资源描述
1. Care for Our Mother Earth
(Dr. McKinley of Awareness Magazine interviews a group of experts on environmental issues.)
Dr. McKinley: What do you think is the biggest 1. _________ to the environment today?
Aman Motwane: The biggest threat to our environment today is the way we, as human beings, see our environment. How we see our environment 2.________ our whole world.
Most of us see everything as independent from one another. But the 3. ________ is that everything is part of one interconnected, interrelated whole. For example, a tree may appear 4. ________, but in fact it affects and is affected by everything in its environment — sunshine, rain, wind, birds, minerals, other plants and trees, you, me. The tree shapes the wind that blows around it; it is also shaped by that wind. Look at the 5. __________ between the tree and its environment and you will see the future of the tree.
Most of us are blind to this interconnectedness of everything. This is why we don't see the 6.__________ of our actions. It is time for each of us to open our eyes and see the world as it 7. ________ is — one complete whole where every cause has an8.________.
Dr. McKinley: Hello Dr. Semkiw. In your research, what environmental issues do you find most pressing?
Walter Semkiw: 9___________________________________________________________
_________. Mankind has now cut down half of the trees that existed 10,000 years ago. The loss of trees upsets the ecosystem as trees are necessary to build topsoil, maintain rainfall in dry climates, purify underground water and to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. 10. _________________
__________________________________________________________. The evaporated water then returns as rain, which is vital to areas that are naturally dry. Areas downwind of deforested lands lose this source of rainfall and transform into deserts.
11.__________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses then resulting in the trap heat, resulting in warming of our atmosphere.
Dr. McKinley: Mr. Nacson, thanks for participating all the way from Australia! What do you suggest the readers of Awareness Magazine can do to help the environmental problem?
Leon Nacson: The simplest way to help the environment is not to impact on it. Tread as lightly as you can, taking as little as possible, and putting back as much as you can.
Dr. McKinley: What is your specific area of concern regarding the current and future state of the environment?
Leon Nacson: Air and water pollution are our Number One priorities. It is hard to understand that we are polluting the air we breathe and the water we drink. These are two elements that are not inexhaustible, and we must realize that once we reach the point of no return, there will be nothing left for future generations.
Dr. McKinley: Mr. Desai, what an honor it is to have this opportunity to interview you. Can you please share your wisdom with our readers and tell us where you see the environmental crisis heading?
Amrit Desai: We are not separate from the problem. We are the problem. We live divided lives. On one hand, we ask industries to support our greed for more and more conveniences, comfort and possessions. We have become addicted consumers, which causes industrial waste. At the same time, we ignore our connection between our demands and the exploitation of Mother Earth. When we are greedy for more than what we need for our well being, we always abuse the resources of our body and the earth.
We are nurtured by the healthy condition of Mother Earth. In humans, if the mother is ailing, the child suffers. We are the cause of the ailing planet and we are the victims.
Dr. McKinley: In closing, I thank all of the participants. I have learned a great deal about what I can do as an individual to help the environment.
I hope these interviews encourage the readers of Awareness Magazine to take action and develop your own strategy. Too many of us just sit back and say "I'll let the experts deal with it." Meanwhile, we are killing the planet. My aim of this interview is to show how one person can make a difference. Thanks to all for offering your wisdom. (731 words)
I. Choose the best answer to each question based on the information you obtain from the passage.
1. It can be concluded from the passage that ______.
A) fossils fuel are the only cause of global warming
B) trees play an important role in avoiding global warming
C) the interview is held in Australia
D) experts do not have a solution to the environmental crisis
2. By saying that "the biggest threat to our environment today is the way we see our environment" (line 2-3), Aman Motwane implies that ______.
A) everything in the ecosystem is part of one complete whole
B) most people hold a wrong view on the environment
C) everything affects and is affected by its environment
D) people are indifferent to the environment protection
3. In Leon Nacson's view, air and water pollution are our Number One priorities because ______.
A) he cannot understand why people are polluting air and water
B) there will be nothing left for future generations
C) we would run out of air and water if we didn't stop polluting them
D) air and water pollution are the current and future state of the environment
4. TWhich of the following best explains Amrit Desai's words "we live divided lives"?
A) We pollute Mother Earth in pursuing a better life, which, consequently, hurts ourselves.
