全新版大学英语听说教程第四册 unit15

Unit 15

Part B

Good News about the Environment

 

     Scientists and environmentalists have constantly warned us of the worsening state of our environment. Their view can be summarized in the list below:

     ● Our resources are running out.

     ● The population is growing ever larger, leaving less and less for everyone to eat.

     ● The air and water are becoming ever more polluted.

     ● Large numbers of the planet's species are threatened with extinction¹.

     Many people agree with such views. However, a Danish statistician named Bjorn Lomborg argues for an opposite point of view. In his opinion, the available evidence does not back up this list of environmental problems. He argues that there are no shortages of energy resources; that fewer people are starving today; that species are not disappearing at an alarming rate; and that growth is the solution to environmental problems like pollution and global warming.

     Let us examine his views in more detail on two environmental issues.

     Firstly, are Earth's energy resources running out? According to Lomborg, the mineral resources on which modern industry depends are not running out. He argues, for example, that known reserves of fossil fuels and most commercially important metals are now much larger than they were 30 years ago and that known oil reserves that could be extracted at reasonably competitive prices would keep the world economy running for 92 years at present consumption rates.

     He argues that although we consume an increasing amount of these resources, we've discovered even more. We have also become more efficient and less wasteful² in extracting and exploiting them.

     The story is the same for non-energy resources, says Lomborg. Despite an astounding³ increase in production and consumption, the available reserves of the most important resources -- aluminum⁴, iron, copper⁵, and zinc⁶ -- have grown even more, and their prices have also declined over the past century.

     Meanwhile, Lomborg says, the cost of both solar and wind energy has dropped by more than 90 per cent over the past 20 years, and within 50 years, solar energy will probably be available at competitive prices.

     Turning to a second environmental issue, is pollution a serious problem facing mankind? Lomborg holds that pollution is no longer undermining our well-being⁷ because its burden has diminished dramatically in the developed world. Progress in dealing⁸ with air pollution in the developed world has been unequivocal and human health has benefited phenomenally from reductions in lead and particle concentration. He points out, for example, that the air in London is today cleaner than it has ever been since 1585.

     However, Lomborg admits that air pollution has become worse in the developing world because of strong economic growth. But he argues that growth and the environment are not opposites. They complement⁹ each other. Without adequate protection of the environment, growth is undermined. But without growth, it is not possible to support environmental protection.

     Lomborg is confident that when developing countries attain¹¹ higher levels of income, they will opt¹² for, and be able to afford, an ever-cleaner environment. According to Lomborg, things are generally getting better, and they are likely to continue to do so. No environmental catastrophe¹³ is likely to emerge.

     If Lomborg is right, we humans will have little to worry about our environment for the time being. But can we rely on what he has to say?

 

 

Part C

Disappearing Species?

 

     Assertions of the world's massive species extinction are repeated everywhere you look. It is commonly believed that between 20,000 and 100,000 species are lost every year. Yet they simply do not equate¹⁰ with the available evidence.

     The theory of biodiversity loss equates¹⁴ the number of species to area: the more space there is, the more species can exist. A rule of thumb, which works well for islands, is that if the area is reduced by 90%, the number of species will be reduced by half.

     Thus, as rainforests were cut at alarming rates, many people expected the number of species to fall by half globally within a generation or two.

     In the United States, however, the primary eastern forests were reduced over two centuries to just one to two per cent of their original area. However, this resulted in the extinction of just one forest bird.

     Brazil's Atlantic rainforest was almost entirely¹⁵ cleared in the 19th century, leaving only some 10 per cent scattered¹⁶ fragments. The rule of thumb would expect half of the species to be extinct. However, in 1989 members of the Brazilian Society of Zoology¹⁷ could not find a single known animal species that could properly be declared as extinct. Indeed, an appreciable¹⁸ number of species considered extinct 20 years ago, including several birds and six kinds of butterflies, have been rediscovered more recently.

     Species seem to be more resilient than expected. The UN Global Biodiversity Assessment¹⁹ estimates an extinction rate of 0.1 to one per cent over the next 50 years. That figure is certainly not trivial. But it is much smaller than the 10 to 100 per cent typically suggested in the media and elsewhere.

 

 

 

Questions:

 

1. How many species are commonly believed to be lost every year?

2. According to the rule of thumb used to predict the rate of extinction, if a forest is reduced to 10% of its original size, how many of its species will become extinct?

3. How many species were lost because of the shrinking of the eastern forests in the US according to the text?

4. What point does the speaker want to make by giving the examples of the US eastern forests and Brazil's Atlantic rainforest?

5. What is the main argument of the passage?

 

 

Part D

How Green Is Our Valley?

