高级时事英语2

1、Environment Our EnvironmentAt the end of this unit, you should be able to:Interpret meaning from contextRequest/explain reasonsExpress fears/worriesCriticize/respond to criticismSuggest solutionsWarm upWhat do you think about the following statement about the environmental challenge we are facing no

2、w?We should be good guests on earth, neither too demanding nor disturbing its delicate balance. We should allow it to renew itself for those who are to follow.What does environment mean to youAll the circumstances, people, things, and events around them that influence their lifeThe particular surrou

3、ndings in which they live or exist, especially a region that has particular land, sea, or weather conditions.The natural world of land, sea, air, plants and animals that exists around towns and cities.Activity 1 Land, Sea, and AirTask 1 ClassifyingMarine: Of or relating to the seaInstitutional adj.制

4、度上的Societal Of or relating to the structure, organization, or functioning of society.Climatic adj.气候上的Ozone depletionActivity 1 Land, Sea, and AirMalaria n.疟疾, 瘴气Agro-industrial residue残余渣Pesticide n.杀虫剂Task 2 Interpreting TitlesFume 1 To emit fumes. 2 To feel or show resentment or vexation. (pun)Ac

5、tivity 1 Land, Sea, and AirSquirrel n.松鼠Beechwood n.山毛榉Clutter To run or move with bustle and confusion.Vessel船；Prowl .巡游Diminishing diminishing逐渐缩小的Catch Something caught: 捕获物：Activity 1 Land, Sea, and AirTask 3 Selecting TitlesExtract 1Snub-nosed鼻子扁平的, 塌鼻的Peril n.危险Seminar n.研究会, 讨论发表会Hectare n.公顷

6、（等于1万平方米）Primeval forest adj.原始的Activity 1 Land, Sea, and AirExtract 2Sustained持续的;Intensify To make intense or more intense:增强或加强：Extract 3Dominate To overlook from a height:俯视Dwarf To cause to appear small by comparison: 使显矮小通过比较使显得矮小：Activity 1 Land, Sea, and AirRugby 拉格比市Cement 水泥Stack A group o

7、f chimneys arranged together. 一排烟囱排列在一起的一群烟囱Emission air pollution emission 空气污染排放(物)Dispute To argue about; debate.就进行争论；辩论Activity 1 Land, Sea, and AirInhale To draw (air or smoke, for example) into the lungs by breathing; inspire. 吸入通过呼吸吸进（如空气或烟） 肺内；吸气Coke焦（炭）Extract 4Muggy Warm and extremely hum

8、id. 湿热的温暖且十分潮湿的Activity 1 Land, Sea, and AirSwelter To suffer from oppressive heat.热得难受，中暑Nudge 接近put on the alert (军队)处于戒备状态Home-brewed 自家酿造的Extract 5Luftwaffe n.(纳粹时代的)德国空军Activity 2 WasteIn recent years, with the development of our economy more and more environmental problems have arisen. Many of

9、 us have noticed that pollution of various kinds is a serious problem in our society.Task 1 your experience of pollution problems around you Air, water, soil and noise pollutionActivity 2 WasteTask 2 listening practiceWords from the tapescriptsRubbish dumpAdore To like very much:Stallholder n. 1.摊贩R

10、eturnable adj.可退回的ReservoirlitterActivity 2 WastePolythene 化聚乙烯PurchasePolystyrene n.聚苯乙烯Synthetic adj.合成的, 人造的, Biodegradable adj.生物所能分解的Decompose v.分解, (使)腐烂Activity 3 Ecological DisasterTask 1 Distinguishing Types of TextNATION FACING ECOLOGICAL DISASTERPre-reading activityWhat kinds of ecologica

11、l problems do you think China is facing now?Words and phrasesProportionate成比例的Symposium n.讨论会, 座谈会Waterway 航道可航行之水体，如河流、海峡或运河 potable Fit to drink.Stench A strong, foul odor; a stink.Excrement Waste materialSewerage n.排水设备, 污水Ration 定量配给Chinas ecological problems are proportionate with the countrys

12、giant size.(the ecological problems are very serious in China.)Tropical rainforestA tropical rainforest consists mainly of tall broad-leaved, evergreen trees. Its a warm, wet place with no seasons-just a constant climate of high temperatures and heavy rain. These conditions produce humidity which en

13、courages such a rich variety of plants and wildlife that its the most diverse habitat in the world.Clearing the rainforestTropical rainforests are under threat in most parts of the world. Huge areas are cut down for timber, or cleared for hydro-electric dam projects and mining. Once developers have

14、built roads into the forests, settlers move in to clear more areas for farmland.Large clearings are made by burning trees, which releases huge quantities of smoke and carbon dioxide. This upsets the delicateClearing the rainforestBalance of the Earths atmosphere, and leads to global warmingthe so-ca

15、lled greenhouse effect. The forest can re-establish itself in small clearings but large ones are never reclaimed. When whole areas have been cut down, the land becomes arid, like a desert.Greenhouse EffectFactories, farms, cars and many other things pump gases into the air. Some of these trap so muc

16、h of the Suns heat that the Earth is warming up like a giant greenhouse. It is caused by certain gases in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide, which act like the glass in a greenhouse. Like glass, these gases let through visible light from the Suns radiation to warm the Greenhouse EffectThe

17、ground. But, also like glass, they trap invisible infra-red radiation (heat) from the Earth that would otherwise escape back into space. Without this effect, Earth would be 30 centigrade coder on average, and life would be impossible.Greenhouse EffectNatural systems have kept levels of carbon dioxid

18、e so steady that the Earths temperature has nearly always been just right. But since the Industrial Revolution began some 200 years ago, levels have been rising. Over 80% of the extra carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuelsoil, gas and coal- in factories, power stations, Greenhouse EffectTransportation and homes. The rest comes from destroying forests. Trees use up the gas when alive, but release it when they are felled and burned. Disappearing rainforestsAs area of rainforest about the size of Ireland may be lost each year. Many trees are cut and set alight(slash and burn) to