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新视野大学英语听说教程2 01b

时间:2009-03-20 01:01来源:互联网 提供网友:罗雯   字体: [ ]
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Environmental Protection Throughout the World

Introduction

In most parts of the world,environmental awareness1 does not exit.The great majority of nations concern themselves with economic development,regardless of its effect on the global ecology.But in recent years,as environmental damage has increased,signs of change have sprung up in various pockets around the world.The following are a few examples of countries undertaking2 new environmental initiatives.

Canada

When European explorers first came to the New World,the fishing grounds off what would become eastern Canada and New England held abundant cod3 and other species.The area,called the Grand Banks,was the most abundant fishing ground in the world.

Now,500 years later,excessive fishing has reduced the number of fish to dangerously low levels.In response,Canada has closed the area to cod fishing and set strict limits on catches of other species.

When Canada took similar measures to protect the supply of herring in the 1970s,

the fish eventually recovered.But experts say that some species today have been so

wasted,they may never recover.The government also faces protests from Canadian fishermen.About 40,000 are now unemployed4 as a result of the fishing bans and loss of their fish supply.

Costa Rica

This Central American country has one of the most ambitious programs in the world to preserve the ecological5 diversity of its tropical rain forests.Much of the country has already been clear-cut,and soil erosion has been extensive.But a series of new environmental laws,together with the creation of parks and nature preserves that cover one quarter of the country,are aimed at protecting Costa Rica's remaining forests.

Brazil

Brazil is the home of the world's largest jungle rain forest,the Amazon.For decades,the government sought to colonize6 and develop the Amazon,bringing severe environmental disaster to the area and its people.

But in 1991,under pressure from environmentalists around the world,Brazil reversed course.It ended tax favors that had encouraged clearing of the Amzon rain forest,and agreed to a plan to finance new forest protection projects.

Cattle farmers,miners,and settlers have protested the move and continue to destroy the forests,although at a slower pace than before.The conflict enlarged last year when miners killed a group of Amzon Indians in order to seize their land.The government promises it will protect the region's native people,but questions remain as to its true level of commitment.

Eastern Europe

The nations of Eastern Europe,including Poland,Hungary,and the Czech and Slovak Republics,are considered the most polluted of all the world's industrialized countries.Heavy metals from coal mining have contaminated much of the area's waters.Rivers,land,and forests are so contaminated that many are now biologically dead.

In a special series of treaties,Eastern Europe countries and other nations, including the United States,have set up special funds for environmental cleanups and improving the region's power plants.In addtion,Germany and the Czech Republic have signed a treaty to protect the Elbe River from further contamination.Experts say the treaty could serve as a model for protecting other rivers in the region,including the Oder and Danube.

Ghana

Ghana's population has been growing by 3.2 percent a year.This explosive growth has led to removal of forests in much of the country,and excessive use of existing farmland.Forests have been cut down at the rate of 278 square miles a year.

In response,the government has urged local villages to create more shared farmland. It has sponsored the growing of cash crops such as cassava,maize, cotton, and the planting of trees to regenerate7 waste land.Observers say the program has succeeded in strengthening the country's agricultural base and bringing a new source of wealth to villagers.But it remains8 to be seen whether these measures will have enough impact to slow the rate of removing the forests.

Indonesia

Indonesians have traditionally favored large families,and their major religion, Islam,frowns on birth control.But with 188 million people,the country is now struggling to provide enough food,shelter,and employment for its people.In recent years,the government has waged a massive ad campaign to encourage birth control,offering inducements such as free trips to Mecca,the birthplace of Islam in Saudi Arabia.

The government has succeeded in increasing use of birth control from 10 percent of the population 20 years ago to 49 percent today.As a result,the average number of births has been cut from 5.6 children per woman to 3.The government hopes to reduce this average to 2.1 children per woman by2005.But with such a large population base,the country must still convert millions more to the idea of birth control if it is to reach its population targets.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 awareness 4yWzdW     
n.意识,觉悟,懂事,明智
参考例句:
  • There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
  • Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。
2 undertaking Mfkz7S     
n.保证,许诺,事业
参考例句:
  • He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
  • He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小,不敢从事任何事业。
3 cod nwizOF     
n.鳕鱼;v.愚弄;哄骗
参考例句:
  • They salt down cod for winter use.他们腌鳕鱼留着冬天吃。
  • Cod are found in the North Atlantic and the North Sea.北大西洋和北海有鳕鱼。
4 unemployed lfIz5Q     
adj.失业的,没有工作的;未动用的,闲置的
参考例句:
  • There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
  • The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。
5 ecological IrRxX     
adj.生态的,生态学的
参考例句:
  • The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
  • Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.
6 colonize mqzzM     
v.建立殖民地,拓殖;定居,居于
参考例句:
  • Around 700 Arabs began to colonize East Africa.公元700年阿拉伯人开始把东非变为殖民地。
  • Japan used to colonize many countries in Asia.日本曾经殖民过许多亚洲国家。
7 regenerate EU2xV     
vt.使恢复,使新生;vi.恢复,再生;adj.恢复的
参考例句:
  • Their aim is to regenerate British industry.他们的目的是复兴英国的工业。
  • Although it is not easy,you have the power to regenerate your life.尽管这不容易,但你有使生活重获新生的能力。
8 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
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