VOA慢速英语 2007 1009b

VOICE ONE:

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.  I'm Bob Doughty¹.

VOICE TWO:

 
 
And I'm Faith Lapidus.  On our program this week, we will tell about an effort to make a world map of light pollution.  We tell about studies linking sea ice to the survival of polar bears.  And, we report on a debate about brain development in young people. 

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VOICE ONE:

People around the world have been invited to take part in an unusual experiment this month.  People of all ages are being asked to look at the night sky from October first to the fifteenth.  They are looking for one of two groups of stars called constellations³.  The event is called the Great World Wide Star Count.  It is part of an effort to make a map of stars seen around the world.  It is also educating those taking part about the stars. 

The Great World Wide Star Count is free to anyone who wants to be involved.  It was organized by the Windows on the Universe project at the University Corporation for Atmospheric⁴ Research.  Planetariums⁵ and scientific groups around the world are also taking part.

VOICE TWO:

People in the northern half of the world are looking for the constellation² Cygnus.  Those in the southern hemisphere are looking for Sagittarius.  Observers should look for their constellations about one hour after sundown.  The group of stars should be nearly overhead at that time. 

To get involved, people make their observations of either Cygnus or Sagittarius.  Then they can compare their observations with star maps from the Great World Wide Star Count web site.  The maps will provide a way for observers to note the brightness of the stars they are looking for.  The Web site also has information about the event, including ways to find the constellations that are being studied.  It also has writing activity guides for students.

VOICE ONE:

You can find the web site at this address: w-w-w-dot-windows-dot-u-c-a-r-dot-e-d-u-slash-starcount.  But what if the sky is cloudy when you are making your observation?  No problem.  The Great World Wide Star Count wants your observations of the weather in that case.

You can make your observations from home or you can go to an undeveloped area where more stars can be seen.  The date of the Great Worldwide Star Count was chosen so that light from the moon will not interfere⁶ with observations.

Dennis Ward⁷ of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research told VOA that the worldwide experiment will help teach about the night sky.  But he said it will also show the need to understand that our understanding of the night sky is part of our environment and is affected⁸ by human activity.

VOICE TWO:

People living in cities can expect to see only a few stars.  Bright electrical lighting⁹ has created a growing problem for astronomical¹⁰ observation programs around the world.  The Great World Wide Star Count will provide direct information about the effects of light pollution that anyone can use.  Because the event takes place each year, it will permit researchers to find out where light pollution is getting worse, or improving. 

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research describes the Great World Wide Star Count as a citizen science event.  While useful to astronomers¹¹, it is also meant for young people and anyone who has felt wonder at the expanse of the night sky.

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VOICE ONE:

 
 
The World Conservation Union estimates the number of polar bears worldwide at between twenty thousand and twenty-five thousand.  The group says polar bears are threatened by melting sea ice, pollution and hunting.

Polar bears depend on ice to hunt for food in the Arctic Ocean.  They climb up on the ice to look for seals and other animals.  But scientists say sea ice is decreasing because of climate change.  They say rising temperatures have reduced the area in which polar bears can hunt.

VOICE TWO:

Recently, a number of studies found that future reductions of sea ice could result in a loss of many polar bears within fifty years.  The United States Geological Survey announced the findings.  Scientists from the Geological Survey and other government agencies studied polar bears and their environment for six months.  The studies also involved scientists from Canadian government agencies, universities and private groups. 

The studies found a direct link between sea ice in the Arctic Ocean and the health of polar bears.  The scientists say the animals will disappear from the north coasts of Alaska and Russia in the next fifty years.  The only polar bears to survive will be in Canada's far north and the west coast of Greenland.

VOICE ONE:

Most polar bears in the world live in Greenland and Norway.  About twenty-five percent live mainly in Alaska.  They travel to Canada and Russia during the year.  The scientists say climate change would reduce the animals' living area so that it will no longer include Alaska.

The scientists used different imaginary conditions to predict the number of polar bears.  They found that almost two thirds of the world’s nineteen polar bear populations will disappear from the earth by the middle of this century.  The studies showed that three more groups of polar bears will disappear within seventy-five years.

VOICE TWO:

Scientists say polar bears still can be saved.  But they say the world must begin taking steps to reduce climate change to do this.  The Center for Biological Diversity says governments around the world need to reduce the release of pollution like carbon dioxide gases.

Scientists say one step toward this goal would be to include polar bears in America's list of endangered species.  Then federal agencies would be able to make sure that industrial activities do not threaten their survival.  The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to examine the new findings when it considers whether polar bears should be included on the Endangered Species List.  The Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to announce its decision in January.

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VOICE ONE:

Parents might tell older children to, "Act your age."  But some researchers say that is what persons from thirteen to nineteen years old are doing.  They say that while teenagers can look all grown up, studies have shown that their brains are still developing.  How much this explains their behavior, though, is a subject of debate.

Jay Giedd of America's National Institutes of Health is a leader in this area of research.  Doctor Giedd has been studying a group of young people since nineteen ninety-one.  They visit him every two years for imaging tests of their brains. He says considerable development continues in young people from the teenage years into the twenties. 

VOICE TWO:

A part of the brain called the dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex appears especially undeveloped in teenagers.  Researchers believe that this area controls judgment¹² and consideration of risk.  So, its underdevelopment may explain why young people seem more willing to take risks like driving too fast.

Laurence Steinberg is a psychology¹³ professor at Temple University in Philadelphia.  He says stronger laws, and stronger parental¹⁴ control, are needed to protect teens from themselves.  That includes raising the age for driving.  He says research shows that teenage brains are not fully¹⁵ equipped to control behavior.

VOICE ONE:

Other researchers, however, say there is not enough evidence to make a strong case for such findings.  Psychologist Robert Epstein is a visiting scholar at the University of California in San Diego.  Mister Epstein notes that teen behavior differs from culture to culture.  He says behavior depends for the most part on socialization.  He believes that teenagers will demonstrate better, safer behavior if they spend more time with adults, and are treated more like them.

But is that always true?  Mike Males works at the Center on Juvenile¹⁶ and Criminal Justice in San Francisco.  He suggests that all of this talk lately about brainless teens could be an attempt to take away attention from the reality.   Writing in the New York Times, he says it is middle-aged¹⁷ adults whose behavior has worsened.  In his words, if grown-ups really have superior brains, why don't we act as if we do?

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VOICE TWO:

This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Mario Ritter, Nancy Steinbach and Caty Weaver¹⁸.  Our producer was Brianna Blake.  I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Bob Doughty.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

3 constellations   

n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人）

参考例句：

• The map of the heavens showed all the northern constellations. 这份天体图标明了北半部所有的星座。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His time was coming, he would move in the constellations of power. 他时来运转，要进入权力中心了。 来自教父部分

4 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

5 planetariums   

n.天文馆( planetarium的名词复数 )；天象仪

参考例句：

6 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

7 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

10 astronomical   

adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的

参考例句：

• He was an expert on ancient Chinese astronomical literature.他是研究中国古代天文学文献的专家。
• Houses in the village are selling for astronomical prices.乡村的房价正在飙升。

11 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

13 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

14 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

15 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

16 juvenile   

n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的

参考例句：

• For a grown man he acted in a very juvenile manner.身为成年人，他的行为举止显得十分幼稚。
• Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.青少年犯罪正在以惊人的速度增长。

17 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

18 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。