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VOA慢速英语 2008 1201a

时间:2009-01-05 05:33:00

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This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

Australia wants to show that existing power stations can be refitted to burn coal in a much cleaner way. A demonstration1 project will seek to develop new technology over the next four years that makes it easier to capture carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the main gas that many scientists say helps cause global warming.

In traditional coal-fired power stations, the coal is burned in air in a big furnace and the carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. In the new system, the coal is burned in pure oxygen instead of air. The captured carbon dioxide gas is then made into a liquid and buried deep underground. The process is called geo-sequestration.

The operators of the project in the northern state of Queensland say it is the first of its kind in the world. Australian and Japanese companies are supporting the project, and the Australian government is paying for part of it.

Geoff Wilson is the mines and energy minister in Queensland. He says the new system will sharply reduce the amount of carbon released from the coal-fired process and make it easier to store.

The International Energy Agency has said that clean coal technology could help reduce the release of greenhouse gases by one-fourth. But a spokeswoman for the environmental group Friends of the Earth says the technology has very limited promise to cut emissions2 in the short term.

Critics say the technology is unproven. And they say it will not guarantee that Australia will be able to reduce emissions in the future. Australia releases more greenhouse gases per person than almost any other country in the world. Its emissions come mainly from coal burned for electricity.

On November fifteenth, thousands of Australians in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities joined a yearly protest called "Walk Against Warming." They called for renewable energy.

Scientists warn that the Australian continent could suffer more severe dry periods, floods and storms as a result of climate change.

For years the government refused to sign the Kyoto treaty limiting greenhouse gas emissions. But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the protocol3 as his first act in office following his election last year. He has made action on climate change an important part of his environment policy.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report. Transcripts4 and MP3s of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

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1 demonstration 9waxo     
n.表明,示范,论证,示威
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
2 emissions 1a87f8769eb755734e056efecb5e2da9     
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。
3 protocol nRQxG     
n.议定书,草约,会谈记录,外交礼节
参考例句:
  • We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
  • The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。
4 transcripts 525c0b10bb61e5ddfdd47d7faa92db26     
n.抄本( transcript的名词复数 );转写本;文字本;副本
参考例句:
  • Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样,都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
  • You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书,你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句

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