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  Course 3 > Unit 1 > Passage A
│Words & Expressions│Translation│Exercises 
Care for Our Mother Earth
 全文朗读

  (Dr. McKinley of Awareness Magazine interviews a group of experts on environmental issues.) （《意识》杂志的麦肯立博士就环境问题对几位专家进行采访。）

  Dr. McKinley: What do you think is the biggest threat to the environment today? 麦肯立博士： 您认为目前环境面临的最大威胁是什么？

  Aman Motwane: The biggest threat to our environment today is the way we, as human beings, see our environment. How we see our environment shapes our whole world. 阿曼·莫特万： 现在环境面临的最大威胁来自我们人类对环境的态度。我们对环境的看法决定着我们周围世界的环境。

  Most of us see everything as independent from one another. But the reality is that everything is part of one interconnected, interrelated whole. For example, a tree may appear isolated, but in fact it affects and is affected by everything in its environment — sunshine, rain, wind, birds, minerals, other plants and trees, you, me. The tree shapes the wind that blows around it; it is also shaped by that wind. Look at the relationship between the tree and its environment and you will see the future of the tree. 大多数人认为万物是彼此孤立的。但事实上，每一个个体都是一个息息相关、相互联系的整体的组成部分。比如，一颗树看上去或许是孤立的，但它却对其周围环境中的一切--日光、雨水、风、鸟、矿物质、其它植物和树木、你、我等--施加影响，同时又处于环境的的影响之下。一棵树会影响从它周围吹过的风；风同时又会影响这颗树的生长。了解这棵树与其环境的关系，你就可以预见它的未来。

  Most of us are blind to this interconnectedness of everything. This is why we don't see the consequences of our actions. It is time for each of us to open our eyes and see the world as it really is — one complete whole where every cause has an effect. 大多数人对万物之间的相关性视而不见。正因为如此，我们就不了解我们的所作所为会造成的后果。现在我们每个人都应该睁开双眼，看清这个世界的真实面貌--一个因果相循的完整集合体。

  Dr. McKinley: Hello Dr. Semkiw. In your research, what environmental issues do you find most pressing? 麦肯立博士： 塞姆基博士，您好。您在研究过程中觉得哪些环境问题最为紧迫？

  Walter Semkiw: Two environmental issues that we find most pressing are deforesting and global warming. Mankind has now cut down half of the trees that existed 10,000 years ago. The loss of trees upsets the ecosystem as trees are necessary to build topsoil, maintain rainfall in dry climates, purify underground water and to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. Trees bring water up from the ground, allowing water to evaporate into the atmosphere. The evaporated water then returns as rain, which is vital to areas that are naturally dry. Areas downwind of deforested lands lose this source of rainfall and transform into deserts. 塞姆基博士： 我们认为最严重的两个环境问题是森林砍伐和全球变暖。由于大量砍伐，现在地球上的树木仅有一万年前的一半。毁掉树木也就破坏了生态环境，因为树木可以维持表层土壤，保证干旱气候地带的降雨量，净化地下水，并将二氧化碳转化为氧气。树木把水从地下带到地面，并让水蒸发到大气中，随后这些蒸发气体又再化为雨水返回地面。这对天然的干旱地区是至关重要的。毁林地区的下风区域会因缺乏降雨来源而变为荒漠。

  Global warming results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as petroleum products, resulting in the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses then resulting in the trap heat, resulting in warming of our atmosphere. 全球变暖的原因是燃烧石油等矿物燃料引起的，因为这会释放出温室气体进入大气。二氧化碳和其它温室气体会聚积热量，最终造成全球气候变暖。

  Dr. McKinley: Mr. Nacson, thanks for participating all the way from Australia! What do you suggest the readers of Awareness Magazine can do to help the environmental problem? 麦肯立博士： 纳可森博士，谢谢您专程从澳大利亚远道赶来参加我们的访谈。请您告诉《意识》杂志的读者怎样做才有助于解决环保问题。

  Leon Nacson: The simplest way to help the environment is not to impact on it. Tread as lightly as you can, taking as little as possible, and putting back as much as you can. 利昂·纳可森： 保护环境最简单的方法就是不要去摧残它。要尽最大努力去善待它，尽可能少索取，多回报。

  Dr. McKinley: What is your specific area of concern regarding the current and future state of the environment? 麦肯立博士： 对于环境的现状及未来，您最关心的是什么呢？

  Leon Nacson: Air and water pollution are our Number One priorities. It is hard to understand that we are polluting the air we breathe and the water we drink. These are two elements that are not inexhaustible, and we must realize that once we reach the point of no return, there will be nothing left for future generations. 利昂·纳可森： 空气和水污染是我们关注的首要问题。我们正在污染我们呼吸的空气和饮用的水，这真是让人难以理解。空气和水这两种物质并非取之不竭，我们必须认识到，一旦到了无可挽回的地步，我们的子孙就将一无所有。

  Dr. McKinley: Mr. Desai, what an honor it is to have this opportunity to interview you. Can you please share your wisdom with our readers and tell us where you see the environmental crisis heading? 麦肯立博士： 德塞博士，很荣幸有这个难得的机会采访您。能否请您与我们的读者交流一下您的高见，告诉我们环境危机会朝什么方向发展呢？

  Amrit Desai: We are not separate from the problem. We are the problem. We live divided lives. On one hand, we ask industries to support our greed for more and more conveniences, comfort and possessions. We have become addicted consumers, which causes industrial waste. At the same time, we ignore our connection between our demands and the exploitation of Mother Earth. When we are greedy for more than what we need for our well being, we always abuse the resources of our body and the earth. 阿姆力特·德塞： 我们不是与环境问题无关的。我们本身就是问题的起因。我们过着双重标准的生活。一方面，我们贪婪地要求工业提供更多便利、舒适和财富。我们沉溺于消费，造成工业浪费。另一方面，我们却忽视了这种需求和地球母体的承受的能力；生活已是十分优裕，我们却依然贪得无厌地索取，滥用我们自身和地球的资源。

  We are nurtured by the healthy condition of Mother Earth. In humans, if the mother is ailing, the child suffers. We are the cause of the ailing planet and we are the victims. 地球母体用她健康的环境抚育着我们。就人类而言，母亲生病，孩子就会遭殃；我们既造成了地球的病态，还得自吞恶果。

  Dr. McKinley: In closing, I thank all of the participants. I have learned a great deal about what I can do as an individual to help the environment. 麦肯立博士： 在本次访谈结束之际，我要谢谢各位嘉宾的参与。聆听了我们作为一个个体成员应该怎样做才有益于周围的环境，我感到收益匪浅。

  I hope these interviews encourage the readers of Awareness Magazine to take action and develop your own strategy. Too many of us just sit back and say "I'll let the experts deal with it." Meanwhile, we are killing the planet. My aim of this interview is to show how one person can make a difference. Thanks to all for offering your wisdom. 希望这次访谈会激励《意识》杂志的读者去采取行动，制定自己的战略方针。多数人都习惯袖手旁观，还说“让专家们去处理这些问题吧！”这种态度等于是在毁灭这个星球。本次访谈的目的正是想说明个人采取行动有多么重要。谢谢各位出谋划策指点迷津。

(731 words)

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