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1、实用标准文案Unit 1 EnvironmentUnit 1 EnvironmentEarthEarths Health in Sharp Decline, Massive Study Findss Health in Sharp Decline, Massive Study Finds大规模研究发现：地球的“健康”每况愈下大规模研究发现：地球的“健康”每况愈下The report card has arrived from the largest ever scientific Earth analysis,and many of the planets ecosystems are sim

2、ply not making the grademaking the grade.有史以来对地球进行的最大规模的科学分析结果表明， 地球上的许多生态系统都达不到达不到标准标准。The UN-backedMillennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Reportfound thatnearly two-thirds of Earth s life-supporting ecosystems, including clean water,pure air, and stable climate, are being degraded by unsustaina

3、bleunsustainable use.由联合国主持的千年生态系统评估综合报告指出，由于不可持续的使用，地球上将近三分之二的用来维持生命的生态系统 （包括干净的水源、纯净的空气以及稳定的气候） 正遭受破坏。Human has caused much of thisthis damage during the past half century. Soaring demandfor food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuelhave led tohave led to dramatic environmentalchanges, from defores

4、tation to chemical pollution, the report says. The already grimgrimsituation may worsen dramatically during the first half of the 21st century, thereports authors warn.以上大部分的破坏都是人类在过去的半个世纪里造成的。 据报告分析， 随着人类对食物、淡水、木材、纤维以及燃料等资源的需求日趋激增，环境发生了极大的变化，引发了诸如滥伐森林、化学污染等问题。因此，该报告的作者警告说，照此下去，本已岌岌可危的生态环境将会在 21 世纪的

5、上半叶进一步恶化。Over 1,300 governmental and private-sector contributors from 95 countriescollaborated to create the landmarklandmark study. For four years they examinedexamined the plants many habitatshabitats and speciesspecies and the systemssystems that bind them together. The UnitedUnitedNationsNations

6、 EnvironmentEnvironment ProgrammeProgramme compiledcompiled the report and released the resultsyesterday in Beijing, China.这项历史性的研究由来自世界 95 个国家的政府部门以及民间组织的1,300 多位科学家共同完成。四年来，他们考察了地球上许多生物的生长环境、 物种以及将他们联系起来的生态体系。联合国环境规划署对该报告进行了编辑整理并于昨天在中国北京公布了研究结果。“Only by understanding the environment and how it wor

7、ks, can we make thenecessary decisions to protect it,”UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in a pressstatement accompanying the reports release.“Only by valuing all our preciousnatural and human resources, can we hope to build a sustainable future.”在公布该报告的新闻发布会上，联合国秘书长科菲安南指出： “只有了解环境及其运作过程，我们才能制定出必要

8、的措施加以保护它。 ”他还说， “只有珍惜所有宝贵的自然资源和人类资源，我们才有希望去建设一个可持续发展的未来。 ”Socioeconomic ImpactSocioeconomic Impact对社会经济的影响对社会经济的影响The report paints a rather bleak picture for biodiversity throughout much ofthe natural world. Perhaps 10 to 30 percent of earths mammalmammal bird and amphibianamphibianspecies are faci

9、ng extinction.该报告对自然界的大部分生物多样性持悲观态度， 地球上可能有 10%30%的哺乳动物，文档大全实用标准文案鸟类以及两栖动物濒临灭绝。The massive ecological surveyecological survey was begun in response to Annans MillenniumDevelopment Goals, a UN initiative that aims to dramatically reduce socioeconomicproblems, such as hunger and extreme poverty, by 20

10、15.这次大规模生态调查是根据安南的 千年发展目标展开的，该发展目标是由联合国发起的，旨在 2015 年之前大幅减少饥饿与极度贫困等社会经济问题。“The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment give us, in some ways for the first time,an insight into the economic importanceeconomic importance of ecosystem services and some new and some new andadditional argumentsadditional argument

11、s for respecting and conserving the Earths life-supportingsystems.”said Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the Nairobi-based UN EnvironmentProgramme.总部位于内罗毕的联合国环境规划署执行主席克劳斯托普弗说： “从某些方面来说，千年生态系统评估综合报告 让我们首次认识到生态系统服务功能的经济价值， 并使我们对尊重和保护地球生命维护系统有了新的见解。 ”Current human usageusage patterns of Earth s env

12、ironment have increased the globalfood supply, albeitalbeit too slowly to accomplish the UN goal of halving word hunger by2015.目前由于人类社会对地球环境的开发利用， 食物供应不断增加， 然而增长的速度仍然太慢，难以完成联合国制定的在2015 年之前消除全球一半饥饿人口的目标。The negative effects of ecosystem strainecosystem strain also include collapsing fisheries,coastal