B) We are never satisfied with what we have, and we do not make good use of natural resources.
C) If Mother Earth is ill, we, as her children, only enjoy part of our life.
D) Though we have created the environmental problem, we try to separate ourselves from it.
5. According to Dr. McKinley, what is the root cause of the environmental problem?
A) Deforesting and global warming.
B) The abuse of natural resources.
C) Air and water pollution.
D) The attitude of human beings.
II. Translate the following sentences into English.
1. 这场给人类带来巨大灾难的战争对这样一个诗人产生了什么影响呢？（impact on）
2. 做母亲的有时候不能察觉她们所宠爱的孩子们的过错，这样做的结果会使孩子们再次犯同样的过错。（be blind to）
3. 作为一个新移民（immigrant），在这个完全陌生的国度里，她总是感觉到孤立无援。（isolate）
4. 做事不先考虑周全常会导致失败，因此我们应该三思而后行。（result in, act before thinking）
5. 奢谈的时候已经过去了，我们必须积极行动起来保护我们的环境。（take ... action）
III. Look at the pictures below and write about the causes and effects of the natural disaters with the help of the tips.
1. Sandstorm
2. Drought
3. Flood
Causes?
Effects?
Tips
Effects
·Picture 1: breathing difficulty, traffic jams, communication failure, horrible view, ...
·Picture 2: crop losses, food/water shortages, ...
·Picture 3: life and property losses, homeless, diseases, ... ·
Causes: deforestation, over-cultivation, pollution, global warming, imbalance of ecosystem, ...
IV. Listening
Directions: Listen to the following passage and fill in the missing words in the blanks.
Global warming may be the most harmful environmental problem 1.____________ have created, and the most difficult to solve. Our society is largely 2.__________ by the fossil fuels that cause global warming. Its growing consequences ― ecological disruption, floods, drought, disease ― are convincing more and more people that we must cut down 3._________ pollution.
Many people view global warming as a problem too large and too 4.____________ for anything they can do to 5._________. However, in reality, there are lots of things we can do to stop, or at least to reduce it.
☆ Plant a tree. Trees "6.__________" carbon dioxide, but only as long as they're living.
☆ Install low-flow shower heads and faucets. You'll use less than half the water without 7.__________.
☆ Buy energy-efficient electronics and appliances. Then, turn them off when they're not in use.
☆ Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! Recycling a stack of newspapers only 8.__________ will save a good-sized tree.
☆ Mount a local 9._________ against global warming. Educate your community about how to cut greenhouse gas pollution. Support measures at the national and local levels that increase energy efficiency, and that 10.__________ the use of clean, renewable solar and wind technology.
Words & Expressions
1. addicted a. dependent on something, esp. a drug 成瘾的
2. ailing v. to be ill and grow weak 生病
3. Atmosphere n. the mixture of gases that surrounds any heavenly body, esp. the earth 大气（层）
4. carbon n. 碳
5. consequence n. result 结果
6. consumer n. a person who buys and uses goods and services 消费者
7. convenience n. fitness; suitableness; the quality of being convenient 方便an apparatus, service, etc., which gives comfort or advantage 便利设施或用具
8. deforest v. to cut down the forests 砍伐（森林）
9. dioxide n. 二氧化物
10. downwind a. in the direction that the wind is moving 顺风处
11. ecosystem n. 生态系统
12. element n. a necessary part of a whole 成份；要素
13. environment n. the surrounding physical and/or social conditions 环境
14. evaporate v. change into steam and disappear 蒸发
15. expert n. a person with special knowledge or training 专家
16. exploitation n. the act of employing to the greatest possible advantage开采
17. fossil n. 化石
18. global a. of or concerning the whole earth 全球的
19. greed n. strong desire to obtain a lot or more than what is fair 贪心，贪婪
20. greenhouse n. a glass building used for growing plants 花房，温室
21. inexhaustible a. which is in such large amounts that it can never be finished 取之不竭的，用不完的
22. isolate v. separate from others 使…孤立，使…隔离
23. nurture v. to give care and food to 养育
24. oxygen n. 氧
25. petroleum n. a mineral oil obtained from below the surface of the Earth 石油
26. planet n. a large body in space that moves round a star, esp. round the sun 行星
27. pollute v. to make (air, water, soil, etc.) dangerously impure or unfit for use 污染
28. priority n. the state, quality, position, or right of being first in position or earlier in time; 优先（权），重点; something that needs attention, consideration, service, etc., before others 优先考虑的事
29. product n. something (useful) produced by growth or from the ground, or made in a factory 产品
