The Amazon rainforest: a natural treasure
亚马孙雨林：大自然的宝藏
Welcome to the jungle, a huge sea of green alive with the sounds of animals. This is the Amazon rainforest. As the largest rainforest in the world, it plays a significant role in maintaining the fine balance of the Earth's ecosystem.
欢迎来到丛林，这是一片绿色的海 洋，处处可闻各种动物的声音。这里是 亚马孙雨林。作为世界上最大的雨林，它在维系地球生态系统的微妙平衡上扮演着举足轻重的角色。
The Amazon rainforest crosses into eight countries, including Brazil and Peru, and one overseas region of France, all on the South American continent. With an area
of around 6 million square kilometres , the Amazon rainforest is more than half the
size of China. The Amazon River, from which the rainforest gets its name, is close
to 6,400 kilometres in length-roughly 100 kilometres longer than the Yangtze River. On its journey from the mountains to the ocean, the river supports many different ecosystems. They give this area the richest biodiversity on the Earth: one in ten known species in the world can be found here.
亚马孙雨林穿过包括巴西、秘鲁在内的八个国家，以及一块法国的海外领地，都位于南美洲大陆。亚马孙雨林的面积约为600万平方千米，比中国国土面积的一半还要大。亚马孙雨林得名于亚马孙河，亚马孙河长约6,400千米，比长江还长大约100千米。这条河从高山流向海洋，沿途维系着多种不同的生态系统。它们赋予这片区域地球上最丰富的生物多样性：全世界十分之一的已知物种，都可以在这里找到。
Of the 390,000 plant species known to us, more than 40,000 can be found in the Amazon. This tall and ancient brazil nut tree produces nuts that we can eat; these
water lilies are big enough to lie down on. The forest's different levels support an
unbelievable variety of wildlife. At the bottom, there is a system of roots beneath
the ground. Above that is the mass of leaf litter on the dark forest floor. The next
level is made up of shorter plants with large leaves. Then there are the towering
ancient hardwoods, and finally the tops of the tallest trees many metres above the
ground. Each level of the forest forms its own little world, home to different kinds
of living things.
在人类已知的390,000种植物物种中，在亚马孙可以找到40,000多种。这棵高大、古老的巴西坚果树结出的坚果我们可以食用；这些睡莲（叶片）大到可以躺在上面。雨林的不同层次养活的野生动物种类多到难以置信。最底层是地下的根系。往上是阴暗森林地表厚实的落叶层。再往上一层由低矮的阔叶植物组成。然后是高耸、古老的阔叶树，最后是那些离地数米之高的大树的树冠。雨林的每一层都自成一个小世界，成为各种生物的家园。
More than 1,300 species of birds and over 400 species of mammals hide among the
jungle's plant life. This jaguar is one example. It has a yellowish-brown coat with
black spots. While a significant number of jaguars survive here, they are only one
on at least 87 species, including frogs. These frogs, in turn, feed on insects which eat leaves and fruit. When a jaguar dies, a tiny army of microorganisms helps break down its body and return the nutrients to the earth.
1,300多种鸟和400多种哺乳动物藏身于这片丛林的植被中。这只美洲豹就是个例子。它黄棕色的皮毛上遍布着黑点。尽管这里生存着数量可观的美洲豹，但它们仅仅是雨林食物链上的一环。它们捕食的物种至少有87种，其中包括青蛙.相应地，这些青蛙的食物，是以树叶和水果为食的昆虫。美洲豹死后，一小支微生物军队会助力其尸体的分解，让营养素重回土壤之中。
The Amazon rainforest breathes life into the planet by fixing carbon and producing over 20 per cent of all the Earth's oxygen. Thus, it is often known as the “lungs of
the planet". Moreover, the Amazon rainforest is a treasure house of species that can
be used for food or medicine. Yet there is one major danger to these irreplaceable
plants and animals: us. Over the past 50 years, about 17 per cent of the rainforest
has disappeared due to human activities such as agriculture and cattie farming. As
the impact of human activities continues to grow and the list of species in danger
of extinction becomes longer, we are left with a question: can we afford to damage
the “lungs of the planet”？
亚马孙币林通过固定碳（二氧化碳－译者注），并生成占全球总量20%以上的氧气，来为地球注入活力。因此，它也常常被称作“地球之肺”。此外，亚马孙雨林还是食用物种和药用物种的宝库。然而，这些无可取代的动植物面临的一个主要威胁就是：我们。在过去的50年里，由于农耕和养牛等人类活动，17%的雨林已经消失了。随着人类活动影响的不断增加，濒危物种的名单越来越长，这留给我们一个问题：我们能承担得起损害“地球之肺”的后果吗？
News that Matters:pollution in Norgate《焦点新闻》：诺盖特市的污染
HOST: Good evening and welcome to News that Matters. Our topic today is pollution in Norgate. Joining us in the studio tonight are James Smith, a local resident; Vincent Brown, senior manager of a local factory; and Julie Archer, chief of the Norgate Environmental Protection Committee. Welcome.