13、“dead zones” near sediment-heavy river mouthssediment-heavy river mouths, shifting water qualityshifting water quality,and unpredictable regional climateunpredictable regional climate, the report says.报告还说， 过度使用生态系统的负面影响还包括渔业的衰退， 含有大量沉积物的河口周围近海“死亡区”的出现，水质的变化以及不可预测的区域性气候等。DeforestationDeforestation a

14、nd other radical ecosystem alterationsother radical ecosystem alterations also promotepromote disease,such as malaria and cholera, as well as new strains of existing contagionsnew strains of existing contagions.此外，森林的滥伐和其他生态系统的巨大改变也加剧了诸如疟疾、霍乱等疾病的传播，并使已有传染病分化出新的类别。Changes to waterwater systemssystems

15、 may increase thethe frequencyfrequency andand severityseverity of destructivedestructivefloods.floods. Over a hundred thousand people were killed in the 1990s by floods, whichalso caused destruction to the tune of 243 billion dollars (U.S.), accordingaccording toto thethereport.report.根据该报告，水资源体系的变

16、化会增加毁灭性洪灾的爆发频率和程度。在 20 世纪 90年代，洪灾造成的死亡人数超过10 万，损失约 2,430 亿美元。The regions facing the greatest environmental degradation are also among theworlds poorest: sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and parts of Latin America, andSouth and Southeast Asia.目前， 世界上环境破坏最严重的地区恰是全球最贫穷的地区： 撒哈拉沙漠以南之中部非洲地区，亚洲中部，拉丁美洲的部分地

17、区，以及亚洲的南部及东南部。Call for Radical ChangeCall for Radical Change呼吁彻底改变现状呼吁彻底改变现状The report urges drasticdrastic policypolicy changeschanges toto thethe waysways in which natural resourcesare used.千年生态系统评估综合报告 呼吁在自然资源利用方面对目前的政策对目前的政策进行大幅度的改文档大全实用标准文案变。From an economic perspective, the study suggests that

18、 manyintactintact ecosystemsshould be regarded asbe regarded as more valuable than those altered for comical use.该研究认为，从经济角度看，与那些被用于商业开发的生态系统相比， 很多完整生态系统的价值更高。For example, citingciting wetlandwetland wildlifewildlife habitathabitat, waterwater pollutionpollution filtrationfiltration, waterwaterstora

19、gestorage and recreational valuerecreational value, the report appraised intact Thai mangroves at athousand U.S. dollars per acre (0.4 hectare). The same mangroves were valued at onlyU.S. $200 an acre after they had been cleared for fish and shellfish farming fish and shellfish farming.例如，该报告通过对湿地野生

20、动植物的生境、 水污染过滤情况、水资源储存能力以及娱乐价值等方面的分析，估算出保护完整的泰国红树每英亩（0.4 公顷）价值为 1,000 美元，而同样的红树，由于渔业及贝类养殖业的开发而遭到了破坏，其价值仅为每英亩200 美元。“The overridingoverriding conclusion of this assessment is that it lies withinwithin thethe powerpowerofof human societies to ease the strain we are putting on the nature services of the

21、planet, whilewhile continuing to use them to bring better living standards bring better living standards to all,”the reports 45-person board 45-person board of directors said in a statementin a statement.由 45 位成员组成的研究委员会在一份声明中指出，“这个评估报告最重要的结论是， 如何在利用地球生态系统提升人类生活水平的同时， 缓解我们对其所施加的压力， 这完全取决于我们人类社会。 ”“A

22、chieving this however will require radical changes radical changes in the way nature istreated at every level of decision-makingat every level of decision-making and new ways of cooperation betweennew ways of cooperation betweengovernment, business and civil societygovernment, business and civil soc

23、iety ,” the statement continued. “The warningsigns are there for all of us to see. The future now lies in our hands.”该声明还指出： “但是，要达到上述目的，需要彻底改变人们对待自然的方式，小到各级决策的制定，大到政府、商业和文明社会之间新的合作。警钟已经敲响， 未来掌握在我们自己手里。 ”The board of theMillenniumEcosystemAssessmentSynthesisReportwaswas co-chairedco-chairedby Robert

24、 Watson, chief scientist of the World Bank, and A. Hamid Zakri, directorof the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies.担任千年生态系统评估综合报告 委员会主席的是世界银行的首席科学家罗伯特 沃森和联合国大学高等研究所主任A.海米德扎卡雷。Unit 2 Energy SourcesUnit 2 Energy SourcesThe Future of Alternative EnergyThe Future of Alternative Energ

25、y替代能源的前景替代能源的前景Residential energyResidential energy use in the United States will increase 25 percent by theyear 2025, according to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) forecastsaccording to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) forecasts . A small butincreasing share of that extra power willtrickletrickle in

