英语四级读美文【14】

1、Unit 14 Environmental Protection环境保护Text 1 Taking Care of the EarthWhat kind of world will our children have to live in? Will they have air to breathe and food to eat? These are among the basic questions that were addressed at the first world meeting on the environment, attended by more than 100 wor

2、ld leaders and 30,000 other scientists, reporters, and concerned citizens.These complex problems can no longer be solved by individual countries；nations of the world must act together if we are to develop answers that will give a safe and healthy world to our children. Will world leaders have the vi

3、sion to make the necessary changes in the laws that protect the environment? The answer is not certain, but there is hope. A number of important problems were examined in the summit conference, all related to quality of life on the planet. As more and more countries become industrialized, air pollut

4、ion from factories and automobiles worsens, causing an increase in disease and medical costs. Many leaders areconcernedabout birth rates because the populations of their countries are growing faster than their economies.Clear water is, of course, another concern for all countries, but very often riv

5、ers and other water sources are threatened by industrial growth, as factories and other large businesses look for ways to dispose of chemical waste matter. Another area where industry and nature must be balanced is in the use of forests, jungles, grasslands, and deserts；government officials argue th

6、at the land is needed for farming, industry, and housing, while environmentalists say that we need to preserve the wild lands.Environmentalists have “graded” the world on environmental problems. They have provided the “report cards” that appear with the maps. Like the report cards that teachers send

7、 home with school children, these give us a better understanding of how we are doing in taking care of the Earth. A addressed B balanced C complex D dispose E graded F preserve G summit H vision I worsens J threatened 关心地球 我们的后代将必须生活在什么样的世界里呢?他们会有空气呼吸和食物吃吗?这些在第一届世界环境会议上处于要处理的基本问题之列，该会议有100多位世界领导人和其他

8、的30，000名科学家、记者及有关人士参加。这些复杂的问题再也不能够通过个别国家独自来解决了。如果我们想找到办法来为我们的孩子们提供一个安全而健康的世界，那么世界各国必须联合行动。世界各国领导人会有远见而做出必要的法律变更以保护环境吗?回答不一定是肯定的，但希望是有的。在这次最高级会议上详细讨论了许多重要的问题，都与我们在这颗星球上的生活质量有关。随着越来越多的国家实现工业化，由工厂和汽车导致的空气污染更加严重了，这造成疾病和医疗费用的增加。许多领导人关心出生率问题，因为他们国家的人口增长比经济增长更快。当然，对于所有国家来说，水的净化是大家关心的另一个问题，但是因为工厂和其他大型企业都在寻找

9、处理化学废物的方法，河流和其他水源常常受到工业增长的威胁。保持工业和自然平衡的另一个方面是对森林、灌木、草原和沙漠的利用；政府工作人员认为农业、工业和建造住宅都需要土地，而环境保护主义者则说我们需要保护原始土地。环境保护主义者已经按环境问题把世界划分了等级。他们提供了带有“报告卡”的地图。就像老师让小学生带回家里的报告卡一样，这些报告卡能使我们更好地理解我们应如何关心地球。难 句 解 析1. These are among the basic questions that were addressed at the first world meeting on the environment,

10、 attended by more than 100 world leaders and 30,000 other scientists, reporters, and concerned citizens.【分析】复合句。that 引导定语从句，修饰 the basic questions，attended by.citizens 为过去分词作后置定语，修饰 the first world meeting。2. As more and more countries become industrialized, air pollution from factories and automobi

11、les worsens, causing an increase in disease and medical costs.【分析】复合句。As 作连词引导时间状语从句，表示主句和从句的动作同时发生，causing.costs 为现在分词作伴随状语。3. Clear water is, of course, another concern for all countries, but very often rivers and other water sources are threatened by industrial growth, as factories and other larg

12、e businesses look for ways to dispose of chemical waste matter.【分析】并列复合句。由两个表示转折关系的分句构成，中间由but连接，第二个分句中as引导的从句为 very often.growth的原因。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09高频词汇address /59dres/ vt. 向作(正式)讲话；对付，处理；称呼；写姓名地址 n. 地址；演说【联想】把这件衣服 (dress) 送到下面的住址 (address) 【搭配】address sb in Chinese 对某人用汉语说；address the public o