主持人：晚上好，欢迎收看《焦点新闻》。我们今天的话题是诺盖特市的污染。今晚来到我们演播室的有本地居民詹姆斯·史密斯、本地一家工厂的高管文森
特·布朗，还有诺盖特环境保护委员会的负责人朱莉·阿彻。欢迎你们。
Norgate’s rapid development has had significant environmental costs. Mr Smith, you’ve lived in this city for over 20 years. How would you describe the effects of pollution over that time?
诺盖特市的高速发展付出了高昂的环境代价。史密斯先生，您已经在这座城
市生活了二十多年。您能说说这二十年间污染造成的影响吗？
SMITH: It’s been awful, really. When I first moved here, the air was fresh, the
grass green and the water clear. Then heavy industry factories moved in, and things became entirely different. I don’t enjoy outdoor activities any more. The river is dirty and smelly. The smog in the air has coloured the sky a smoky grey; it’s also given me a cough that I can’t get rid of. For health and safety reasons alone, heavy industry has to go.
史密斯：非常糟糕，真的。我刚搬来时，这里空气清新、草绿水清。后来重工业
工厂迁来了，情况变得截然不同了。我再也不喜欢户外活动了。河水又脏又
臭。空气中的烟雾把天空都染成了烟灰色；这还让我患上了咳嗽，久治不愈。
单是出于健康和安全的原因，重工业也必须迁走。
HOST: Mr Smith protested against heavy industry. Mr Brown, would you like to respond?
主持人：史密斯先生反对重工业。布朗先生，您想做出回应吗？
BROWN: Well, I’m sorry you feel that way, Mr Smith. People tend to connect factories with pictures of clouds of dirty smoke and irresponsible businessmen
eager to make huge profits. In defence of the factories, however, I’d like to point
out that we also try to control the amount of pollution we produce. I think I speak
for all factory managers when I say we’re deeply concerned about the environment.
We’ve been taking various measures, including the use of new technologies, to
reduce pollution in the production process, even though these measures raise our production costs. I’d also like to draw your attention to the economic benefits
factories have brought to Norgate. We’ve created many jobs for local residents and helped the city’s economy grow.
布朗：好吧，对于您那样的感受我很抱歉，史密斯先生。一提到工厂，人们总
是将其与浓烟滚滚的画面和急于牟取暴利、不负责任的商人形象联系在一起。不过，我要为工厂说句话，我想指出，我们也在努力控制我们制造的污染。我们对环境问题深感担忧，我想，我是代表所有的工厂负责人说的这句话。我们一直在采取各种各样的措施，包括新科技手段的运用，来减少生产过程中产生的污染，尽管这些措施会增加我们的生产成本。我还希望您能注意到，这些工厂给诺盖特市带来的经济效益。我们为当地居民创造了许多就业岗位，并对这座城市的经济增长起到了助推作用。
HOST: Thank you, Mr Brown. With pollution levels on the rise, the Norgate
Environmental Protection Committee is searching for ways to fight the problem.
Mrs Archer, what are your thoughts on how to deal with pollution?
主持人：谢谢您，布朗先生。鉴于污染程度不断加重，诺盖特环境保护委员会正在设法应对这个问题。阿彻女士，您对如何处理污染问题有何见解？
ARCHER: Well, our committee has a major role to play in maintaining air and
water quality. We have to achieve a balancebetweenenvironmental protection and economic development. We’ve made environmental policies for
businesses to observe, like strict clean-up requirements. We also work hand in hand
with other branches of government to ensure that development strategies are followed in an environmentally friendly way. However, fighting pollution isn’t just a task for factories and the government.Ithas to be a community-wide effort, and everyone can help by following the golden rule: reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, you can save energy by taking the bus or the subway, or using the bike-sharing system.
