英语课程计划-National Biodiesel Day

National Biodiesel Day is a day the biodiesel industry celebrates the role of the vegetable-based fuel in helping² to tackle environmental problems. It takes place on March 18, which is the date of Rudolf Diesel¹’s birthday. He invented diesel in 1912. He designed the diesel engine in the late 1800s to run on peanut oil. He was a visionary who knew that biofuels would become very important. In 1912, he said: “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant³ today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum⁴.” He died in 1913, well before any hint of damage to the environment by fossil fuels, and long before the green movement, which would embrace his thinking.

The U.S. biodiesel industry is doing much to promote energy independence and reduce America’s thirst for oil. In 2007, manufacturers produced 500 million gallons of biofuels, which reduced the need for 12 million barrels of oil. The biofuels industry is very excited about the future of biofuels. They say biofuels greatly reduce CO2 emissions⁵ and therefore are an important part of helping countries reduce their carbon footprints. President George W Bush described bio-fuels as one of the most promising⁶ forms of renewable energy. Not everyone is so eager in their praise of biofuels. Many blame them for reducing the amount of land available for food production, which has led to food shortages and rising food prices.

1 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 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。

4 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。

5 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。