全新版大学英语综合教程第二册单元8课文解读

全新版大学英语综合教程第二册单元8课文解读

　　导语：保护自然肯定是有好处的，但也需要成本，怎样权衡利弊呢，下面是一篇关于保护环境的英语课文，欢迎大家学习。

　　ProtectingOurEnvironment　　PartIPre-ReadingTask

　　Listentotherecordingtwoorthreetimesandthenthinkoverthefollowingquestions:

　　1.Whatkindofparadiseisdescribedinthesong?

　　2.Whydopeoplehavetopaytoseethetrees?

　　3.WhatwouldhappeniffarmerscontinuedtouseDDT?

　　4.Whatisthethemeofthesong?

　　Thefollowingwordsintherecordingmaybenewtoyou:

　　pink

　　a.粉红色的

　　boutique

　　n.时装店

　　hotspot

　　n.(sl.)nightclub夜总会

　　insect

　　n.昆虫

　　PartII

　　Text

　　Protectingnaturecertainlyhasbenefits,butithascostsaswell.Howarewetobalancethetwowhendecidinghowfarweshouldgoincaringfortheenvironment?

　　SAVINGNATURE,BUTONLYFORMAN

　　CharlesKrauthammer

　　Environmentalsensitivityisnowasrequiredanattitudeinpolitesocietyasis,beliefindemocracyoraversiontonylon.ButnowthateveryonehasclaimstoloveMotherEarth,howarewetochooseamongthedozensofconflictingproposals,restrictions,projects,regulationsandlawsadvancedinthenameoftheenvironment?Clearlynoteverythingwithanenvironmentalclaimisworthdoing.Howtochoose?

　　Thereisasimpleway.First,distinguishbetweenenvironmentalluxuriesandenvironmentalnecessities.Luxuriesarethosethingsitwouldbenicetohaveifcostless.Necessitiesarethosethingswemusthaveregardless.Thenapplyarule.Callitthefundamentalprincipleofsensibleenvironmentalism:Combatingecologicalchangethatdirectlythreatensthehealthandsafetyofpeopleisanenvironmentalnecessity.Allelseisluxury.

　　Forexample:preservingtheatmosphere,bybothprotectingtheozonelayerandhaltingthegreenhouseeffect,isanenvironmentalnecessity.InAprilscientistsreportedthatozonedamageisfarworsethanpreviouslythought.Ozonereductionnotonlycausesskincancerandeyecataracts,italsodestroysplankton,thebeginningofthefoodchainontopofwhichwehumanssit.

　　Therealityofthegreenhouseeffectismorespeculative,thoughitspossibleconsequencesarefardeadlier:meltingicecaps,floodedcoastlines,disturbedclimate,driedupplainsand,ultimately,emptybreadbaskets.TheAmericanMidwestfeedstheworld.ArewepreparedtoseeIowaacquireAlbuquerque'sclimate?AndSiberiaacquireIowa's?

　　Ozonereductionandthegreenhouseeffectarehumandisasters.Theyhappentooccurintheenvironment.Buttheyareurgentbecausetheydirectlythreatenman.Asensibleenvironmentalism,theonlykindofenvironmentalismthatwillwinuniversalpublicsupport,beginsbyunashamedlydeclaringthatnatureisheretoserveman.Asensibleenvironmentalismisentirelyman-centered:itcallsformantopreservenature,butonthegroundsofself-preservation.

　　Asensibleenvironmentalismdoesnotsentimentalizetheearth.Itdoesnotaskpeopletosacrificeinthenameofothercreatures.Afterall,itishardenoughtoaskpeopletosacrificeinthenameofotherhumans.(Thinkofthepublicresistancetoforeignaidandwelfare.)Askhardworkingvoterstosacrificeinthenameofthesnaildarter,and,iftheyarefeelingpolite,theywillgiveyouashrug.

　　Ofcourse,thisman-centerednessrunsagainstthegrainofacontemporaryenvironmentalismthatworshipstheearthtothepointofexcess.OnescientifictheoryGaiatheoryactuallyclaimsthatEarthisalivingorganism.Thiskindofenvironmentalismlikestoconsideritselfspiritual.Itisnothingmorethansentimental.Ittakes,forexample,ahighlyselectiveviewofthekindlinessofnature.MynatureworshipstopswiththeMaystormsthatkilledmorethan125,000Bengalisandleft10millionhomeless.

