世界节假日博览 第51期:全国农业日

 　　National Agriculture Day is a day to appreciate and celebrate the work of farmers and the agricultural industry. Perhaps few of us stop and think about the vital work that takes place every day by food producers. Without them, there would be no produce in the stores and little food on the table. It takes place on the first day of spring，a busy day in the farming calendar. Communities, cooperatives¹, companies and universities all make their own campaigns to highlight the importance of agriculture, for food, jobs and exports. It is one of the most important parts of the economy and a key part of our environment. Agriculture is also the oldest industry in the world.

　　全国农业日是为了感谢农民的辛勤劳动，以及庆祝农业产业的日子。或许很少有人会想到食品生产者工作的重要性。没有他们，商店中将没有产品，餐桌上也会没有食物。该节日会在每年初春的第一天开始庆祝，这对于农耕来说是非常忙碌的一天。社区、合作社、企业以及大学都将开展自己的宣传活动，宣传农业对食物、工作以及出口所带来的重要性。农业在经济中所处的地位至关重要，它还是环境的重要组成部分。农业也是全球最古老的产业。

　　In America, each farmer feeds more than 144 people. This is a huge increase from 25 people in the 1960s. Developments in technology, better pesticides² and more efficient farming means farmers grow more crops. Agricultural products fall into different groups, the main ones being foods, fibers³ and raw materials. In recent years, crops have been used to grow biofuels, which has created a whole new area of agriculture. Recent times have also seen a rise in the farming of drugs, especially for cocaine⁴ and heroine. Agriculture is the world’s largest employer. About 35 percent of the world's workers rely on agriculture for their living. Even though it employs a third of the world’s workers, agriculture generates⁵ less than five percent of the world’s income.

　　在美国，每名农民能够养活的人口数量超过了144人。比起60年代的25人来说是一个巨大的增长。提高技术、使用杀虫剂、更加有效的农耕技术都意味着农民将种植更多的农作物。农业产品分许多种，其中最主要的是食物、纤维以及原料。近些年，农作物已经被用来种植生物燃料，这也为农业打开了新的领域。毒品种植也在不断增加，特别是可卡因和海洛因。农业是全球规模最大的雇员。全球有大约35%的农民要靠农业来维持生计。尽管它占据了全球三分之一的劳动力，但是农业对全球收入的贡献却不到5%。

　　1.raw material 原料

　　例句：Expanding the source of raw material should also depress the price of petroleum⁶.

　　原料来源的扩展同样会对石油价格起到抑制作用。

　　2.rely on 依靠

　　例句：We have to rely on him to make the design.

　　我们不得不仰仗着他来进行这项设计。

　　3.take place 发生

　　例句：When does the wedding come off [take place]?

　　什么时候举行婚礼?

　　4.even though 虽然

　　例句：Even though away from us his spirit was still with us.

　　尽管离开了我们，他的灵魂还是与我们同在。

1 cooperatives   

合作社，联合体( cooperative的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Above them was a central bureau of cooperatives. 它们的上面则是合作社总局。
• Some individual proprietors join forces with others to form chains of independents or cooperatives. 这些小个体业主互相联合起来，构成独立企业或合作企业的联网。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

2 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fibers   

光纤( fiber的名词复数 )； （织物的）质地； 纤维，纤维物质

参考例句：

• Thesolution of collagen-PVA was wet spined with the sodium sulfate as coagulant and collagen-PVA composite fibers were prepared. 在此基础上，以硫酸钠为凝固剂，对胶原-PVA共混溶液进行湿法纺丝，制备了胶原-PVA复合纤维。
• Sympathetic fibers are distributed to all regions of the heart. 交感神经纤维分布于心脏的所有部分。

4 cocaine   

n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）

参考例句：

• That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
• Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。

5 generates   

v.生（儿、女）( generate的第三人称单数 )；（通过物理或化学过程）发生；生成；引起

参考例句：

• This new boiler generates more heat than the old one. 这个新锅炉产生的热量比旧锅炉多。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy. 原子反应堆发出大量的热能。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。