13、n. 就向公众讲话；address her as “Miss Mattie”称呼她为“玛蒂小姐”；deliver an address to a crowd 当众演说【活用例句】The headmaster gave an address to welcome everyone to the school concert. 校长发表讲话，欢迎大家出席学校音乐会。complex* /9k(e7)mpleks/ a. 复杂的；合成的，综合的 n. 合成物【词根】com(一起) plex(折叠)折叠在一起合成的【引申】同义complicated a. 复杂的，难解的compound a. 复合的mi

14、xed a. 混合的synthetic a. 合成的，人造的；虚假的反义easy a. 简单的simple a. 简单的，简易的【完形例句】It is an immensely complex process that we take for granted. 我们想当然地以为那是个非常复杂的过程。06.12vision* /9vIZn/ n. 眼力，看法；幻想；视觉【词根】vis(看) ion(名词后缀)视力【搭配】beyond ones vision 在视野之外，看不见的；have vision of 想象到，幻想【活用例句】It is very important that we hav

15、e leaders with vision. 我们的领导有远见，这一点很重要。近形version* /9v(ae):SFn/ n. 版本，译本；说法【词根】vers(turn 转) ion (名词后缀)转换成别国语言译本【引申】同义edition n. 版，版本translation n. 译文，译本【阅读例句】English or American English because there are variations between the two versions. 如果你提交英文的简历，需要知道收件人使用的是英式英语还是美式英语，因为两者之间有很大的差别。06.6 同义edition

16、 /I9dISFn/ n. 版，版本【词根】来自 edit(编辑) ion 编辑出来的材料版本【搭配】the first edition of the book 此书的第一版【引申】同根edit vt. 编辑；主编editor n. 编辑，编者editorial a. 编辑的；社论的【听力例句】Excuse me. Id like to place an advertisement for a used car in the Sunday edition of your paper.打扰一下，我想在你们报纸的星期日版上登一则卖旧汽车的广告。 02.6 summit /9s(f6)mIt/ n.

17、 最高级会议；(山等的)最高点，峰顶；极点【联想】sum(总) mit(看作 met 碰面)很多老总碰面峰会【搭配】reach the summit 到达顶峰【活用例句】The time he was a member of the government was the summit of his lifes work. 在政府为官时是他事业的顶峰。同 义 巧 辨 summit, peak都含“最高点”或“顶端”的意思。summit 指“顶点”、“最高处”、“成就的顶峰”，如：talks at the summit 最高级会谈；peak 指“山中的最高峰”、“山顶”，还可指“程度、数量、物体等

18、的尖端”，如：the peak output 最高产量。!图12worsen /9w(ae):sn/ v. 使变坏，恶化【引申】同根worse a. & ad. bad 的比较级 较差的，更坏的同缀共享 -en 动词后缀 broaden v. 拓宽，使宽widen v. 加宽，扩展lighten v. 使轻，减轻【活用例句】Heavy storms worsened the fuel shortage.暴风雨使燃料的缺乏状况更加恶化。threaten* /9Tretn/ vt. 威胁，恐吓 vi. 构成威胁；可能发生【词根】来自 threat(威胁) en(动词后缀)威胁【搭配】thr

19、eaten to do sth 以做某事相威胁；threaten sb with sth 以做某事威胁某人【引申】同根threat n. 恐吓，威胁，凶兆threatening a. 胁迫的，危险的同义intimidate vt. 恐吓，威胁【活用例句】When your love for someone is rejected, in no case should you threaten him / her with death.当爱被拒绝的时候，千万不要以死相威胁。同义frighten* /9fraItn/ vt. 使惊恐，吓唬【词根】来自 fright(恐怖，惊吓) en(使)【搭配】

20、frighten . off 把吓走，吓跑【引申】同义scare n. 惊恐，恐慌 vt. 吓，使害怕 vi. 受惊吓，感到害怕【活用例句】The little girl was so frightened that she just wouldnt loosen her grip on my arm. 小姑娘吓坏了，她紧紧抓住我的胳膊不放。dispose* /dI9sp5Uz/ vt. 排列；使有利于 vi. 丢掉，除掉；解决【词根】dis(分开) pose(放)分开放排列【搭配】dispose of rubbish 清除垃圾；dispose the soldiers for the bat

