新視野大學英語讀寫教程第二冊unit2-a Environmental Protection Throughout the World

Unit 2

Section A

Pre-reading Activities

First Listening
Please listen to a short passage carefully and prepare to answer some questions.

Second Listening
Listen to the tape again. Then answer the following questions with your own experiences.
1) Why are most countries not concerned about environmental awareness?
2) Which two countries have taken steps to protect their rain forests?
3) Which is the most polluted industrial area in the world? What is the result of this pollution?

Environmental Protection Throughout the World

Introduction
In most parts of the world, environmental awareness does not exist. The great majority of nations concern themselves with economic development, regardless of its effect on the global ecology. But in recent years, as environmental damage has increased, signs of change have sprung up in various pockets around the world. The following are a few examples of countries undertaking new environmental initiatives.
Canada
When European explorers first came to the New World, the fishing grounds off what would become eastern Canada and New England held abundant cod and other species. The area, called the Grand Banks, was the most abundant fishing ground in the world.
Now, 500 years later, excessive fishing has reduced the number of fish to dangerously low levels. In response, Canada has closed the area to cod fishing and set strict limits on catches of other species.
When Canada took similar measures to protect the supply of herring in the 1970s, the fish eventually recovered. But experts say that some species today have been so wasted, they may never recover. The government also faces protests from Canadian fishermen. About 40,000 are now unemployed as a result of the fishing bans and loss of their fish supply.
Costa Rica
This Central American country has one of the most ambitious programs in the world to preserve the ecological diversity of its tropical rain forests. Much of the country has already been clear-cut, and soil erosion has been extensive. But a series of new environmental laws, together with the creation of parks and nature preserves that cover one quarter of the country, are aimed at protecting Costa Rica's remaining forests.
Brazil
Brazil is home to the world's largest jungle rain forest, the Amazon. For decades, the government sought to colonize and develop the Amazon, bringing severe environmental disaster to the area and its people.
But in 1991, under pressure from environmentalists around the world, Brazil reversed course. It ended tax favors that had encouraged clearing of the Amazon rain forest, and agreed to a plan to finance new forest protection projects.
Cattle farmers, miners, and settlers have protested the move and continue to destroy the forests, although at a slower pace than before. The conflict enlarged last year when miners killed a group of Amazon Indians in order to seize their land. The government promises it will protect the region's native people, but questions remain as to its true level of commitment.
Eastern Europe
The nations of Eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech and Slovak Republics, are considered the most polluted of all the world's industrialized countries. Heavy metals from coal mining have contaminated much of the area's waters. Rivers, land, and forests are so contaminated that many are now biologically dead.
In a special series of treaties, Eastern European countries and other nations, including the United States, have set up special funds for environmental cleanups and improving the region's power plants. In addition, Germany and the Czech Republic have signed a treaty to protect the Elbe River from further contamination. Experts say the treaty could serve as a model for protecting other rivers in the region, including the Oder and Danube.
Ghana
Ghana's population has been growing by 3.2 percent a year. This explosive growth has led to removal of forests in much of the country, and excessive use of existing farmland. Forests have been cut down at the rate of 278 square miles a year.
In response, the government has urged local villages to create more shared farmland. It has sponsored the growing of cash crops such as cassava, maize, cotton, and the planting of trees to regenerate waste land. Observers say the program has succeeded in strengthening the country's agricultural base and bringing a new source of wealth to villagers. But it remains to be seen whether these measures will have enough impact to slow the rate of removing the forests.
Indonesia
Indonesians have traditionally favored large families, and their major religion, Islam, frowns on birth control. But with 188 million people, the country is now struggling to provide enough food, shelter, and employment for its people. In recent years, the government has waged a massive ad campaign to encourage birth control, offering inducements such as free trips to Mecca, the birthplace of Islam in Saudi Arabia.
The government has succeeded in increasing use of birth control from 10 percent of the population 20 years ago to 49 percent today. As a result, the average number of births has been cut from 5.6 children per woman to 3. The government hopes to reduce this average to 2.1 children per woman by 2005. But with such a large population base, the country must still convert millions more to the idea of birth control if it is to reach its population targets.
Words: 796

NEW WORDS

global
a. 1. covering and affecting the whole world; worldwide 全球的，世界范圍的
2. covering the whole of a group of parts, etc. 包括一切的，總括的

▲ecology
n. [U] (the relationships between) the air, land, water, animals, plants, etc., usu. of a particular area 生態(tài)，生態(tài)學

undertake
vt. 1. (start to) make oneself responsible for (sth.) 擔任，承擔
2. agree or promise to do sth. 同意做，要做，答應

initiative
n. 1. [C] action taken to solve a difficulty 解決困難所采取的行動，初步行動
2. (the～) (sing.) power or right to take action 采取行動的能力（權利或權力），主動權，優(yōu)先權
3. [U] ability to see what needs to be done and try to do it, esp. without other's help 主動，進取精神（尤指不求助于外力的）

abundant
a. 1. more than enough; plenty 很多的，豐富的，充裕的
2. (in/with) having plenty of sth., rich in sth. 富于，富有

