as coal, petroleum, peat, and natural gas, formed by the decomposition of prehistoric organisms
6. latitude：a measure of relative position north or south on the Earth's surface, measured in degrees from the equator, which has a latitude of 0°, with the poles having a latitude of 90° north and south.
7. contamination：the act of polluting or the state of being polluted
8. hierarchy：a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance
9. priority：something given special or prior attention
10. watershed：a ridge of high ground forming a divide between two different drainage basins or river systems or the region enclosed by such a divide and draining into a river, river system, or other body of water.
B You are going to hear a short speech. Listen carefully and write down the environmental issues mentioned in the speech.
burning of the forests/tree removal (deforestation)/reduction of the world's rain forests
Audioscript:
The Amazon forests are disappearing because of increased burning and tree removal. In September, satellite pictures showed more than 20 000 fires burning in the Amazon. Experts say most of these fires were set by farmers. The farmers were attempting to clear land to grow crops. The World Wildlife Fund says another serious problem is that too many trees in the Amazon rain forest are being cut down. World Wildlife Fund says the fires show the need for urgent international action to protect the world's rain forests. The group warns that without such action some forests could be lost forever.
Nowadays energy is too expensive to waste. It costs the country, and you, too much. What have you done to conserve existing energy resources? Here are some tips to help you slim your waste — save energy. Always remember that energy sense is common sense.
C Now listen to some simple tips to help you save energy. Complete the dos and don'ts.
Dos
Don'ts
●Rough-dry your towels and nylon things.
●Cut out unnecessary lighting.
●Do without a wall-fire if you can.
●Defrost the fridge regularly.
●Before using your washing machine, wait until you've a full load.
●Cook a complete meal in the oven and save it on the rings and grill.
●Don't attempt to iron everything.
●Don't turn the iron up too high.
●Don't leave the kettle to boil away.
●Don't fill the kettle to the brim for only a cup of tea
●Don't put hot food in the fridge.
Audioscript:
● Don't attempt to iron everything. Rough-dry your towels and nylon things. Trust the thermostat on your iron — don't turn it up too high.
● Don't leave the kettle to boil away. And don't fill it to the brim for only a cup of tea!
● Cut out unnecessary lighting. Every little helps.
● Save it on heating. Do without a wall-fire if you can.
● Defrost the fridge regularly. Ice build-up wastes fuel. Don't put hot food in either — if you do, the fridge has to work overtime.
● It makes energy sense to wait until you've a full load before using your washing machine.
● Cook a complete meal in the oven and save it on the rings and grill. Roast chicken, veg, and baked sweet to follow?
It all adds up. The more energy you save, the more money you save. That's good housekeeping!
When we listen to the weather forecasts, we often come across some terms related with the weather. For example, what is a cyclone? What is a hurricane? Are they the same? Here is the explanation.
D Listen to the explanation about different weather terms. Complete the information in the chart.
Name
Place
Time
Ocean storm
Northern part of world; near equator
Late summer or autumn
Cyclone
North or south of equator in the Indian Ocean
/
Typhoon
Western Pacific Ocean or the China Sea
/
Hurricane
Eastern Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
/
Audioscript:
Major ocean storms in the northern part of the world usually develop in late summer or autumn over waters near the equator. They are known by several different names. Scientists call these storms cyclones when they happen just north or south of the equator in the Indian Ocean. In the western Pacific Ocean or the China Sea, these storms are called typhoons. In the eastern Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, they are called hurricanes.