阿彻：是的，我们委员会在维护空气质量和水质量方面发挥着重要作用。我们
必须在环境保护与经济发展之间求得平衡。我们已经制定了供各行业遵守的环境政策，比如严格的净化要求。我们也与其他政府部门携手，确保以一种环境友好的方式贯彻发展战略。然而，与污染作斗争不仅仅是工厂与政府的任务，应该全社会通力协作，人人都可以通过遵守“减少使用、重复使用、回收利用”这一黄金法则来助力。打个比方，您可以乘坐公交车、地铁，或者使用共享单车来节约能源。
HOST: Thank you, Mrs Archer, and thanks again to all of our guests. A former UN official once said, “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth ... these are one and the same fight.” The fortunes of our environment and our economy are inseparable. It’s our duty to protect the environment while we aim for economic development. It’s our duty to leave a better, cleaner and healthier planet to our children. It’s our duty to build a human community with a shared future.
主持人：谢谢您，阿彻女士，再次感谢我们所有的嘉宾。一位联合国前官员曾
经说过：“拯救我们的地球，让人们摆脱贫困，实现经济增长„„这是同一场战斗。”我们的环境与经济的命运休戚与共。在追求经济发展的同时保护环境，这是我们的责任。将一个更美好、更清洁、更健康的星球留给我们的后人，这是我们的责任。构建人类命运共同体，这是我们的责任。
1, harm [hɑːm]n. 伤害；损害vt. 伤害；危害；损害
2, soil [sɔɪl]n. 土地；土壤；国家；粪便；务农；温床vt. 弄脏；污辱
vi. 变脏
3, ecosystem [ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm]n. 生态系统
4, overseas [ˌəʊvəˈsiːz]adv. 在海外，向国外adj. 海外的，国外的
5, region [ˈriːdʒən]n. 地区；范围；部位
6, continent [ˈkɒntɪnənt]n. 大陆，洲，陆地
7, million [ˈmɪljən]n. 百万；无数adj. 百万的；无数的num. 百万
8, length [leŋkθ]n. 长度，长；
9, biodiversity [ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti]n. 生物多样性
10, species [ˈspiːʃiːz]n. 物种，种类
11, nut [nʌt]n. 坚果
12, Brazil nut 巴西胡桃
13, lily [ˈlɪli]n. 百合花，百合；类似百合花的植物；洁白之物adj. 洁白的，纯洁的
14, water lily 睡莲；荷花
15, variety [vəˈraɪəti]n. 多样；种类；杂耍；变化，多样化
16, wildlife [ˈwaɪldlaɪf]n. 野生动植物adj. 野生动植物的
17, beneath [bɪˈniːθ]prep. 在……之下；（对某人来说）不够好，不相称；低于，次于n. 在下方，在底下
18, mass [mæs]n. 块，团；群众，民众；大量，众多；质量adj大规模的，集中的
19, towering [ˈtaʊərɪŋ]adj. 高耸的；卓越的
20, hardwood [ˈhɑːdwʊd]n. 硬木，硬木材
21, living [ˈlɪvɪŋ]adj. 活的；现存的；在使用的；n. 生计；生活方式
22, mammal [ˈmæml]n. [脊椎] 哺乳动物
23, jaguar [ˈdʒæɡjuə(r)]n. [脊椎] 美洲虎
24, survive [səˈvaɪv]vt. 幸存；生还；幸免于；比……活得长vi. 存活；继续存在
25, frog [frɒɡ]n. 青蛙
26, in turn 反过来；转而；轮流，依次
27, insect [ˈɪnsekt]n. 昆虫；
28, microorganism [ˌmaɪkrəʊˈɔːɡənɪzəm]n. [微] 微生物；微小动植物
29, break down [breɪk daʊn]分解；发生故障
30, nutrient [ˈnjuːtriənt]n. 营养物；滋养物adj. 营养的；滋养的
31, breathe life into 带来生机 注入活力
32, carbon [ˈkɑːbən]n. [化学] 碳；碳棒；复写纸adj. 碳的；碳处理的
33, oxygen [ˈɒksɪdʒən]n. [化学] 氧气，[化学] 氧
34, thus [ðʌs]adv. 因此；从而；这样；如此
35, disappear [ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r)]vi. 消失；失踪；不复存在vt. 使…不存在；使…消失
36, due to prep. 由于；应归于