21、tle 为战斗布置兵力【引申】同义deal with 处理take order with 安排，处理treat with 处理，应付arrange v. 安排，准备，整理manage vi. 处理，设法对付【活用例句】I am still not sure how best to dispose of the shares.我仍不确定怎样才能最好地处理这些股份。派生disposal* /dI9sp5Uzl/ n. 丢掉，清除；排列，布置【短语】at sbs disposal 任某人处理，供某人使用【活用例句】The sanitation department is in charge of g

22、arbage disposal.环境卫生部门负责处理垃圾。balance* /9bl5ns/ v. & n. 平衡【搭配】keep / lose ones balance 保持；失去平衡【活用例句】Cook is working with local people and business leaders to balance economic growth with environmental protection. 库克与当地人民和商业领导合作，共同调节经济发展与环境保护之间的平衡。preserve* /prI9z(ae):v/ vt. 保存，保藏【联想】pre(预先) serve

23、(服务)预先提供服务保护【引申】同义conserve vt. 保存，保藏keep vt. 保持，保存reserve vt. 储备，保存【活用例句】We want the government to preserve some of the very old buildings in our city. 我们希望政府能够保护我们城市里的一些非常古老的建筑物。grade /greId/ vt. 对进行评分；(将)分等级 n. 等级，成绩；(学校的)年级【搭配】receive a failing grade 得到不及格的分数；a student in the second grade 二年级学生【短

24、语】make the grade 达到规定目标，成功【引申】同义group vt. 把分组mark n. (考试等的)分数 vt. 给(试卷等)打分rank vt. 把分等，给评定等级rate vt. 给定级sort vt. 分类【活用例句】These potatoes have been graded according to size and quality. 这些马铃薯按大小和质量分出等级。同义classify / 9klsIfaI/ vt. 分类，分等【词根】class(类别) ify(动词后缀)【搭配】classified advertisements 分类广告【活用例句】Would

25、 you classify her novels as serious literature or as mere entertainment?你认为她的小说属于严肃文学类还是属于通俗读物类?派生classification / 8klsIfI9keSFn/ n. 分类，分级；类别，级别【词根】来自 classif(y)(分类，分等) ication(名词后缀)【搭配】the classification of books in the library图书馆中书籍的分类【引申】同根class n. 种类，门类classic a. 一流的classical a. 古典的，经典的 【活用例句】It

26、 is helpful to begin with a rough and ready classification.首先进行粗略的分类是很有帮助的。下面我们学习文中标黑的常用词#09#09常用词汇breathe* /bri:D/ vi. 呼吸 vt. 呼吸；(低声地)说出；表示充满(感情)，流露【联想】要吃面包 (bread) 还要呼吸 (breathe) 才能生存【搭配】breathe in / out 吸进；出【活用例句】Her performance breathed wit and charm.她的表演灵巧迷人。conference /9k(e7)nfFr5ns/ n. (正式)会议

27、；讨论，商谈【词根】来自 confer(商谈) ence(名词后缀)【搭配】hold a conference 举行大会【活用例句】The teacher was in conference with parents after school.放学后教师和家长进行了商谈。同根confer /k5n9f(ae):(r)/ vi. 商谈，商讨 vt. (on)授予，赋予【词根】con(共同) fer(带，拿)大家都带来观点商谈，商议【提示】注意用法：在表示“将某物授予某人”的意思时，confer的结构是confer sth on sb，不能用双宾语结构。如，The principal confer

28、red a medal on him. 校长授予他一枚奖章。同义 consult /k5n9s(f6)lt/ vt. 请教，找商量；查阅 vi. 交换意见，商议【联想】不顾侮辱(insult)，不耻请教(consult)，以求结果(result)【提示】注意不同词性的用法区别：consult sb请教某人；consult with sb与某人商议。【活用例句】Shell consult Dr. Garcia about entering graduate school.是否进研究生学校她还要咨询Dr. Garcia。05.12disease* /dI9zi:z/ n. 病，疾病；不健全，弊端【

29、词根】dis(不) ease(安心)身心不安疾病【搭配】acute disease 急性病；chronic disease 慢性病【写作例句】Thanks to the rapid development of modern medical knowledge and techniques, many diseases which used to be fatal are now no longer threats to public health.由于现代医学知识与技术的进步，许多曾经致命的疾病现在已经不再是公众健康的威胁了。official* /59fIS5l/ n. 官员；高级职员 a.