■cod
n. (pl. unchanged) 鱈魚

species
n. (pl. unchanged) group of animals and plants only different in little details from the others, and able to breed with each other but not with other groups 物種，種類

■herring
n. 鯡魚

fisherman
n. [C] person who catches fish, as a job or for sport 釣魚者；漁民，漁夫

▲ambitious
a. 1. showing or requiring a particular desire of this kind 顯示或需要雄心的
2. full of strong desires, esp. for money or success 充滿野心的，雄心勃勃的（尤指為金錢或功名的）

diverse
a. 1. of different kinds; various 種類不同的，多種多樣的
2. different (from each other); not the same 不同的，相異的

diversity
n. [U] (sing.) state of being different; variety 差異，多樣，多樣性

tropical
a. 熱帶的，（生長在）熱帶的，炎熱的

■clear-cut
vt. cut down all the trees in a forest area 砍伐殆盡（一塊林區(qū)）

▲erosion
n. 1. [U] process of being worn away or destroyed bit by bit by rain, wind ,etc. 腐蝕，侵蝕
2. [U] reducing; destroying 削弱，減少；損害

extensive
a. 1. large in area; extending far （指面積）遼闊的，廣闊的
2. wide-ranging; large in amount 廣泛的，大量的

series
n. (pl. unchanged) number of things, events, etc. of a similar kind, esp. placed or happening one after another 一連串，一系列，連續(xù)的事物（件）

jungle
n. 1. [U, C] area of land, usu. in a tropical country, that is covered with a thick growth of trees and plants 叢林，密林
2. [C] a place of intense or confusing struggle 斗爭激烈的地方

colony
n. 1. [C] a country or area settled or taken over by people from another country and controlled by that country 殖民地
2. [C] a group of people from a foreign country living in a particular city or country 僑民（集合名詞）
3. [C] a group of animals or plants living or growing in the same place【生】群居動物，生長在一地的植物，群體（集合名詞）

colonize
vt. establish a colony in (an area); establish (an area) as a colony 在（一個地區(qū)）開拓殖民地，使殖民地化

reverse
vt. 1. turn (sth.) the other way round or up, or inside out 反轉，顛倒，翻轉
2. exchange (two functions, positions, etc.) 互換（功能、地位等）
3. remove or wipe out 撤消，取消
n. 1. (sing.) thing that is the contrary or opposite to what is expected 相對，相反
2. [C] other side or back of sth. 背面，反面
3. [C] change for the worse; bad luck or trouble 挫折，不幸
a. contrary or opposite to what is expected 相對的，相反的，顛倒的

tax
n. 1. [C, U] (sum of) money to be paid by people or business to a government for public purpose 稅，稅額
2. [C, U] a stress on sth. 負擔
vt. 1. require (sb.) to pay tax 對……征稅，要求……付稅
2. make heavy demands on (sth.) 使負重擔，使受沉重壓力

finance
vt. provide money for (a project, etc.) 為（項目）提供經(jīng)費，為……提供資金
n. 1. [U] management of (esp. public) money 理財（尤指公款），金融財政
2. (pl.) money available to a person, company or country （個人、公司、政府的）財源，資金

conflict
n. 1. [C, U] (of opinions, desires, etc.) opposing; difference; clash （指意見、欲望）沖突，抵觸
2. [C, U] struggle; fight 斗爭，戰(zhàn)斗
vi. be against or in disagreement; clash 與……相反, 抵觸, 沖突

industrialize (英industrialise)
v. develop (a country or an area) extensively with industries （使）工業(yè)化

▲contaminate
vt. make sth./sb. dirty or polluted by adding dangerous or disease-carrying matter 污染，玷污，弄臟，污損

contamination
n. [U] contaminating or being contaminated 污染，玷污

biology
n. [U] scientific study of the life and structure of plants and animals 生物學

biologically
ad. of or relating to biology 生物學上

treaty
n. 1. [C] an official agreement between two or more countries （國與國之間締結的）條約
2. [U] official agreement between people, esp. for the buying of property （尤指購置財產(chǎn)時人與人之間的）協(xié)約，約定，協(xié)商

fund
n. 1. [C] a sum of money saved or made available for a particular purpose 專款，基金
2. (sing.) stock of supply of sth. 貯藏，儲存
3. (pl.) resources of finance; money 財源，金錢，現(xiàn)款
vt. provide (an organization, a project, etc.) with money （為公共機構、工程項目）提供資金

explosive
a. 1. increasing very quickly 激增的，迅速擴大的
2. able to burst suddenly and easily 爆炸的，爆發(fā)的，爆炸性的
n. [C, U] thing which is likely or able to explode 炸藥

removal
n. 1. [U] getting rid of 去除，消除
2. [U] taking sth. away from a place; transfer 挪走，移走，搬遷

sponsor
vt. 1. support (a person, organization or activity) by giving money, encouragement or other help 贊助，支持
2. start; hold 發(fā)起，舉辦，主辦
n. 1. [C] a person who puts forward or assures an idea 發(fā)起人，保證人
2. [C] a person who pays money to support another person, organization or activity 資助人，贊助人

cash
n. [U] money in coins or notes 現(xiàn)鈔
vt. exchange sth. for cash 兌換現(xiàn)金，兌現(xiàn)