26、from renewable sourcesrenewable sources likewind, sunlight, water and heat in the ground.据美国能源部预测，至 2025 年美国的家用耗电将增加百分之二十五，增加的电量中将有一小部分来源于再生能源（如风、阳光、水、地热） ，而且这部分还会不断增大。文档大全实用标准文案Last year alternative energy sources provided 6 percent of the nations energysupply, according to the DOE.据美国能源部统计，去年替代能源占

27、整个国家能源供给的百分之六。“The future belongs to renewable energyrenewable energy,” said Brad Collins, the executivedirector of the American Solar Energy Society, a Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofitorganization. “Scientist and industry experts may disagree over howhow longlong thethe worldworlds supply of oils

28、supply of oil and natural gasnatural gas will last, but it will end,” Collin said.美国太阳能协会 （该协会是一个位于科罗拉多州博德市的非盈利性组织） 的主管布拉德 柯林斯说： “未来属于可再生能源。尽管就世界石油和天然气可以持续多久，科学家和工业专家可能有不同观点可能有不同观点，但是油气资源终将耗尽。 ”While renewable energy is generally more expensive than conventionally producedsupplies, alternative power

29、 helps to reduce pollution and to conserve fossil fuels.尽管可再生能源通常比传统能源更昂贵，但是替代能源有助于减少污染、保护矿物燃料。“People sometimes get caught up in cost-effectivenesscost-effectiveness,” said Paul Torcellini,a senior engineer at the DOEs National Renewable Energy Laboratory(NREL)in Golden,Colorado. “But it can be a q

30、uestion of valuesa question of values and what we spend our money on.”美国能源部国家再生能源实验室（位于科罗拉多州戈尔登市）的一位高级工程师保罗陶塞列尼说： “有时人们考虑的只是节省成本的问题，但是这可能是一个价值观念的问题，一个我们把钱用于何处的问题。 ”Below, a look at some recent developments in recent developments in renewable-energy technologyrenewable-energy technology:接下来我们一起了解关于可再

31、生能源技术的新发展Solar PowerSolar Power太阳能太阳能Photovoltaic, or solar-electric, systems capturecapture light energy from the suns rays and convertconvert it into electricity. Today thesesolar unitssolar units powerpower everythingfrom small homessmall homes to large office buildingslarge office buildings.光电系统

32、获取太阳光线的光能并将其转化成电。 现在这些太阳能设备可以为各种建筑供电，小到家庭大到办公楼。TechnologicalTechnologicalimprovementsimprovementshavemadesolar-electricmodulesmorecost-effectivecost-effective. In the 1980s the average price of energy captured with photovoltaicwas 95 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. Today that price hashas droppeddropp

33、ed toto around 20 centsper kilowatt-hour, according to Collins, of the American Solar Energy Society.技术进步使得光电设备更加划算。20 世纪 80 年代，光电系统供电的平均价格为每千瓦时 95 美分；而根据美国太阳能协会的统计， 如今这一价格已降至每千瓦时20 美分左右。The cheaper rate is stillstill more expensive than the average national price ofthe average national price ofelec

34、tricityelectricity, which in 2003 was a little over 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, accordingaccordingtoto the U.S. Department of EnergysAnnual Energy Review.即使略微便宜的光电价格仍然高于全国电价的平均价格， 据美国能源部发行的 能源周刊统计，2003 年每千瓦时的电价均价略高于8 美分。Other recent advances include“thin film” photovoltaic photovoltaic technologytech

35、nology, a high-techcoating that convertsconverts any surface covered with the film intointo a solar-electric powersource. Boats and RVs that use the film are now on the market on the market.其他最新的发展包括薄膜光电技术， 这种高科技的涂层能够将任何覆盖此类薄膜的表面文档大全实用标准文案转化成一种光电电源。使用这种薄膜技术的轮船和娱乐用车目前已上市销售。Engineershavealsodevelopedd

36、evelopedaroofingmaterialcoatedcoatedwithwithelectricity-producing film. “The guy who puts on the roof (on a house now) putson the solar panels at the same time, ” Torcellini said. The roofing materialwithstandswithstands inclement weatherinclement weather and, on bright days,tapstaps sunshine for el

37、ectricity.工程师们也研究出一种涂有发电薄膜的屋顶材料。 人们在搭建屋顶时， 同时就可以放上这种太阳能嵌板，陶塞列尼说道。这种屋顶材料能耐极端天气， 而且在阳光明媚的时候可以利用太阳光发电。NREL researchers, meanwhile, are working to devisedevise more efficient and cheapersolar-electric systems. Most traditional photovoltaic solar unitstraditional photovoltaic solar units on the markettod

38、ay convertconvert between 11 and13 percent of the sun s light into into energy. Engineersthink they can improve on that.与此同时， 美国可再生能源实验室的研究人员正在研发更为高效、 价格更低的光电系统。目前市场上大多数传统光电设备可以将百分之十一至百分之十三的太阳光转化成能量， 工程师们认为这一比例还可以再提高。Jeff Mazer, a Washington, D.C.-area photovoltaic engineer, notes thatmostmostthin-f