　　Anon-sentimentalenvironmentalismisonefoundedonProtagoras'principlethatManisthemeasureofallthings.Suchaprinciplehelpsustofightourwaythroughthejungleofenvironmentalargument.TakethecurrentdebateragingoveroildrillinginacorneroftheAlaskaNationalWildlifeRefuge.Environmentalists,fightingagainstabillworkingitswaythroughCongresstopermitsuchexploration,arguethatweshouldbeconservingenergyinsteadofdrillingforit.Thisisafalseeither/orproposition.Thecountrydoesneedasubstantialenergytaxtoreduceconsumption.Butitneedsmoreproductiontoo.Governmentestimatesindicateanearlyfifty-fiftychancethatundertheANWRliesoneofthefivelargestoilfieldseverdiscoveredinAmerica.

　　Wehavejustcomethroughawarfoughtinpartoveroil:EnergydependencecostsAmericansnotjustdollarsbutlives.ItisaridiculoussentimentalismthatwoulddenyourselvesoilthatispeacefullyattainablebecauseitrisksdisruptingthebreedinggroundsofArcticreindeer.

　　Ilikethereindeerasmuchasthenextman.AndIwouldberathersorryiftheirmatingpatternsaredisturbed.Butyoucan'thaveeverything.Andifthechoiceisbetweenthewelfareofreindeerandreducingoildependencethatgetspeoplekilledinwars,Ichoosemanoverreindeereverytime.

　　Similarlythespottedowl.Iamnoenemyoftheowl.Ifitcouldbepreservedatnoorlittlecost,Iwouldagree:thevarietyofnatureisagood,ahighaestheticgood.Butitisnomorethanthat.Andsometimesaestheticgoodshavetobesacrificedtothemorefundamentalones.Ifthecostofpreservingthespottedowlisthelossoflivelihoodfor30,000loggingfamilies,Ichoosefamilyoverowl.

　　Theimportantdistinctionisbetweenthoseenvironmentalgoodsthatarefundamentalandthosethataremerelyaesthetic.Natureisourcharge.Itisnotourmaster.Itistoberespectedandevencultivated.Butitisman'sworld.Andwhenmanhastochoosebetweenhiswell-beingandthatofnature,naturewillhavetoaccommodate.

　　Manshouldaccommodateonlywhenhisfateandthatofnaturearebounduptogether.Themosturgentaccommodationmustbemadewhentheveryintegrityofman'senvironmente.g.,atmosphericozoneisthreatened.Whenthethreattomanisofalesserorder(say,thepollutantsfromcoal-andoil-firedgeneratorsthatcausedeathfromdiseasebutnotfataldamagetotheecosystem),amoremoderateaccommodationthatbalanceseconomicagainsthealthconcernsisinorder.Butineithercasetheprincipleisthesame:protecttheenvironmentbecauseitisman'senvironment.

　　Thesentimentalenvironmentalistswillcallthissavingnaturewithatotallywrongframeofmind.Exactly.Asensibleahumanisticenvironmentalismdoesitnotfornature'ssakebutforourown.

　　NewWordsandExpressions　　environmental

　　a.(自然)环境的

　　environmentn.

　　sensitivity

　　n.敏感(性)

　　belief

　　n.信念，信仰;相信

　　democracy

　　n.民主(制度)

　　conflicting

　　a.beingindisagreement,collision,oropposition不一致的，冲突的，矛盾的

　　conflictvi.