37, agriculture [ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃə(r)]n. 农业；农耕；农业生产；农艺，农学
38, cattle [ˈkætl]n. 牛；牲畜（骂人的话）
39, impact [ˈɪmpækt]n. 影响；效果；碰撞；冲击力
40, extinction [ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn]n. 灭绝；消失；消灭；废止
41, damage [ˈdæmɪdʒ]n. 损害；损毁；赔偿金vi. 损害；损毁vt. 损害，毁坏
42, climate [ˈklaɪmət]n. 气候；风气；思潮；风土
43, build up [ˈbɪld ʌp]增进，加强
44, global [ˈɡləʊbl]adj. 全球的；总体的；球形的
45, greenhouse [ˈɡriːnhaʊs]n. 温室 造成温室效应的
46, gas [ɡæs]n. 气体；[矿业] 瓦斯；汽油；毒气
47, drought [draʊt]n. 干旱；缺乏
48, come up with 提出；想出；赶上
49, call for v. 要求；需要；提倡；邀请；为……叫喊；前往接某人
50, application [ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃn]n. 应用；申请；应用程序；敷用；（对事物、学习等）投入
51, brochure [ˈbrəʊʃə(r)]n. 手册，小册子
52, organization [ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃn]n. 组织；机构；体制；团体
53, absolutely [ˈæbsəluːtli]adv. 绝对地；完全地
54, belt [belt]n. 带；腰带；地带
55, medal [ˈmedl]n. 勋章，奖章；纪念章
56, image [ˈɪmɪdʒ]n. 影像；想象；肖像；偶像
57, shark [ʃɑːk]n. 鲨鱼；骗子
58, spring to mind 想到
59, whale [weɪl]n. 鲸；巨大的东西
60, deer [dɪə(r)]n. 鹿
61, track [træk]n. 轨道；足迹，踪迹；小道vt. 追踪；通过；循路而行vi. 追踪；走；留下足迹
62, habitat [ˈhæbɪtæt]n. [生态] 栖息地，产地
63, nowhere [ˈnəʊweə(r)]adv. 无处；任何地方都不；毫无结果n. 无处；任何地方；无名之地
64, dolphin [ˈdɒlfɪn]n. 海豚
65, resident [ˈrezɪdənt]n. 居民；（旅店）房客；住院医生，
66, chief [tʃiːf]n. 首领；酋长；主要部分adj. 首席的；主要的；主任的adv. 主要地；首要地
67, committee [kəˈmɪti]n. 委员会
68, entirely [ɪnˈtaɪəli]adv. 完全地，彻底地
69, smog [smɒɡ]n. 烟雾
70, get rid of 摆脱，除去
71, protest [ˈprəʊtest; prəˈtest]n. 抗议，反对；v. 抗议，反对；坚决表示，断言；拒付
72, profit [ˈprɒfɪt]n. 利润；利益vi. 获利；有益vt. 有益于
73, defence [dɪˈfens]n. 防御；防卫；答辩；防卫设备
74, various [ˈveəriəs]adj. 各种各样的；多方面的
75, process [prəˈses; (for n.) ˈprəʊses]n. （为达到某一目标的）过程
76, economic [ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk; ˌekəˈnɒmɪk]adj. 经济的，经济上的；经济学的
77, policy [ˈpɒləsi]n. 政策，方针；保险单
78, branch [brɑːntʃ]n. 分支；分公司；分部；树枝；支流；岔路；（血管）分枝
79, strategy [ˈstrætədʒi]n. 战略，策略
80, recycle [ˌriːˈsaɪkl]v. 回收利用；使再循环；重新使用n. 回收利用，循环使用
81, subway [ˈsʌbweɪ]n. 地铁；地道
82, former [ˈfɔːmə(r)]adj. 从前的，前者的；前任的
83, official [əˈfɪʃl]adj. 官方的；正式的；公务的n. 官员；公务员；高级职员
84, poverty [ˈpɒvəti]n. 贫困；困难；缺少；低劣
85, poison [ˈpɔɪzn]n. 毒药；极有害的思想
86, chemical [ˈkemɪkl]n. 化学制品，化学药品adj. 化学的
87, consequence [ˈkɒnsɪkwəns]n. 结果；重要性；推论
88, give rise to [ɡɪv raɪz tu]使发生，引起
89, further [ˈfɜːðə(r)]adv. 更远地；远非（如此）；进一步地；而且；处于更高阶段adj. 更多的，附加的；更远的；进一步的，深一层的v. 促进，增进，助长
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