39、ilmthin-film photovoltaicphotovoltaic systemssystems today have a 7 to 11 percent efficiencyefficiency ratingrating. Buthe estimates that thinfilms could surpassthat ratingrating within three years. Healsonotes that some new traditional solar modulesnew traditional solar modules achieve 15 percent e

40、fficiency andbelieves that figure figure can climb to 17 percent in the near future in the near future.华盛顿地区的一位光电工程师杰夫梅泽说现在的多数薄膜光电系统的效能等级只有百分之七至百分之十一。然而，据他估计， 薄膜光电系统在三年内可以超过这一等级。他还说一些新式传统太阳能设备可以实现百分之十五的效能， 但他相信这一数字可以在不久的将来攀升到百分之十七。In the last two decades solar-thermalsolar-thermal panelspanels (unit

41、s used to warm household hotwater, pools and spas) have become highlyhighly efficientefficient. “Energy costs havehave decreaseddecreasedfrom 60 cents to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour since the 1980s,” Collins said.近 20 年中，光热板（用于为家庭热水、水池、泉水升温的设备）的效能大大提高。柯林斯说： “自 20 世纪 80 年代起，能源成本从每千瓦时60 美分降至 8 美分。 ”Sola

42、r-poweredSolar-powered waterwater heatersheaters are typically more expensive than conventional ones,but, as with other products that harness alternative energy harness alternative energy , consumers benefit byknowing their energyenergy costscosts up-frontup-front Torcellini said. “Otherwise, youre

43、hedginghedgingyour betsyour bets about the future cost of traditional energy sources by using standardstandardappliancesappliances,” he said.太阳能热水器通常比常规热水器更昂贵， 但是像利用替代能源的其他产品一样， 消费者可以预先知道其成本从而获益。陶塞利尼说： “否则，将难以抉择： 是仍然使用普通热水器，还是致力于降低未来传统能源的成本。 ”Wind PowerWind Power风能风能CompareCompare toto other renewab

44、le energy sources, wind power competes with conventionalenergy at a price less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour, according toaccording to Collinis.据柯林斯的说法，与其他可再生能源相比， 风能更具有竞争力， 其每千瓦时的价格比传统能源低 4 美分。Wind energyenergy projectsprojects around the world now generategenerate enough energy to powerpower nine

45、文档大全实用标准文案million typical U.S. homes, according to the American Wind Energy Association, aWashington, D.C.-based trade grouptrade group.美国风能协会 （一个总部位于华盛顿的贸易团体） 称目前世界各地的风能项目发电足可以为九百万典型的美国家庭供电。One of the newest trendsOne of the newest trends in wind power is the construction of offshore windoffshore w

46、indfarmsfarms, cluster of electricity-generating turbinesturbines erected in open-water areas withstrong winds.利用风能的最新趋势之一就是建设离岸海上风力发电厂， 在风力较大的空旷水域建造一组组的发电机组。Europe now has 17 wind farmsspinningspinning offshore. The Arklow Bank Offshore WindPark, 8 miles (13 kilometers) off the eastern coast of Ire

47、land, is one suchsuch projectproject.Its seven turbines generate enough electricity to power 16,000 homes. While few homesgenerate their own wind power in the U.S., many power companiespower companies allow consumersto opt foropt for power generated at a wind plant or other renewable source.欧洲现在有 17

48、 个海上风力发电厂在运转。距离爱尔兰东海岸8 英里（13 公里）的阿克罗银行海上风力园就是这样的一个项目， 它的七个涡轮机产生的电力足够为16000 户家庭供电。 尽管目前鲜有美国家庭利用风能自己发电， 但是许多电力公司允许消费者选择风力供电或者其他可再生能源供电。On Tuesday, Colorado voters will consider a a ballotballot initiativeinitiative that wouldrequires power companies to provide 10 percent of their electricity from wind

49、 andother renewable sources by 2015.周二科罗拉多州的选民将考虑举行一次公民投票，要求至2015 年电力公司为他们提供的电力中的有 10%是来自于可替代能源。“If that passes, power companies will offer more rebatesrebates to homeownershomeowners toencourageencourage renewable energy production,”said Sheila Hayter, an NREL seniorengineer.美国可再生能源实验室的一位高级工程师希拉 海特

50、说： “如果该投票表决能够通过，电力公司将能够给房主提供更多折扣，鼓励他们使用可再生能源。 ”Ground HeatGround Heat地热地热Tapping into the ground offersoffers another option to regulateregulate household heatingheatingand coolingand cooling.开发地下能源为调节家庭供暖和降温提供了另一种选择。In most areas of the United States, the ground below the frost linethe frost line m