　　proposal

　　n.sth.proposed提议，建议

　　restriction

　　n.sth.thatrestricts,suchasalaworrule限制;限制性规定

　　regulation

　　n.anofficialruleororder规章;规定

　　inthenameof

　　forthereasonof;usingtheexcuseof以为由，以为借口，以的名义

　　distinguish

　　v.recognizethedifference(between)区别，辨别

　　regardless

　　ad.inspiteofeverything;anyway不顾一切地;无论如何

　　fundamental

　　a.ofthebasisorfoundationofsth.基本的，根本的

　　environmentalism

　　n.环境保护论;环境论

　　combat

　　v.fightorstruggle(against)(与)斗争，战斗

　　ecological

　　a.ofecology生态的;生态学的

　　atmosphere

　　n.大气;气氛

　　ozone▲

　　n.臭氧

　　layer

　　n.asinglethicknessofamaterialcoveringasurface层

　　reduction

　　n.makingorbecominglessorsmaller减少

　　cancer

　　n.癌，恶性肿瘤

　　cataract

　　n.白内障

　　plankton

　　n.浮游生物

　　reality

　　n.现实;真实

　　speculative

　　a.猜测性的，推测的

　　consequence

　　n.theresultoreffectofanactionorcondition后果，结果

　　deadly

　　a.causingorabletocausefatalinjuryorseriousdamage致命的，毁灭性的

　　melt

　　v.(causeasolidto)becomeliquid(使)融化，(使)熔化

　　urgent

　　a.callingforimmediateattention紧急的;急迫的

　　universal

　　a.全世界的;普遍的，全体的

　　unashamedly

　　ad.withoutshowingguiltorembarrassment坦然地，满不在乎地

　　man-centered

　　a.以人为中心的，只考虑人类的利益的

　　callfor

　　require,demand要求

　　onthegroundsof/ongrounds

　　forreasonsof因为;以为理由

　　self-preservation

　　n.自我保护

　　sentimentalize

　　vt.treatorconsiderinasentimentalway感情用事地对待(或看待)

　　creature

　　n.alivingbeing,especiallyananimal生物(尤指动物)

　　resistance

　　n.opposition反对，反抗

　　voter

　　n.投票者，(法定)选举人

　　vote

　　v.expressone'schoiceinfavourof(apersonorpoliticalparty)atanelection投票选举

　　snaildarter

　　n.蜗牛鱼(一种濒临绝种的很小的淡水鱼)

　　run/goagainstthegrain(ofsth.ortodosth.)

　　becontrarytoone'sinclination,desire,orfeeling与()格格不入;违反意愿(做某事)

　　contemporary

　　a.current;modern当代的，现代的

　　worship

　　n.,vt.崇拜;崇敬

　　tothepointof

　　toadegreethatcanbedescribedas达到的程度

　　excess

　　n.morethanthereasonabledegreeoramount过节，无节制

　　organism

　　n.生物体，有机体

　　spiritual

　　a.ofthespiritasopposedtomatter精神的;非物质的

　　nothingmorethan

　　justthesameas;only无异于;只不过仅仅

　　sentimental

　　a.感情用事的;多愁善感的

　　selective

　　a.oforcharacterizedbyselection选择的;有选择性的

　　Bengali

　　n.,a.孟加拉人(的);孟加拉语(的);孟加拉的

　　jungle

　　n.杂乱无章的事物;(热带)丛林

　　current

　　a.occurringinorexistingatthepresenttime当前的，现在的

　　debate

　　n.辩论;争论

　　rage

　　vi.continuewithgreatforce;beintense激烈地进行

　　wildlife

　　n.wildanimalsandvegetation,especiallyanimalslivinginanaturalstate(总称)野生动物(尤指野生动物)

　　refuge▲

　　n.aplaceprovidingprotectionorshelter庇护所;避难处

　　workone'sway

　　managetoreachorgothrough;makeeffortstoattainone'sgoal设法抵达(或获得通过);努力达到目标

　　congress

　　n.国会;立法机关;代表大会

　　exploration

　　n.theactoraninstanceofexploring勘查，探测;探索

　　conserve▲

　　vt.protectfromlossorharm;preserve保护;保存

　　either/or

　　a.只能两者择其一的`

　　proposition▲

　　n.提议;命题

　　consumption

　　n.theactofconsuming;theamountconsumed消费(量)

　　comethrough

　　experience,surviveorovercome(adifficulty,etc.)经历;从(中)活下来(或挺过来)

　　inpart

　　tosomeextent;partly在某种程度上;部分地

　　dependence

　　n.thestateofbeingdependent依靠，依赖

　　ridiculous

　　a.absurd可笑的，荒谬的

　　sentimentalism

　　n.感情用事;多愁善感，感伤主义

　　deny

　　vt.refusetograntorallow不给;不准

　　attainable

　　a.thatcanbereachedorachieved可达到的;可得到的

　　attain

　　vt.达到;取得

　　disrupt▲

　　vt.throwintoconfusionordisorder使陷于混乱;干扰

　　breedingground

　　动物繁殖的地方

　　breed(bred)

　　v.bear,produce(young)(使)繁殖;产(后代)

　　reindeer

　　n.(单复同)驯鹿

　　Arctic

　　a.,n.北级(的)，北极圈(的)

　　mate

　　v.(使)交配

　　similarly

　　ad.inasimilarway同样地，相同地

　　owl▲

　　n.猫头鹰

　　aesthetic▲

　　a.美学的;美感的;美的

　　livelihood

　　n.ameansofliving生计

　　logging

　　n.伐木业

　　log

　　v.cutdown,trim,andhaul(timber)砍伐;伐(木)

　　distinction

　　n.difference区别，差别

　　charge

　　n.apersonorthingcommittedtothecareofanother被照管的人(或事物)

　　well-being

　　n.thestateofbeinghealthy,happy,orprosperous幸福;福祉

　　accommodate▲

　　vi.adapt适应新的情况;迁就

　　vt.容纳，向提供住处;协调

　　accommodationn.

