【英语时差8,16】保护树木能预防疟疾（上）

 So-called “tree huggers” are often seen as kooks or crazy environmentalists, but protecting trees, especially tropical rain forest trees may be a way to save millions of lives. This is particularly true in the Amazon rain forest where deforestation and human health are at a critical juncture¹. Scientists have found that forests do more than shelter animals and prevent soil erosion. They also protect people from malaria². Malaria is a disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium. The single celled organism is transmitted from one person to another through bites of Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria kills over one million people each year around the globe and most of its victims are children. Scientists have long suspected that tearing down rain forests might lead to higher malaria rates because the open landscapes that replace forests have more partially³ sunlit pools of water. Those pools are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

1 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

2 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

3 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。