人教版英语选修第三册 unit 3 Reading and Thinking

CLIMATE CHANGE REQUIRES THE WORLD’S ATTENTION

气候变化需要全世界的共同关注

We have known about climate change for decades.

几十年来，我们一直知晓气候变化这一问题。

There is little doubt that Earth is getting warmer and warmer (see the graph).

毫无疑问，地球正变得越来越暖（见图表）。

A warming ocean and atmosphere along with melting ice and rising sea levels provide evidence of a dramatic change in the global climate.

海洋与大气升温、冰川消融以及海平面上升，都证明全球气候正在发生剧烈变化。

In 2013, a lot of people were shocked by a news photo of a dead polar bear that was found on Norway’s Arctic island of Svalbard.

2013年，一张新闻照片震惊了许多人：人们在挪威斯瓦尔巴北极群岛发现了一头死亡的北极熊。

According to the scientists who found its dead body, all that remained of the polar bear was “skin and bones”.

发现尸体的科学家称，这头北极熊已经瘦得只剩皮包骨头。

An expert who has studied polar bears for many years said that from the position of its dead body, the bear appeared to have starved and died.

一位研究北极熊多年的专家表示，从尸体位置判断，这头北极熊很可能是饿死的。

Experts claimed that low sea-ice levels caused by climate change meant the bear could not hunt seals as before, so it had to travel greater distances in order to find food.

专家指出，气候变化导致海冰面积缩减，北极熊无法像以往一样捕猎海豹，只能长途跋涉寻找食物。

This alarming case showed how the increase in temperature had an impact on Earth’s ecology.

这一令人警醒的事例揭示了气温升高会对地球生态造成怎样的影响。

Then what is causing the increase in the global average surface temperature?

那么，是什么造成全球地表平均气温不断上升？

Climate scientists often mention a key climate process called the “greenhouse effect”, which has two common meanings: the “natural” greenhouse effect and the “man-made” greenhouse effect.

气候科学家常会提到一个关键气候现象——“温室效应”，它通常分为两类：自然温室效应与人为温室效应。

The “natural” greenhouse effect refers to the fact that heat from the sun enters the atmosphere and warms Earth’s surface as short-wave radiation.

“自然”温室效应指太阳热量以短波辐射的形式穿过大气，使地球表面升温。

The heat is released back into space at longer wave lengths.

热量随后以更长的波长向太空散发。

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as methane and carbon dioxide, trap some of the heat, keeping Earth’s climate warm and habitable.

大气中的甲烷、二氧化碳等温室气体会截留一部分热量，维持地球温暖宜居的环境。

Without this process, Earth could not sustain life.

倘若没有这一过程，地球将无法孕育生命。

However, the “man-made” greenhouse effect has now become a big problem.

但如今，“人为”温室效应演变成了一大难题。

When people produce huge amounts of extra greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, more heat energy is trapped in the atmosphere and causes Earth’s surface temperature to rise quickly.

人类燃烧化石燃料，排放出大量额外温室气体，使得更多热能滞留在大气中，造成地表温度快速上升。

There is strong and comprehensive evidence that the rise in temperature has led to an increase in extreme weather and natural disasters worldwide, not only causing serious damage, but also costing human lives.

大量充分且全面的证据表明，气温上升致使全球极端天气与自然灾害频发，既带来严重破坏，也夺走无数生命。

Climate scientists have warned that if we do not take appropriate actions, this warming trend will probably continue and there will be a higher price to pay.

气候科学家警示：倘若我们不采取恰当行动，变暖趋势或将持续，人类将要付出更为沉重的代价。

In fact, news reports are frequently broadcast about extreme rainstorms and heatwaves causing deaths and economic losses.

事实上，新闻里时常报道，特大暴雨、热浪灾害造成人员伤亡与经济损失。

Continued greenhouse gas emissions will result in further warming and long-lasting changes to the global climate.

持续排放温室气体，会加剧气候变暖，并给全球气候带来长期性改变。

This requires the attention of people all over the world.

这需要全世界所有人共同关注。

Governments need to consider making policies and taking appropriate actions and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

各国政府应当考虑出台相关政策，采取合理举措削减温室气体排放。

We as individuals can also reduce our “carbon footprint” by restricting the amount of carbon dioxide our lifestyles produce.

作为普通人，我们也可以约束日常生活产生的二氧化碳，减少自身的“碳足迹”。

It is our responsibility to seize every opportunity to educate everyone about global warming, along with its causes and impacts, because this is the most serious issue affecting all of us on this planet.

我们有责任抓住一切机会，向所有人普及全球变暖及其成因与影响，因为这是关乎地球上每一个人的重大难题。

So what will you do to help?

那么，你会做出哪些行动贡献一份力量？

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