30、 官员的，政府的；正式的【搭配】official responsibility 公务；official statement 官方声明【引申】同根officer n. 军官，警官；官员；公务员；高级职员office n. 办公室，办事处【活用例句】As the old empires were broken up and new states were formed, new official tongues began to spring up at an increasing rate. 旧帝国被瓦解，新国家组建起来，新的官方语言以越来越快的速度产生。wild* /waIld/ a. 野生的

31、；荒凉的；愤怒的；野蛮的，未驯化的【搭配】go wild 狂怒，狂热；wild mountains 荒芜的群山【写作例句】Judging by the figures, we know it is not that many wild animals became extinct themselves.从上述数字我们可以了解到，许多野生动物并非是自己灭亡的。反义tame* /teIm/ a. 驯服的，温顺的；沉闷的 vt. 制服；驯服【联想】时间(time)太长容易让人感觉乏味(tame)【搭配】mans attempts to tame the elements人类控制自然力的尝试。【活用例

32、句】Tame elephants are different from wild elephants in many aspects, including their tempers. 在很多方面，包括性情，驯养的大象和野生的大象都不一样。Text 2 Causes of Environmental Crisis We should also know that “greed”has little to do with the environmental crisis. The two main causes are population pressures, especially the p

33、ressures of large metropolitan (大都市的) populations, and the desire a highly commendable one to bring a decent living at the lowest possible cost to the largest possible number of people.The environmental crisis is the result of success success in cutting down the mortality(死亡率) of infants (which has

34、given us the population explosion), success in raising farm output sufficiently to prevent mass famine (which has given us contamination by pesticides and chemical fertilizers), success in getting people out of the tenements (房屋) of the 19th-century city and into the greenery(温室) and privacy of the

35、single-family home in the suburbs (which has given us urban sprawl and traffic jams). The environmental crisis, in other words, is largely the result of doing too much of the right sort of thing.To overcome the problems that success always creates, one must build on it. But where to start? Cleaning

36、up the environment requires determined, sustained effort with clear targets and deadlines. It requires, above all, concentration of effort. Up to now we have tried to do a little bit of everything and tried to do it in the headlines when what we ought to do first is to draw up a list of priorities.A

37、 causes B crisis C deadlines D decent E output F overcome Gpriorities H sustained I contamination 引发环境危机的原因我们应该也知道“贪婪”与环境危机没有关系。两个主要的原因是人口压力，特别是大都市的人口压力和那种愿望一种非常值得赞扬的愿望让最大可能数量的人们以最小可能的花费过上像样的生活。环境危机是成功的结果成功降低了婴儿的死亡率(这给我们带来了人口激增)，成功提高了农场产量，充分地预防了大面积饥荒(但也通过使用杀虫剂和化学肥料给我们带来了污染)，成功地使人们从19世纪多户合租公寓中走出，进入温暖

38、的、独处的郊区私人家庭住宅(这给我们带来了郊区的无计划扩张和交通拥挤)。换句话说，环境危机就是因为这样的事情做得太多了。要克服成功总会带来的一些问题，我们还必须依靠它。但从哪里开始呢?净化环境需要坚决的、持续的努力，有明确目标并规定最终期限。最重要的是我们要集中精力。到目前为止，对每件事情我们都试着做了一点点并试图作为关键行动而做而我们首先应该做的就是草拟一个优先顺序表。难 句 解 析 1. The two main causes are population pressures, especially the pressures of large metropolitan populatio

39、ns, and the desire a highly commendable one to bring a decent living at the lowest possible cost to the largest possible number of people.【分析】简单句。especially.populations 作状语，第一个破折号后边的部分对desire起修饰作用，相当于一个定语从句which is a highly commendable one，第二个破折号后边是对desire 的解释说明，相当于desire 的具体内容。2. The environmental