　　fate

　　n.命运，结局

　　bind(bound)

　　vt.tieorfasten;tietogether捆，绑;将绑在一起

　　e.g.(abbr.)

　　forexample例如

　　atmospheric

　　a.of,relatingto,orexistingintheatmosphere大气的

　　threat

　　n.威胁

　　lesser

　　a.smallerinamount,value,orimportance较小的，更少的，次要的

　　pollutant

　　n.somethingthatpollutes污染物

　　generator

　　n.发电机

　　fatal

　　a.causingdeath;bringingruin致命的;毁灭性的

　　ecosystem

　　n.生态系统

　　moderate

　　a.notextreme;withinsensiblelimits适中的;适度的

　　concern

　　n.有利害关系的事，关心的事，担扰

　　frame

　　n.state,condition;basicstructurearoundwhichsth.isbuilt状态;框架，构架

　　frameofmind

　　mentalattitudeoroutlook心绪;心境

　　humanistic

　　a.ofhumanismorhumanists人本主义的，人文主义的

　　ProperNames　　CharlesKrauthammer

　　杰尔斯克劳特哈默

　　Midwest

　　美国中西部

　　Lowa

　　(美国)爱荷华州

　　Albuquerque

　　阿尔伯克基(美国新墨西哥州城市)

　　Siberia

　　西伯利亚(俄罗斯一地区)

　　Gaia

　　(希神)盖亚(大地女神)

　　Protagoras

　　普罗泰戈拉(c.481c.411B.C.，古希腊哲学家)

　　Alaska

　　(美国)阿拉斯加州

　　LanguagesenseEnhancement　　1.Readaloudparagraphs1-5andlearnthembyheart.

　　2.Readaloudthefollowingpoem:

　　TheBeautyofNature

　　JamesTeh

　　Onecoolevening,Iputasideallduty,

　　Tositalone,watchingthesunset,

　　AndasIdo,Ithinkofscenesfilledwithbeauty,

　　ScenesIwishtoneverforget.

　　Ithinkofthebeach,withthesandandthesea,

　　Thewavesroaringup,thengentlylappingthebeach,

　　Thecriesoftheseagulls,sohappy,sofree,

　　Itonlymenrealizedthelessonitcanteach.

　　Ithinkofalake,thecrystalclearwater,

　　Sopure,sosmooth,andcoolonmyskin,

　　Theair,soclean,notoxicslaughter,

　　There'sakey,alessonheldwithin.

　　Ithinkofawaterfall,waterfreelyflowing,

　　Thegentlegush,gurglinginmyears,

　　Thewindonmyface,calmlyblowing,

　　Somanyhavenotlearntinsomanyyears.

　　Thesunset,thebeach,thelake,thewaterfall,

　　They'rethingsofnature,notman-madeatall,

　　Characteristicsunbeatablebymanhavetheyall,

　　They'repeaceandbeauty,bothofwhichitseemsmenwanttofall.

　　3.Readthefollowingquotations.Learnthembyheartifyoucan.Youmightneedtolookupnewwordsinadictionary.

　　Completeadaptationtoenvironmentmeansdeath.Theessentialpointinallresponseisthedesiretocontrolenvironment.

　　JohnDewey

　　Wewon'thaveasocietyifwedestroytheenvironment.

　　MargaretMead

　　Wemaketheworldweliveinandshapeourownenvironment.

　　OrisonSwettMarden

　　Whenmanishappy,heisinharmonywithhimselfandhisenvironment.

　　OscarWilde

　　4.Readthefollowingjokeforfun:

　　Man:howmanyenvironmentalistsdoesittaketochangealightbulb?

　　Woman:Ten.Onetoinstallthenewbulbandninetofigureoutwhattodowiththediscardedbulbforthenext10,000years.