【英语时差8，16】谨慎兼顾经济与生态

 Investors in Taiwan looking for the next big thing are setting their sights on Hualien, snapping up hotels in the eastern county in the hopes of striking gold after the highly anticipated arrival of mainland Chinese tourists.

Hualien is famed for its clean air, water and native aboriginal¹ culture, but the county's selling point is the magnificent Taroko Gorge². Visitors to Taiwan consistently rate the gorge as one of the most amazing sights in Taiwan.

Most people in Taiwan recognize the value of increasing tourist arrivals, and the idea of mainland visitors has been generally well received.

There are few problems with Taiwan's service sector³ catering⁴ to the thousands of expected mainland tourists. However, if authorities do not adequately consider the environmental ramifications⁵, problems could soon arise from the tourist numbers themselves.

A delicate balancing act will become necessary if significantly more people begin to flood into areas like Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake. As construction on new hotels and resorts begins, environmental concerns could multiply.

Taiwan must walk a tightrope⁶ between economy and ecology. Tourists not only generate revenue, but also play a role as "advertisers" when they return home with stories and pictures of Taiwan. But we should not neglect our prized natural gems⁷ in the name of development.

1 aboriginal   

adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的

参考例句：

• They managed to wipe out the entire aboriginal population.他们终于把那些土著人全部消灭了。
• The lndians are the aboriginal Americans.印第安人是美国的土著人。

2 gorge   

n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃

参考例句：

• East of the gorge leveled out.峡谷东面地势变得平坦起来。
• It made my gorge rise to hear the news.这消息令我作呕。

3 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

4 catering   

n. 给养

参考例句：

• Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
• Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？

5 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 tightrope   

n.绷紧的绳索或钢丝

参考例句：

• The audience held their breath as the acrobat walked along the tightrope.杂技演员走钢丝时，观众都屏住了呼吸。
• The tightrope walker kept her balance by holding up an umbrella.走钢丝的演员举着一把伞，保持身体的均衡。

7 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。