40、crisis is the result of success success in cutting down the mortality of infants (which has given us the population explosion), success in raising farm output sufficiently to prevent mass famine (which has given us contamination by pesticides and chemical fertilizers), success in getting people out

41、of the tenements of the 19th-century city and into the greenery and privacy of the single-family home in the suburbs (which has given us urban sprawl and traffic jams).【分析】多重复合句。破折号后边的部分是对 the result of success 的解释说明，括号中的三个由 which 引导的句子都是非限制性定语从句，分别修饰其前边的句子。3. To overcome the problems that success a

42、lways creates, one must build on it.【分析】复合句。To overcome the problems 为不定式表目的，that 引导定语从句修饰 problems。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09高频词汇crisis* /9kraIsIs/ n. pl. crises危机，危险期【联想】cri(看作 cry 哭) sis(看作 sos 求救信号)哭喊着发求救信号危机【搭配】at a crisis 在紧急关头；come to a crisis 陷入危机；face a crisis 面临危局；pass a crisis 渡过危机，脱离危险期【引申】同义e

43、mergency n. 紧急情况，突然事件【活用例句】Though a skilled worker, he was fired by the company last week because of the economic crisis.虽然他是一个有经验的工人，但是由于经济危机，他被公司解雇了。cause* / kO:z/ n. 原因；事业，目标 vt. 引起；使遭受【引申】同义reason n. 理由，原因反义consequence n. 结果effect n. 结果outcome n. 结果，成果result n. 结果, 成效【阅读例句】Decades ago, there wer

44、e only a limited number of drugs available, and many of them caused significant side effects in older people, including dizziness and fatigue.几十年以前，可用的药物比较少，而且许多药给老年人带来很强的副作用，如：晕眩、疲劳。07.6decent /9di:snt/ a. 像样的，体面的；宽厚的；正派的【联想】de(离开) cent(分币)离开分币，不计较钱大方的【搭配】a decent salary 一份相当不错的薪水；a decent house 一所

45、像样的房子【写作例句】In addition to genes, intelligence also depends on adequate nutrition, a good education and a decent home environment. 除基因以外，智力还依赖于足够的营养、良好的教育以及相当好的家庭环境。output* /9aUtpUt/ n. 产量；输出，输出功率 vt. 输出(信息、数据等)【词根】来自短语 put out(产生)【搭配】an output device 输出装置；an output of 100 watts 功率100瓦【引申】反义input n.

46、输入，输入物，输入的数据 vt. 把输入计算机【活用例句】Due to low investment, this country ranks last in industrial output.由于投资少，这个国家的工业生产排名最后。contamination /k5n8tmI9neISFn/ n. 污染，弄脏【词根】是contaminate的名词形式【活用例句】The major problem in fabrication is the control of contamination and foreign materials. 制造中的一个主要问题是如何控制沾染和杂质。同根contam

47、inate /k5n9tmIneIt/ vt. 弄脏，污染【联想】统治(dominate) 者的奢侈照明(illuminate)设施污染(contaminate)环境【活用例句】They are contaminating the minds of our young people with these ideas. 他们这些思想是对我们年轻人的精神污染。overcome* /85Uv59k(f6)m/ vt. 战胜，克服；(感情等)压倒，使受不了【词根】来自短语 come over(战胜，支配)【搭配】be overcome with / by . 被压倒，被制服【引申】同义conquer

48、vt. 攻克；克服defeat vt. 击败，战胜drive off击退frustrate vt. 挫败，阻挠反义submit v. (使)服从，(使)顺从【写作例句】As long as you make up your mind to achieve success, there is really no barrier that cannot be overcome. 只要下定决心取得成功，就没有不能克服的困难。同义frustrate /fr(f6)9streIt/ vt. 使沮丧，使灰心；挫败，使受挫折【联想】frust(生锈)rate(把列为)生锈了列为不合格当然使人沮丧了【活用例句