Part II The Earth at Risk (I)
chopped down：砍倒
nutrients：养分，养料
instantly：立即，马上
recycled： 回收利用
clear-cut：砍光
soil：土壤
dries up：（晒）干
washes the soil away：把土壤冲走
ｄｏｃｕｍｅｎｔaries： 纪录片
expand：扩展
continent： 大陆
at risk：有危险
stabilize：（使）稳定
impact：冲击，撞击;影响
at an alarming rate：以惊人的速度
blow away：吹掉
the Sahara Desert： 撒哈拉沙漠（非洲北部）
unproductive：不毛的;没有产物的
cut down：砍伐
consequently：所以，因此
available：可获得的
Mali：马里
grasslands：草原
intensive：集约的； 加强的
agriculture：农业
intensive agriculture：集约农业
region：地区
tropical：热带
ranches：大牧场
cattle：牛，牲口;畜生
be raised：饲养
export：出口
tinned meat：罐头肉
Brazil： 巴西
the size of Britain and France combined：大小是英法两国合起来
jungle：丛林
an iron ore mine：铁矿
hardwood：硬木
luxury furniture：豪华家具
domestic animals：家畜
firewood：柴火;劈柴
vicious circle：恶性循环
make way for：让路
convert：（使）转变
plant species：植物物种
rare plant：珍稀植物
rainfall：降雨
extinct：灭绝的;绝种的
carbon dioxide：二氧化碳
oxygen：氧
century：世纪
interview：采访
Do you know what happens to a rain forest when the trees are chopped down? About 80% of the rain forests nutrients come from trees and plants. That leaves 20% of the nutrients in the soil. The nutrients from the leaves that fall are instantly recycled back into the plants and trees. When a rain forest is clear-cut, conditions change very quickly. The soil dries up in the sun. When it rains, it washes the soil away.
A Listen to the first part of an interview. Note down the key words in the notes column. Then answer the questions.
Questions:
1. What is the vicious circle mentioned by Brian Cowles?
More people ——>. more firewood ——> fewer trees
{ More domestic animals —> more plants —> fewer available plants} —>
more desert —> move south —>desert expanding south —> no grass
2. Why is the rain so important to soil?
Growing crops stabilize soil, without them the top soil just blows away. But if there isn't enough rain the crops don't grow.
3. What are some of the reasons that tropical forests are being cut down?
People try to grow food to support themselves or to create ranches where cattle can be raised, or to get hardwood for export, or to make way for mines.
Audioscript:
I — Interviewer B — Brian Cowles
I:Brian Cowles is the producer of a new series of ｄｏｃｕｍｅｎｔaries called "The Earth at Risk" which can be seen on Channel 4 later this month. Each program deals with a different continent, doesn't it, Brian?
B:That's right. We went to America, both North and South and then we went over to Africa and Southeast Asia.
I: And what did you find in each of these continents?
B:Starting with Africa, our film shows the impact of the population on the environment. Generally speaking, this has caused the Sahara Desert to expand. It's a bit of a vicious circle we find. People cut down trees for firewood and their domestic animals eat all the available plants — and so consequently they have to move south as the Sahara Desert expands further south. I mean, soon the whole of Mali will become a desert. And in East Africa: here the grasslands are supporting too many animals and the result is, of course, there's no grass — nothing for the animals to eat.
I: I see. And the next film deals with North America?
B:That's right. In the USA, as you know, intensive agriculture requires a plentiful supply of rain for these crops to grow, I mean if there isn't enough rain the crops don't grow. And growing crops stabilize soil, without them the top soil just blows away. This is also true for any region that is intensely farmed — most of Europe, for example.
I: And what did you find in South America?
B:In South America (as in Central Africa and Southern Asia) tropical forests are being cut down at an alarming rate. This is done so that people can support themselves by growing food or to create ranches where cattle can be raised to be exported to Europe or America as tinned meat. The problem is that the soil is so poor that only a couple of harvests are possible before this very thin soil becomes exhausted. And it can't be fed with fertilizers like agricultural land in Europe.
For example, in Brazil in 1982 an area of jungle the size of Britain and France combined was destroyed to make way for an iron ore mine. Huge numbers of trees are being cut down for export as hardwood to Japan, Europe, USA to make things like luxury furniture. These forests can't be replaced — the forest soil is thin and unproductive and in just a few years, a jungle has become a waste land. Tropical forests contain rare plants (which we can use for medicines, for example) and animals — one animal or plant species becomes extinct every half hour. These forest trees also have worldwide effects. You know, they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. The consequence of destroying forests is not only that the climate of that region changes (because there is less rainfall) but this change affects the whole world. I mean, over half the world's rain forest has been cut down this century (20th century).
B Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the first part of the interview. Complete the outline.
Outline (1)
I. Environmental problems in different continents
A. Africa
1. Sahara Desert expansion
2. no grass for animals to eat (East Africa)
B. North America & most of Europe
1. situation — intensive farming/agriculture
2. potential problem — top soil blowing away
C. South America, Central Africa & Southern Asia
1. problem — tropical forests destruction
2. consequences
a. soil —> thin —> unproductive —> wasteland
b. animal/plant species becoming extinct
c. climate change for the whole world
Audioscript:
I — Interviewer B — Brian Cowles
I:Brian Cowles is the producer of a new series of ｄｏｃｕｍｅｎｔaries called "The Earth at Risk" which can be seen on Channel 4 later this month. Each program deals with a different continent, doesn't it, Brian?
B:That's right, yes, we went to ... er ... we went to America, both North and South and then we went over to Africa and Southeast Asia.
I: And what did you find in each of these continents?
B:Well ... er ... starting with ... er ... Africa, our film shows the impact of the population on the environment. Generally speaking, this has caused the Sahara Desert to expand. It's a bit of a vicious circle ... er ... we find, people cut down trees for firewood and their domestic animals eat all the available plants — and so consequently they have to move south as the Sahara Desert expands further south. I mean, soon the whole of Mali will become a desert. And ... er ... in East Africa: here the grasslands are supporting too many animals and the result is, of course, there's no grass— nothing for the animals to eat.
I:Mm, yes, I see. Um ... and the ... the next film deals with North America?
B:That's right. In the ... er ... USA, as you know, intensive agriculture requires a plentiful supply of rain for these crops to grow, I mean if there isn't enough rain the crops don't grow. And growing crops stabilize soil, without them the top soil just... it just blows away. I mean, this is also true for any region that is intensely farmed — most of Europe, for example.
I: And what did you find in South America?
B:In South America (a ... as in Central Africa and Southern Asia) tropical forests are being cut down at an alarming rate. Th ... this is done so that people can support themselves by growing food or to create ranches where cattle can be raised to exp ... to be exported to Europe or America as tinned meat. The problem is that the s ... the soil is so poor that ... um ... that only a couple of harvests are possible before this very thin soil becomes exhausted. And it can't be fed with fertilizers like agricultural land in Europe.
Um ... for example, in Brazil in 1982 an area of jungle the size of Britain and France combined was destroyed to make way for an iron ore mine. I mean, huge numbers of trees are being cut down for export as hardwood to Japan, Europe, USA ... I mean ... to make things like luxury furniture. These forests can't ... er ... they can't be replaced — the forest soil is thin and unproductive and in just a few years, a ... a jungle has become a waste land. Tropical forests contain rare plants (which ... er ... we can use for medicines, for example) and animals — one animal or plant species becomes extinct every half hour. These ... er ... forest trees ... I mean ... also have worldwide effects. You know, they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. The consequence of destroying forests is not only that the climate of that region changes (because there is less rainfall) but this change affects the whole world. I mean, over half the world's rain forest has been cut down this century (20th century).
Part III The Earth at Risk (II)
agency：局，机关
Conservation of Nature：自然保护
the United Nations Earth Summit：联合国地球峰会
Rio de Janeiro /[美]'ride'neru，[英]'rided'niru/：里约热内卢（巴西港市，州名）
in tackling：着手处理
issues：问题
man-made：人造，人为
flooding：洪水
natural disasters：自然灾害
by and large：总的来说，大体而言
obviously：明显
hurricanes： 飓风
earthquakes：地震
Bangladesh：孟加拉共和国
Nepal：尼泊尔
India：印度
Himalayas：喜马拉雅山
monsoon season：季风季节
the river Ganges /'gndiz/：恒河
Sudan：苏丹
the Nile：尼罗河
Ethiopia /i: i'upi/： 埃塞俄比亚
terribly：很;非常;极;非常糟糕地
depressing：使沮丧;使萧条;使跌价
national governments：中央政府
forward-looking：有远见的，向前看的
policies：政策;策略
as far ahead as：远至
the next election：下届大
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