■cassava
n. [C] 木薯

■maize
n. [U] 玉蜀黍，玉米

generate
vt. 1. produce 生成，產(chǎn)生（光、熱、電等）
2. cause to exist; produce 引起，產(chǎn)生

regenerate
vt. improve (a place or a network), esp. by making it more active or successful 重建，復興，革新

observer
n. person who watches carefully 觀察家，觀察的人，觀察員

strengthen
vt. cause sb./sth. to become stronger 使堅強，使強壯，加固，鞏固，加強，增強

impact
n. 1. [C] (usu. sing.) strong impression or effect on sb./sth. 對……的強烈的印象或影響
2. [U] hitting of one object against another 碰撞，撞擊
v. 1. leave a powerful effect on a situation or person 影響，作用
2. strike, hit 碰撞，撞擊

frown
v. 1. (on/upon) disagree; disapproved 不贊成，反對
2. 皺眉，蹙額
n. [C] 皺眉

shelter
n. 1. [U] living place 住所，住處
2. [C] a structure built to give protection, esp. from rain, wind or attack 掩蔽部，掩蔽處，躲避處
3. [U] condition of being protected, kept safe, etc. 掩蔽，遮蔽，保護
vt. give shelter to (sb./sth.); protect (sb./sth.) 掩蔽，遮蔽，庇護
vi. find a place that gives shelter; take shelter 躲難，避難

wage
vt. begin and carry on (a war, campaign, etc.) 發(fā)起，進行（戰(zhàn)爭、運動等）
n. (pl.) regular (usu. per week) pay made or received for work or services 工資，報酬（通常按周計酬）

massive
a. 1. very large in amount or number 大量的，大規(guī)模的
2. large in size, heavy 大的，大而重的，大塊的

ad
n. [C] 廣告（advertisement的縮略）

▲induce
vt. 1. persuade or influence sb. to do sth. 引誘，誘導
2. bring sth. about; cause 導致，引起

inducement
n. [C, U] (sth. which provides) encouragement to do sth. 誘因，引誘物，動機

convert
v. 1. change one's belief, attitude, etc. （使）改變（信仰或態(tài)度等）
2. change sth. from one form or use to another 改變，轉變

target
n. 1. [C] a level or situation which one plans to achieve （欲達到的）目標，指標
2. [C] an object or mark that a person tries to hit in shooting, etc. 目標，靶
vt. aim at sth.; cause to have an effect on a particular, intentionally limited group 瞄準……；把……作為目標

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

concern with
be busy with; interest oneself in 忙于，從事，關心

regardless of
paying no attention to 不顧，不管

spring up
appear, develop, grow, etc. quickly or suddenly 迅速（或突然）的出現(xiàn)，發(fā)生，長出

take measures to
take action for a purpose 采取措施，采取辦法

as a result of
because of 因……

aim at
intend or try to do 意欲或試圖做

agree to
say "yes" to (an idea, opinion, suggestion, etc.) 同意，允諾，贊成

set up
establish or create (sth.) 建立，創(chuàng)立

lead to
have sth. as its result 導致

cash crop
a crop that is grown mainly to be sold, rather than used by the farmer or those living in the area it is grown in 經(jīng)濟作物

birth control
controlling the number of children 節(jié)育

PROPER NAMES

Canada/Canadian
加拿大／加拿大人，加拿大的

Grand Banks
大淺灘（指北美洲紐芬蘭島東南廣闊的大西洋淺灘，為世界大漁場之一）

Costa Rica
哥斯達黎加（拉丁美洲國家，在中美洲南部）

Brazil
巴西（南美洲國家）

Amazon
亞馬孫河（南美洲北部，世界最大河流之一，源出秘魯安第斯山，東流經(jīng)亞馬遜平原，在巴西馬拉若島附近注入大西洋）

Indian
印第安人

Poland
波蘭（歐洲國家）

Hungary
匈牙利（歐洲國家）

Czech
捷克（歐洲國家）

Slovak
斯洛伐克（歐洲國家）

Elbe
易北河（歐洲）

Oder
奧德河（歐洲）

Danube
多瑙河（歐洲）

Ghana
加納（西非國家，舊稱黃金海岸）

Indonesia/Indonesian
印度尼西亞（東南亞島國）／印度尼西亞的，印度尼西亞人

Islam
伊斯蘭教（中國舊稱“回教”、“清真教”等）

Mecca
麥加（沙特阿拉伯西部城市，伊斯蘭教創(chuàng)立人穆罕默德的誕生地，伊斯蘭教圣地之一，是全世界穆斯林的朝拜中心）

Saudi Arabia
沙特阿拉伯（西南亞國家）