49、】Bad weather has frustrated plans to launch the spacecraft today.今日发射宇宙飞船的计划因天气恶劣而落空。sustain* /s59steIn/ vt. 保持；供养，维持；支撑；遭受【词根】sus(=under) tain(hold 抓住)从下面握住支持，支撑【搭配】sustain the enthusiasm 保持热情；sustain economic growth保持经济的增长【引申】同义retain vt. 保持：retain water 保持水分maintain vt. 保持，维持：maintain good relati

50、ons 维持良好的关系【阅读例句】For all its success, the United States remains deeply hesitant about sustaining the research university model. 尽管美国研究型大学的模式运作较为成功，但其走可持续发展道路却依然顾虑重重。07.12deadline /9dedlaIn/ n. 最后时间，期限时间【构词】dead(死) line(线)死期最后期限【搭配】meet the deadline 在最后期限之前【引申】近形headline n. 书刊 (尤指报纸) 页首的大字标题：the head

51、lines新闻内容提要【阅读例句】Most likely, you will believe that this will take more time than you actually have and you will end up staring blankly at the page as the deadline draws near. 很有可能，你会相信这比你实际用的时间要长，最终期限临近，你就会结束盯着纸茫然。07.6priority* /praI9(e7)r5tI/ n. 优先考虑的事；优先权【词根】来自 prior(优先的，在前的) ity(名词后缀)优先权【搭配】take

52、 priority over . 比优先；give priority to.(= give preference to，其中 to 为介词) 优先考虑；top priority 当务之急；enjoy priority 享有优先权【活用例句】The renowned professor is always fully engaged, he therefore made up his schedule in order of priority. 这位著名教授总是忙得脱不开身，因此他按照所要处理事务的优先程度来安排他的日程表。同根prior /9praI5(r)/ a. 优先的，在前的【词根】pr

53、i(第一)or排在第一的在前的【提示】注意与之搭配的介词是to，如：Prior to his appointment as secretary of state, Kissinger was a professor of government and international affairs at Harvard.基辛格在任国务卿之前，是哈佛大学一名政府及国际事务专业的教授。下面我们学习文中标黑的常用词#09#09常用词汇greed /gri:d/ n. 贪婪，贪心；贪吃【联想】绿色的(green)吸血鬼很贪婪(greedy)【引申】派生greedy a. 贪食的，嘴馋的；贪婪的，贪心的；渴

54、望的【活用例句】His actions were motivated by greed. 他的所作所为是贪婪之心驱使的。bring* /brI(ce)/ vt. (brought, brought)拿来，取来；引起，促使；说服；使发生，使处于某种状态【短语】bring about (a war) 发生，导致，引起(一场战争)；bring down (an enemy fighter, price)击落(一架敌机)，降低(价格)；bring forth (fruit)结出(果实)，引起，产生；bring forward (new proof)提出(新证据)，提前；bring into being

55、 使形成；bring out (sbs interest, the latest novel)激起(某人的兴趣)，使显出，出版(最新小说)；bring (the patient) through 使(病人)脱险，使安全度过；bring to 使恢复知觉；bring . home to 使清楚，使明白 【阅读例句】He points out that bringing it up with the parent first may make them feel neglectful, which could cause problems. 他指出，提出先和父母接触，会使孩子感觉被忽略，这就会产生

56、问题。08.12mass* /ms/ n. 团，众多； pl. 群众；(物体的)质量 a. 大量的；大规模的 v. 聚集【联想】和 less(小的)相反【搭配】be a mass of flowers 花团锦簇；suppress dissatisfaction among the masses 压制群众的不满情绪；mass production 批量生产【引申】同根massive a. 大而重的，大块的；大量的，大规模的【活用例句】Dark clouds massed on the horizon. 天边黑云密布。build* /bIld/ vt. (built， built)建造，修建；建立

57、，创立 vi. 向顶点发展，增长 n. 体型，体格【短语】build into (a wall) 使固定于(墙上)，使成为的一部分；build (ones hope) upon 把(希望)建立于；build up (a library)逐步建立(一个图书馆)；增进，增强；逐渐积聚，集结【活用例句】Direct mail is an effective way to build relationships with consumers.直投是一种与消费者建立直接联系的有效手段。08.6 同义construct* /k5n9str(f6)kt/ v. 建设，建造；对进行构思【词根】con(加强) struc