(By Joe Thorton)

 

    In his article "Measuring the Real State of the Planet", Bjorn Lomborg depicts²⁰ a world as illusory as the Land of Oz. His Oz is a place with no serious environmental afflictions. Global warming? Lomborg, who teaches statistics at Aarhus University in Denmark, argues that by the time elevated temperatures lead to flooding and declining agricultural yields, developing countries will be rich enough to cope just fine. Ozone²¹ depletion²²? Most of the skin cancer it causes won't be fatal. Toxic²³ chemicals in the food supply and in groundwater? Less likely to cause cancer than a cup of coffee.

     But utopias are boring, so the author offers up some villains²⁴: environmental organizations and scientists whom he claims are engaged in a vast conspiracy²⁵ to convince the public that the world's ecosystems²⁶ are breaking down. Lomborg sets out to criticize a long list of claims that he attributes, though not always accurately²⁷, to self-interested environmentalists. That he takes an anti-environmentalist position on virtually every issue should raise serious questions about his objectivity. Moreover, his own analysis often doesn't hold up under scientific scrutiny²⁸.

     Lomborg argues, for example, that the world's forests are not really in trouble, because estimates of global forest cover have increased slightly over the last several decades. But Lomborg counts tree farms and second-growth forests together with old-growth ones, although only the latter provide the complex habitats necessary to sustain biodiversity. He also claims that chemical pollutants²⁹ in the ocean are at biologically insignificant³⁰ levels. But he omits the fact that many chemical pollutants accumulate in the food chain. Their levels of concentration in predator³¹ species are millions of times greater than their concentration in the water -- levels high enough to pose health risks to whales, seals, and people.

     The wizard in L. Frank Baum's book forces his people to wear green spectacles that make Oz appear perfectly³² beautiful. Likewise, Lomborg promises a nearly perfect world of easy environmental progress if we put our faith in economic growth unhindered by government regulation. But this view ignores a crucial reality: The real success stories of the last three decades, including big reductions in environmental levels of ozone-depleting chemicals, DDT, PCBs, lead, and other pollutants, were accomplished³³ not through the free market but through strict government restrictions³⁴ on the production of these substances. Today's environmental challenge is to expand on these lessons and to base development on ecologically sound technologies, a goal we can reach only through ambitious action, both public and private.

Statements:

 

1. Bjorn Lomborg denies the existence of environmental problems such as global warming and ozone depletion.

2. Lomborg criticizes scientists and environmental organizations for suppressing the truth about the environment out of self-interest.

3. The speaker argues that there are flaws in Lomborg's analysis of data.

4. According to Lomborg, government regulation holds the key to environmental progress.

5. The speaker attributes the environmental improvement made in the last three decades largely to economic growth.

6. The speaker compares the world described by Lomborg to the Land of Oz because both are unreal.

1 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

2 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。

3 astounding   

adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)

参考例句：

• There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
• The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

5 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

6 zinc   

n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。

7 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

8 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

9 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

10 equate   

v.同等看待，使相等

参考例句：

• You can't equate passing examination and being intelligent.你不能把考试及格看成是聪明。
• You cannot equate his poems with his plays.你不可以把他的诗歌和他的剧本相提并论。

11 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

12 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

13 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

14 equates   

v.认为某事物（与另一事物）相等或相仿( equate的第三人称单数 )；相当于；等于；把（一事物） 和（另一事物）等同看待

参考例句：

• He equates success with material wealth. 他认为成功等同于物质财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This equates to increased and vigor, better sleep and sharper mental acuity. 也就是说可以起到增强活力，改善睡眠，提高心智的作用。 来自互联网

15 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

16 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

17 zoology   

n.动物学，生态

参考例句：

• I would like to brush up my zoology.我想重新温习一下动物学。
• The library didn't stock zoology textbooks.这家图书馆没有动物学教科书。

18 appreciable   

adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的

参考例句：

• There is no appreciable distinction between the twins.在这对孪生子之间看不出有什么明显的差别。
• We bought an appreciable piece of property.我们买下的资产有增值的潜力。

19 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

20 depicts   

描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述

参考例句：

• The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。

21 ozone   

n.臭氧，新鲜空气

参考例句：

• The ozone layer is a protective layer around the planet Earth.臭氧层是地球的保护层。
• The capacity of ozone can adjust according of requirement.臭氧的产量可根据需要或调节。

22 depletion   

n.耗尽，枯竭

参考例句：

• Increased consumption of water has led to rapid depletion of groundwater reserves.用水量的增加导致了地下水贮备迅速枯竭。
• Farmers should rotate crops every season to prevent depletion of the soil.农夫每季应该要轮耕，以免耗尽土壤。

23 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

24 villains   

n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼

参考例句：

• The impression of villains was inescapable. 留下恶棍的印象是不可避免的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some villains robbed the widow of the savings. 有几个歹徒将寡妇的积蓄劫走了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

25 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

26 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

27 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

28 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

29 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

30 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

31 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

32 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

33 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

34 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制