30. purify v. to make pure 使…纯净，净化
31. release v. the act of setting free 释放，放出
32. source n. a place from which something comes 来源
33. specific a. detailed and exact 明确的，具体的; particular 特定的，特有的
34. strategy n. a particular plan for winning success in a particular activity, as in war, a game, a competition, or for personal advantage 战略，策略
35. trap v. to catch by a trick or deception设陷阱，诱捕; to holdback, block挡住，拦住
36. tread v. to walk on, over, or along 在…上走; to walk or step 践踏
37. wisdom n. the quality of being wise 智慧
Phrases and Expressions
1. all the way (from, over) a long distance 从远道
2. (be) blind to to be unable to perceive or understand 对…没有觉察到的
3. be separate from to be disconnected 分开的，分离的
4. impact on to have an effect on 对…产生影响
5. result from to be the result of; happen because of 起因于
6. result in to have as a result; cause 造成
7. sit back to take no action 不采取行动；观望
8. take action to begin to act 开始行动
Proper Names
Aman Motwane 阿曼·莫特万 Amrit Desai 阿姆力特·德塞
Awareness Magazine 《意识杂志》（期刊名） Leon Nacson 利昂·纳可森
McKinley 麦肯立（姓氏） Walter Semkiw 沃尔特·塞姆基
2. Frog Story
A couple of odd things have happened lately.
I have a log cabin in those same woods of Northern Wisconsin. I built it by hand and also added a greenhouse to the front of it. It is a joy to live in. In fact, I work out of my home doing audio production and environmental work. As a tool of that trade I have a computer and a studio.
I also have a tree frog that has taken up 1. __________ in my studio.
How odd, I thought, last November when I first noticed him sitting atop my sound board over my computer. I 2. __________ that he (and I say he, though I really don't have a clue if she is a he or vice versa) would be more 3. __________ in the greenhouse. So I put him in the greenhouse. Back he came. And stayed. After a while I got quite used to the fact that as I would 4. __________ my morning email and on-line news, he would be there with me surveying the world.
Then, last week, as he was climbing around looking like a small gray/green human, I started to 5. __________ about him.
So, there I was, working in my studio and my computer was 6. __________ along. I had to stop when Tree Frog went across my view. He stopped and turned around and just sat there looking at me. Well, I sat back and looked at him. For five months now he had been riding there with me and I was suddenly 7. __________ by an urge to know why he was there and not in the greenhouse, where I figured he'd live a happier frog life.
"Why are you here", I found myself asking him.
As I looked at him, dead on, his eyes looked 8. __________ at me and I heard a tone. The tone seemed to hit me right in the center of my mind. It sounded very nearly like the same one as my computer. In that tone I could hear him "say" to me, "Because I want you to understand". Yo. That was weird. "Understand what?", my mind jumped in. Then, after a moment of feeling this communication, I felt I understood why he was there. 9. _________________________________
__________________________________Possibly the tone of my computer sounded to him like other tree frogs.
Interesting.
I kept working. 10.___________________________________________________________
_________________ The fax said that the earth is warming at 1.9 degrees each decade. At that rate I knew that the maple trees that I love to tap each spring for syrup would not survive for my children. My beautiful Wisconsin would become a prairie by the next generation.
At that moment Tree Frog leaped across my foot and sat on the floor in front of my computer. He then reached up his hand to his left ear and cupped it there. He sat before the computer and reached up his right hand to his other ear. 11.________________________________________
_________________________________. He then began to turn a very subtle, but brilliant shade of green and leaped full force onto the computer.
And then I remembered the story about the frogs that I had heard last year on public radio. It said frogs were dying around the world. It said that because frog's skin is like a lung turned inside out their skin was being affected by pollution and global climate change. It said that frogs were being found whose skin was like paper. All dried up. It said that frogs are an "indicator species". That frogs will die first because of the sensitivity.
Then, I understood.
The frogs have a message for us and it is the same message that some
展开阅读全文
浙ICP备2021020529号-1 | 浙B2-20240490 
