英语听力文摘 English Digest 121、节约用水减缓全球变暖

　　The Water Resources Agency (WRA) of Taiwan has called on people to save water as a way to reduce carbon emissions¹. The WRA pointed² out that the low price of tap water in Taiwan, which has not increased in 14 years, has led people to waste the valuable resource. The scarcity³ of water has become a source of global tension ecologically, economically and politically. Feasible solutions to the problem—WRA suggests a water price hike and the Economist⁴ proposed a water cap system—might not appeal to the public amid the current economic slump⁵. Before such policy is made, people can save water through many simple ways in addition to vigilantly⁶ turning off the tap after every use. According to a study by environmental organization "Friends of earth," if every household in the UK used a dishwasher instead of hand-washing, more than a quarter-billion liters of water would be saved every day. Another typical waste of water that can be prevented: Tons of bathing water run down the drain unused every day as people wait for it to be heated. Some people are already saving the cold water by storing it for later use. A more comprehensive way to change the situation is to improve the design of water heaters.
scarcity:缺乏；不足；稀少
tension:紧张，紧绷
feasible：可行的；可用的
slump：衰退，不景气
tap：水龙头
dishwasher：洗碗机
price hike：涨价
down the drain：前功尽弃，付诸东流

1 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

2 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

3 scarcity   

n.缺乏，不足，萧条

参考例句：

• The scarcity of skilled workers is worrying the government.熟练工人的缺乏困扰着政府。
• The scarcity of fruit was caused by the drought.水果供不应求是由于干旱造成的。

4 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

5 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

6 vigilantly   

adv.警觉地，警惕地

参考例句：

• He was looking ahead vigilantly. 他警惕地注视着前方。 来自互联网
• Why didn't they search more vigilantly? 那他们为什么不再仔细地搜一搜呢？ 来自互联网